Page 40 - AMAANewsJulyAugSept2021_Neat

Armenian Memorial Church of Watertown, MA Donates $52,000
to AMAA’s All for Artsakh Campaign

n June 6, 2021, as a part of AMAA Sunday at the Armenian
Memorial Church of Watertown, MA, Armenian Mis-
Osionary Association of America’s Board members were
presented with a check from the AMC for $52,000 specifically
designated for the All for Artsakh Campaign. The donation contains
funds contributed by church family and friends totaling $27,000
plus a match of $25,000 provided by the AMC.
AMC fundraising for the All for Artsakh Campaign began
in February 2021 and is targeted to be completed by September
2021. However, the response was so positive that the AMC was
able to provide a first check of $52,000 to the AMAA within just
four months. AMC will continue to gratefully accept additional
contributions until September to give to the AMAA at that time.
During the June 6 Sunday Service, the AMAA showed a video of
th
many ongoing humanitarian projects focused on children and their Steve Sabounjian (center), Facilitator of the AMC-AMAA All for Artsakh
families being performed in Artsakh. AMC is extremely happy to Campaign, and Rev. Dr. Avedis Boynerian present a $52,000 check to
partner with the AMAA to provide this much needed aid and gives AMAA Board members Edward Avedisian, Phyllis Dohanian and Susan
thanks to God and the donors for their generous support. q Adamian Covo.

COOKING FOR A CAUSE Raises Funds for AMAA’s Post-War Humanitarian Efforts

lex Simonian, a 16-year-old Junior at Brentwood High School in Los Angeles, CA,
is an honors student, basketball player, pianist and a fourth generation Armenian
AAmerican passionate about his heritage.
His maternal great grandparents, Edward and Gloria Medzian, were active support-
ers of the AMAA during their lifetimes. Gloria was one of the founders of the women’s
chapter in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1970. The ladies held monthly luncheons at their
homes to raise money for various AMAA projects. Gloria’s daughter, Barbara Medzian
(Alex’s grandmother), assisted her in hosting these events. And, passing their support
through the generations, Barbara’s daughter, Nicole and her son-in-law Andrew, contin-
ued to support AMAA by sponsoring orphans every year and attending annual luncheons
where Alex and his sister, Ashley, participated in the AMAA children’s fashion show.
Both Alex and Ashley now individually have sponsored orphans and cherish letters they
have received from Armenia.
In 2020, Alex started the COOKING FOR A CAUSE project on his own to raise
funds for AMAA’s post-war humanitarian efforts.
"COOKING FOR A CAUSE is a project I started when my family and I began shel-
tering at home in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Alex. "The routine
of spending 24 hours a day inside our house in Los Angeles included cooking all of our
own meals at home as well. I have always enjoyed food and cooking. Since I could no
longer order my favorite foods at my favorite restaurants, I learned to make my favorite
restaurant recipes at home instead.
"When war broke out in Artsakh, I wanted to find a way to help the Armenian children who have been affected. So, I decided to
turn my passion for cooking into a philanthropic venture.
"COOKING FOR A CAUSE is a cookbook that shares my favorite recipes with the world. All proceeds go to the AMAA’s Post-
War Humanitarian Efforts in Artsakh. People from across America have purchased the book. Revenue from those sales have allowed
me to sponsor three tablets for children to help their educational and psychological recovery from the war as well as to sponsor a child
through the AMAA. I plan to increase my sponsorship number as sales continue in the future.
"Our family had plans to visit Armenia last summer, but the pandemic forced us to cancel that trip. I am happy that I was able to
do a little bit through the Cookbook to help the children of Armenia through the AMAA while I wait to visit our Homeland as soon as
the pandemic is over." q

40 | AMAA NEWS, July-Aug-Sept 2021