NEWS AND EVENTS

Coming Events

June 2012 Pilgrimage to Armenia Hosted by Mer Hooys House of Hope-Mer Hooys Inc. is excited to announce that it will be hosting a pilgrimage to Armenia in June 2012. Participants will attend a gala reception and house blessing at Mer Hooys at which Club 100 members will be honored. In addition to an exciting 12 day guided tour of historical sites of Armenia, pilgrims will also spend one day visiting Mer Hooys working one to one on projects with our girls. A tentative detailed itinerary and a booking form is attached. Children 13 and older are welcome to join us. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to see beautiful Armenia and to meet the young residents of Mer Hooys! Contact Shake Derderian at SIMA Tours for more information. For a detailed itinerary and booking form, click on the attached link.

Hooys/Hope Silver Pendant Fundraising Project

House of Hope-Mer Hooys has recently collaborated with talented jewelry designer Karen Hazarian, of Karen Hazarian Studio, to create a very special handcrafted silver pendant with the word "Hooys" or "Hope" etched on it. Each individually hand made pendant is made of .925 sterling silver and comes with an 18" sterling silver fine chain. For more information, Contact Karen Hazarian. The price of each Hooys/Hope pendant is $63 including shipping. $32 of your purchase is tax deductible.

These beautiful pendants make wonderful Mother's Day gifts! Contact Karen Hazarian for more information and to order your pendants.

Program Update

The Board of Directors recently committed more than $110,000 to purchase furniture, a kitchen package, and security equipment for the residential facility that will be home to Mer Hooys residents. The program, which will operate under the supervision and direction of the Mother See in Etchmiadzin, is scheduled to open by late Spring 2012.  The local program director, Mirhan Mirijanyan, has been working with the Youth Ministry in Armenia to secure the required permits to operate the facility.  Approximately twenty young women aged 13-16 years old from disadvantaged lifestyles will live at Mer Hooys, while attending public school, and participating in extracurricular activities at the adjacent Arapkir Youth Center and at the Mer Hooys residence.  In addition, plans are underway to make the facility available to non-resident young women on an after-school basis.  Those young women will be afforded the opportunity to learn language and computer skills and will be provided a hot meal.

The following items are needed on an immediate basis:

• A van or small school bus for transportation to public school and field trips (estimated at $35,000)
• All purpose printers (3-5)
• Security cameras and monitors (estimated at $3000)
• Commercial cookware (estimated at $3000)
• Electronic Keyboard and stand (2)  (estimated at $1500)

Individuals, organizations, and businesses interested in donating money to help underwrite the cost of the above necessities may fill out this form and mail it:

P.O. Box 8507, Calabasas, CA 91372-8507.

May 1, 2011 Lecture on Armenian Women in Distress

On Sunday, May 1, 2011, the Ararat-Eskijian Museum, under the direction of Maggie Goschin, hosted a lecture by journalist Ara Manoogian on Armenian Women in Distress. All donations from the event were for the benefit of Mer Hooys. Following a brief introduction of the Mer Hooys program by board president the Hon. Adrienne Krikorian, Mr. Manoogian reported on his very thorough 2004 investigation of human trafficking of young Armenian women to Dubai and other UAE countries. He shared several video clips from his 45 minute documentary video entitled "Desert Nights." Mr. Manoogian's investigation has continued until today, and the incidence of human trafficking from Armenia to Arab countries has increased since he began. Those who attended the lecture were left speechless after watching the videos, which tell painful first-hand stories of some of the women who are victims. Mer Hooys is very grateful to Ms. Goschin and Mr. Manoogian who emphasized the importance of Mer Hooys and its mission in educating young women so they will have the tools to avoid the risks of human trafficking. Those interested in more information on Mr. Manoogian's investigation can see the video clips at: www.snff.org/programs/desert-nights.

