Milford Armenian-American Veterans Organization
Donates $5,000 to ARS Centennial Endowment Fund
The members of the Milford (Massachusetts) Armenian-American Veterans Organization served their country well in times of war. Today, they continue to serve the Armenian people well by donating to numerous Armenian charities, including the Armenian Relief Society and its Centennial Endowment Fund.
The ARS, Inc. recently received the $5,000 donation to its Centennial Endowment Fund. The Fund was established in honor of the ARS's upcoming 100-th anniversary in 2010 and to secure the financial stability of the ARS in its second 100 years.
The Milford AAVO was formed shortly after World War II ended, recalled Commander Joseph Derderian, a founding member. "It was formed more or less spontaneously."
In its heyday, the Milford AAVO had about 50 members and land with a building donated by the local Draper Corporation. Today, seven members remain and the land and building have been sold. The members continue to meet monthly at the Milford Senior Center.
"We were going to disband," Derderian said, "but we just kept going. We're still active."
A major part of the Milford AAVO's current agenda centers on distributing the proceeds of the land and building sale to various Armenian charities. The Milford AAVO's fruitful effort to spread its monetary bounty includes the Armenian Relief Society.
"Our bylaws state that if we disband, our money goes to all Armenian charities," said Derderian. "We wanted to be sure that we were around to decide where our money goes, and that's what we've been doing."
Why donate to the Armenian Relief Society's Centennial Endowment Fund?
"We made the donation to the ARS because it's something that should be supported," Derderian said. "We're just trying to help the Armenian people and the Armenian Cause."
Established in New York City in 1910, the ARS, Inc. has members in 24 countries and serves the social and humanitarian needs of Armenians around the world.
The ARS Inc. aims to raise at least $5 million for the Centennial Endowment Fund and use the Fund's interest to strengthen existing programs and establish new ones in Armenia, Artsakh, Javakhk and throughout the Armenian Diaspora.
To make a donation to the ARS Inc. Centennial Endowment Fund, please visit the ARS, Inc. website at www.ars1910.org and go to the Centennial Fund Drive page. Donors may also e-mail execdirector@ars1910.org or telephone the ARS Inc. headquarters at (617) 926-5892 for more information or to make a donation of land, trust, stocks or another financial instrument.
The ARS, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization.
November 26, 2007