ARS NY ‘MAYR’ CHAPTER HOSTS FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT SYRIAN-ARMENIANS
By Contributor // December 24, 2013
By Anahid M. Ugurlayan
On Dec. 8, a sold-out crowd gathered at Almayass Restaurant in New
York City for a fundraiser luncheon hosted by the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS) New York “Mayr” Chapter. More than $5,000 was raised in
support of the ARS’s “Warm Home” Program, which provides fuel to help
Syrian-Armenian families heat their homes during the winter months.
A scene from the luncheon
Anais Tcholakian, the chapter chairperson, welcomed the guests and
thanked them for supporting the Society’s ongoing relief efforts to
Syria’s Armenians. She also thanked chapter members for organizing the
luncheon; Voice of Armenians TV for their coverage of the luncheon;
and Almayass’s owner, Varak Alexanian, its manager, Mario Arakelian,
and the entire staff for their gracious hospitality and support of
the ARS.
Guests observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the 25th
anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Armenia that claimed more
than 25,000 victims, as well as in memory of His Eminence Archbishop
Mesrob Ashjian, former Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America (Eastern), on the 10th anniversary of his passing.
Vicken Tarpinian performs
Houri Geudelekian, a member of the “Mayr” Chapter and ARS UN
Coordinator, talked about the ARS’s mission-since 1910-to serve the
humanitarian, educational, and cultural needs of the Armenian people
throughout the world and its work as a non-governmental organization
(NGO) at the UN. She lauded members’ immediate response to relief
efforts for the civil war in Syria, as well as victims for natural
disasters worldwide, most recently the Typhoon Haiyan. She also noted
that 10 percent of the luncheon proceeds would be donated to Typhoon
Haiyan relief.
Following Geudelekian’s remarks, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor
of St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, delivered the
invocation. He said he admired the work of the ARS and thanked
attendees for their support of Syria’s Armenians.
More than $5,000 was raised in support of the ARS’s “Warm Home”
Program.
Guests were regaled by a surprise performance by renowned singer
Vicken Tarpinian, and danced to the latest Armenian music courtesy
of DJ Khajag. No luncheon could be complete without a raffle, and
this year’s raffle included many novelty items.
For more information about the ARS, visit