Successful Fundraising Event On March 27, 2011

On March 27, 2011, the sounds of classical music once again filled the inside of the sanctuary at St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church - Van Nuys.  House of Hope – Mer Hooys, Inc., under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, invited award winning musicians to perform for approximately 180 guests, who then enjoyed a delicious Armenian buffet supper catered by Gary Hindoyan of Burger Continental.

Pianist Alexander Wasserman delighted the audience with performances of music by classical composers Debussey, Schumann, Babajanian, Ravel and Rachmaninoff.  Mr. Wasserman, who resides in Atlanta, Georgia, has recently completed his doctoral thesis in piano performance. 

Violinist Arrousiak Baltaian entertained the audience with performances of Beethoven, Khatchaturyan and de Saraste.  Her stunning performance on the violin filled the sanctuary with delicate but powerful sounds that left the audience speechless until the last sound from the last note faded.  Accompanied by Pepron Pilibossian on piano, Ms. Baltaian and Ms. Pilibossian brought the audience to its feet in a rousing ovation of applause at the conclusion of their performance. 

The Pacifica Woodwind Quintet, consisting of Salpy Kerkonian on flute, Lisa Hernacki playing oboe, Melissa Hendrickson on horn, John Nunez on bassoon, and Darryl Tanikawa on clarinet, entertained the audience with anecdotal interludes as they performed works by Mozart, Pierné, Shostakovich, Bizet and Khatchaturyan.

Mer Hooys president Adrienne Krikorian welcomed guests at the dinner reception and reported the good news of the appointment of a program director and liaison to His Holiness.  She also announced that the Board and program director have a targeted an opening date for Fall 2011, and that the program would eventually house up to 40 deserving young teen age girls from Armenia, which drew a large round of applause from the guests.  Additionally, furniture and kitchen equipment have been ordered for the home, and plans are underway to finalize the program details and begin selection of residential candidates.  Archbishop Derderian made a generous pledge to Mer Hooys on behalf of the Western Diocese.  Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, Club 100 members, and those in attendance, the event resulted in a profit of close to $30,000 for the organization. 

Organizing committee members included Ms. Krikorian, Alice Kalustian, Margaret Lulejian, Harriet Phillips, Izabella Khachoyan, Janelle Wolter, Elizabeth Keshishian, Lucille Farsakian, Debbie Avedian, Susan Kardashian, Karen Hazarian, and Frances Bozajian. 

Those interested in supporting Mer Hooys may donate through the organization’s website at http://www.mer-hooys.org, or by mailing donations payable to House of Hope – Mer Hooys, Inc. to P.O. Box 8507, Calabasas, California 91372-8501.  Donations are tax deductible.

Mer Hooys Hires Full-Time Director in Anticipation of September 2011 Program Opening

In late March 2011, following meetings between Board member Varouj Altebarmakian, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese, and His Holiness Karekin II, plans commenced to finalize program details in anticipation of a September 2011 opening for Mer Hooys.

Full-time director Mirhan Mirijanyan will work with the local Armenian government to establish government funding and subsidies for daily needs.  The director has ordered furniture for up to 55 residents from Italy, and arrangements are underway to complete the kitchen in the facility. 

Working with the Mother Church liaison and the U.S. Board of Directors, Mr. Mirijanyan will finalize the program details and begin identifying deserving candidates from disadvantaged lifestyles for phase one of the program.  Full-time qualified live-in staff will be hired to work with the residents on a daily basis.  The Board anticipates that up to 50 young women will become residents of Mer Hooys.

The estimated annual cost of operation of the program for the first few years is $60,000, which the Board will be responsible for funding.  Additional costs will include special field trips to historic sites in Armenia, cultural events, and transportation.

The Board is seeking sponsors for the following items:

• Computers and inkjet printers
• Bookshelves and Books
• Two 15-person capacity vans
  

In addition to the above items, donors are invited to sponsor a room at $5000 for smaller rooms, and $10,000 for larger rooms.  A donor plaque will be appropriately placed in the facility to honor room sponsors.

