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25000 pairs of new shoes gifted to children in Armenia
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-08-16-25000-pairs-of-new-shoes-gifted-to-children-in-armenia-
Published: Thursday August 16, 2012
A girl's shoe size is measured for the right fit.
Yerevan - Share-a-Pair, part of The Paros Foundation's 100 for 100
Projects for Prosperity, has successfully distributed more than 25,000
pairs of new shoes to Armenia's most needy children.
Thanks to the support of generous sponsors and a major U.S. shoe
manufacturer, The Paros Foundation staff and its volunteers and
non-governmental organization partners, coordinated the effort to
distribute shoes to children in need. Shoes were distributed to
children in 11 orphanages, 8 boarding schools, 12 NGOs, and in14
cities and more than 100 villages throughout Armenia. Volunteers from
Armenia, Sweden and the United States joined together in this
ambitious distribution effort.
"Share-a-Pair embarked on the daunting task of putting shoes on the
feet of children in Armenia's most isolated and economically
challenged villages and regions." Said Peter Abajian, Executive
Director of The Paros Foundation. "Paros Foundation Staff and
volunteers visited more than 100 villages using kindergartens and
schools as distribution points within a 3-month period."
"Working to get shoes to children in the villages was exhausting."
Said Kristen Abajian, co-founder of Share-a-Pair. "Long drives on
terrible roads, beautiful scenery and difficult conditions in the
villages made this experience an emotional one for all of us. Seeing
happy children and smiling faces made it all worth while."
The Paros Foundation has produced a short nine-minute video featuring
the shoe distribution process and some of the beneficiaries. The video
is available by calling (310) 400-9061, or can be found on the
Foundation's website www.paros-foundation.org, facebook page or on
youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_17oYhBSrP0).
"When we started Share-a-Pair 18 months ago, our goal was clear and
within reach-put 1,000 pairs of new shoes on the feet of needy
Armenian children. I am so thankful that with the support of a
selfless group of volunteers and donors, we were able to not only
reach, but also far exceed our original goal. Now our focus shifts to
warm winter boots," said co-founder Bridget Abajian.
The Share-a-Pair team has now launched an effort to put warm winter
boots on the feet of Armenia's needy children called "Operation Winter
Boots." Donations are welcome in any amount, and a $20 donation will
ensure a child's feet stay warm in Armenia this winter.
The Paros Foundation was formally launched in 2006 and is based in
Berkeley, California. Its Chairman, Roger Strauch, and Executive
Director, Peter Abajian, have a long history of working with Armenia
and the Armenian-American community to support Armenia's rich culture
and heritage, improve the lives of people with disabilities and to
create positive opportunities for Armenia's children. In 2011, The
Paros Foundation launched its Paros 100 for 100, Projects for
Prosperity initiative to properly commemorate the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide through the implementation of 100 special projects
benefiting Armenia and her people. The Paros Foundation is not
affiliated with the Ghazarian family's Paros "Lighthouse" Charitable
Foundation.
For more information and to get involved, please visit www.paros-foundation.org.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-08-16-25000-pairs-of-new-shoes-gifted-to-children-in-armenia-
Published: Thursday August 16, 2012
A girl's shoe size is measured for the right fit.
Yerevan - Share-a-Pair, part of The Paros Foundation's 100 for 100
Projects for Prosperity, has successfully distributed more than 25,000
pairs of new shoes to Armenia's most needy children.
Thanks to the support of generous sponsors and a major U.S. shoe
manufacturer, The Paros Foundation staff and its volunteers and
non-governmental organization partners, coordinated the effort to
distribute shoes to children in need. Shoes were distributed to
children in 11 orphanages, 8 boarding schools, 12 NGOs, and in14
cities and more than 100 villages throughout Armenia. Volunteers from
Armenia, Sweden and the United States joined together in this
ambitious distribution effort.
"Share-a-Pair embarked on the daunting task of putting shoes on the
feet of children in Armenia's most isolated and economically
challenged villages and regions." Said Peter Abajian, Executive
Director of The Paros Foundation. "Paros Foundation Staff and
volunteers visited more than 100 villages using kindergartens and
schools as distribution points within a 3-month period."
"Working to get shoes to children in the villages was exhausting."
Said Kristen Abajian, co-founder of Share-a-Pair. "Long drives on
terrible roads, beautiful scenery and difficult conditions in the
villages made this experience an emotional one for all of us. Seeing
happy children and smiling faces made it all worth while."
The Paros Foundation has produced a short nine-minute video featuring
the shoe distribution process and some of the beneficiaries. The video
is available by calling (310) 400-9061, or can be found on the
Foundation's website www.paros-foundation.org, facebook page or on
youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_17oYhBSrP0).
"When we started Share-a-Pair 18 months ago, our goal was clear and
within reach-put 1,000 pairs of new shoes on the feet of needy
Armenian children. I am so thankful that with the support of a
selfless group of volunteers and donors, we were able to not only
reach, but also far exceed our original goal. Now our focus shifts to
warm winter boots," said co-founder Bridget Abajian.
The Share-a-Pair team has now launched an effort to put warm winter
boots on the feet of Armenia's needy children called "Operation Winter
Boots." Donations are welcome in any amount, and a $20 donation will
ensure a child's feet stay warm in Armenia this winter.
The Paros Foundation was formally launched in 2006 and is based in
Berkeley, California. Its Chairman, Roger Strauch, and Executive
Director, Peter Abajian, have a long history of working with Armenia
and the Armenian-American community to support Armenia's rich culture
and heritage, improve the lives of people with disabilities and to
create positive opportunities for Armenia's children. In 2011, The
Paros Foundation launched its Paros 100 for 100, Projects for
Prosperity initiative to properly commemorate the centennial of the
Armenian Genocide through the implementation of 100 special projects
benefiting Armenia and her people. The Paros Foundation is not
affiliated with the Ghazarian family's Paros "Lighthouse" Charitable
Foundation.
For more information and to get involved, please visit www.paros-foundation.org.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress