On Sat., Sept. 19, a fundraising event was held at GrandTen Distilling in South Boston to raise funds for the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) of Eastern USA Syrian Armenian Relief. The event included a tasting, tour, and open bar by GrandTen Distilling, dinner by Daddy’s Bonetown Burgers, and dessert by Frozen Hoagies.
This was the first time that the Board of Directors of the ARS of Eastern USA lent their support and name to an unaffiliated ad hoc event committee. The cooperation of the Board of Directors was essential to the success of the fundraising effort. Thanks to the sponsors of the event and other donations, the cost of the event was fully underwritten, which meant that proceeds from each $100 ticket sale went to Syrian-Armenian relief projects, with the evening’s net proceeds in excess of $7,500.
The event committee was comprised by Martha Mensoian, event chair, Ann Chaglassian, Christopher Mensoian, Irina Nanagoulian, Sonya Nersessian, and Ani Zargarian. Event committee members were honored to have the chair of the ARS of Eastern USA Board of Directors, Talin Daghlian, attend the event accompanied by other members of the Board of Directors, Sonia Bezdikian, Sevan Kolejian, and Silva Sagherian, and the executive director of the ARS of Eastern USA, Vart Chiloyan.
Mensoian thanked the event committee members, the sponsors of the event and others who donated, as well as those present for raising funds for the Syrian Armenian Relief when they are called upon to support an ever-increasing number of worthwhile causes. She then introduced Daghlian, who gave a brief overview of the mission of the ARS and the humanitarian work being done in Syria, and stressed the need for medicine, food, water, and shelter. Virtually every aspect of daily living in a war zone that has existed for four years is provided through ARS relief projects.
The Armenian Relief Society was established in 1910 in New York City to provided educational and humanitarian assistance to Armenians throughout the world. The ARS is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization and an NGO on the roster in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. ARS has affiliate entities in 24 countries.
The Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA (www.arseastusa.org) is an affiliate of the ARS and made up of 32 chapters. It is based in Watertown, Mass.