For information regarding donations and sponsorships, contact us or fill in the attached form and mail it to P.O. Box 8507, Calabasas, California 91372-8507.

New Facility Is in Final Stages of Preparation for Resident Occupancy

Over the past year the Board has been in the development phase of this important program for young adults in Armenia.  Included in our work has been the development of goals, identifying key staff needs, budgeting, and acquisition of and furnishing a facility for our residents.

The Board has been blessed to receive an offer to use a newly renovated institutional facility for our residents.  We have completed plans to furnish a 2 story, plus basement, facility in Yerevan.  This facility will house up to 50 young adults, plus staff members.  It is located adjacent to an operating youth center, and across from a community hospital. 

The two story facility includes sufficient space for classrooms, computer rooms, and living areas. Your continued financial support will help us equip these rooms with the necessary furnishings.

First and second story floor plans

Club 100 Fund Raisers Continue To Raise Support for Mer Hooys

Santa Barbara, California: On October 2, 2010, Club 100 member Nancy Trotter hosted a luncheon at her beautiful home in the Hope Ranch area of Santa Barbara. A dozen guests enjoyed a sumptuous sit-down lunch and received a beautiful 8 x 11 cookbook from the Santa Barbara Assistance League from their hostess. Club 100 welcomed its first 100 year old member and one of the guests offered to host an event for Mer Hooys in the Southern California area. The event raised $1300 for Mer Hooys. Mer Hooys’ Board of Directors is grateful for Nancy Trotter’s generosity in support of Mer Hooys.

Palm Coast, Florida:

On Saturday, November 13th, JoAnne (assisted by husband Peter) Balgochian sponsored a luncheon and silent auction at Shakespeare's Fine English Tea Room for 21 guests. Chefs Gerald and Lynn Ward presented the guests with a wonderful sampling of tea sandwiches, quiche, pastries, scones with strawberry preserves, clotted cream and choice of tea. Thanks to the generosity of the chefs, the event successfully raised $1300 for Mer Hooys. Notably, the Armenian community is small; however, many non-Armenian friends from St. Thomas Episcopal Church supported this important program, along with Armenian guests who traveled from Orlando Florida. Thank you Joanne and Peter Balgochian!

Mer Hooys Receives Generous Contribution from Anonymous Donor

The Board of Directors is delighted to announce that an anonymous donor has contributed $25,000 toward the completion of the furnishing of the Mer Hooys home in Yerevan. This generous donation will cover the cost of purchasing the furniture, bookcases, rugs, window coverings, and personal items for the residents that are necessary to complete the home. The Board is working diligently to arrange for the completion of the kitchen and adjacent storage area which, when completed, will complete the renovation of the facility.

Successful Fundraising Event Raises Nearly $10,000 for Mer Hooys

On May 8, 2010, Board advisory member Harriet Phillips hosted an elegant afternoon tea in Pacific Palisades to kick off “Club 100.”  More than 45 women enjoyed a lavish buffet tea service at the lovely home of Mrs. Phillips’ daughter Joy Barnett.  Guests were treated to sandwiches, Armenian delicacies, scones and delicious desserts to accompany their choice of tea or coffee, iced tea and lemonade.  The guests enjoyed visiting with other members of Club 100, and received an update on the status of the Mer Hooys program from Board president Adrienne Krikorian.  Thanks to the successful efforts of Harriet Phillips, Club 100’s kick-off event resulted in membership of over 80 people and donations equaling almost $10,000.

Club 100 is a unique opportunity for Mer Hooys supporters to donate $100 annually.  Members will enjoy an annual invitational event, at which they will receive updates from the Board on the progress of the Mer Hooys in Armenia, and renew their membership.  Volunteers in  the Northern California Bay Area, San Diego, Palm Desert, Santa Barbara, San Gabriel Valley, and Orange County  areas have expressed interest in hosting Club 100 events for those regions.

If you are interested in becoming a member of Club 100, or in hosting a Club 100 event in your area, please contact us.

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