Sunday, April 20, 2014

Vanessa Kachadurian Charity named after youngest victim in Tucson shooting.


http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/2014/03/18/charity-started-memory-youngest-tucson-shooting-victim-closes/6554059/

Sadly the charity named after Christina Tayler-Green who was the youngest victim of the Gabby Giffords shooting has been dismantled, Victims advocate and reporter Vanessa Kachadurian reports they offered great counseling for victims.  The parents reported they wanted to spend more time with family.  Hard to believe that another board or volunteers in Arizona could not take this charity over and do more good for victims. 

Vanessa Kachadurian Charity
The Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation, the charity named for the 9-year-old killed by a gunman, along with five others, as she waited to meet then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, has closed.

The surviving members of the Green family — mother Roxanna, father John, and brother Dallas — announced the charity's closing in an open letter published in The Arizona Daily Star on Sunday.

"We are proud of what we have accomplished in Christina-Taylor's memory," the letter read, "but as our life's journey continues, it is now time for us to take a step back to continue the healing process."

Christina-Taylor was the youngest person killed in the January 2011 shooting at the Safeway just north of Tucson.
Vanessa Kachadurian Charity
Giffords, the target of the gunman, was critically wounded by a shot to the head.

John Green said on Monday that establishing the charity helped his family recover emotionally after the shooting, but that running the charity had become overwhelming.

"We just realized at one point that we needed a rest," he said, during a phone interview on Monday from the family's Tucson home. "We needed to heal and rest."
Vanessa Kachadurian Charity
The charity awarded more than $425,000 in grants over the past two years.

Most of the grants went to Tucson-area organizations that work with children, according to the charity's website. Green said the foundation also helped with other projects, including the rebuilding of the playground at Christina-Taylor's school, that did not go through the grant process.

The charity also gave out two scholarships to young female students who, like Christina-Taylor, showed interest in politics and leadership.

The foundation's president, Thom Martinez, said the foundation stopped actively soliciting funds in the fall. The board will hold a meeting in early April to figure out how to distribute the money that is left in the non-profit's account, Martinez said.

Neither Green parent is on the board of the foundation, but Martinez said the board understood the family's need to step away.

"It's a pace that most people cannot keep up as long as they did," he said. "We're glad they kept it up as long as they did."

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Vanessa Kachadurian Charity, Focus on Children of Armenia

This exceptional fund supports the education at economically strapped youth of Armenia.  Parents are forced to migrate to Russia for work and have used the orphanages as a place to feed, cloth, educate their children.  This has created a generation of children that are considered "social orphans" NOT available for adoption the social orphans account for 99% of the children in orphanages in Armenia.

This fund was established by social workers in Armenia, that want to build the education of the next generation to be economically equipped to start industry and businesses.  "Knowledge is power" we want to empower the children to have the right to build their country and eliminate orphanages all together.   The orphanages get government funding and donations, unfortunately the money does nothing to improve their social life but rather keep their standard of living in orphanages. 

vanessa Kachadurian charity

Vatche Soghomonian one of the "Ararat 10" that climbed Mt. Ararat 3 years ago and put up a flag of Armenia and Nargno Karabagh rides a bike through Armenia every year raising money for different causes designed to build the economy of Armenia.  Lets concentrate on the future of Armenia, it's children and get them financially strong independent of living in state run and private ran orphanages.

Thank you Vatche, you are a real gem of our motherland. 

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Vanessa Kachadurian Paros Foundation Choir meets Dance



Watch this exciting Dance with the Paros Foundation, This is a beautiful reminder how special needs people in Armenia are productive and are not our hidden citizens.  

Vanessc Kachadurian
After SF Ballet’s New York tour I went home to Armenia, to visit my family and to dance there for the first time after 12 years. I danced the full length of Don Quixote in the capital city of Yerevan with my wife and fellow SF Ballet Principal Dancer Vanessa Zahorian. It was the first time she’d danced in Armenia, at the beautiful Armenian National Ballet Theater, and it was a great success!
Vanessa Kachadurian
The day after the performance, it was back to the theater at 6:30 am to take part in a performance project with Paros Chamber Choir—an award-winning group of singers that includes my father. Most of the choir members are survivors from the ’88 earthquake, and as you can see a number of them now use wheelchairs. As a hobby, they came together and in 1993 founded this singing group. They’re all incredible human beings, and have lots of passion in them. I donated my time to share the stage with the choir and dance while they were singing, in a performance to mark the 25th anniversary of the devastating 1988 Armenian earthquake.

My father was a famous folk dancer before his accident. He injured his back when he was 32 years old at a barbeque with friends—he did a flip off a barre like a gymnast, but his hands were greasy and he fell, breaking his spine. He had a major surgery to reconstruct his spine. He couldn’t walk for a year but then a miracle happened and he could walk. I was the miracle child. To this day, my father lives through the careers that my sister and I have, and he always told us “to live his dream and to finish what he had started”, since he wasn’t able to realize that dream

Vanessa Kachadurian Charity in Armenia - Paros Foundation supplies shoes to needy children

Vanessa Kachadurian believes that Paros Foundation is one of the best overall charity groups in Armenian and Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) they help children that are in impoverished conditions and also supply much needed upgrades to orphanages, actually putting Armenians to work for these useful projects.  Vanessa Kachadurian also likes the fact they have a support system for handicapped adults that have formed an award winning choir in Armenia.  Paros Foundation was formed out of northern California. 
Yerevan - Share-a-Pair, a project of The Paros Foundation's 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity distributed more than 50,000 shoes to children in need in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh this year.

"In its third year, Share-a-Pair has successfully distributed more than 75,000 pairs of new shoes and almost 1,000 pairs of warm winter boots to children in need," said Peter Abajian, Executive Director of The Paros Foundation. "This has been particularly exciting because we have been able to engage hundreds of volunteers from around the world during our various distributions."
Vanessa Kachadurian
In 2013, shoes were distributed to children in need, in more than 90 rural communities. Distributions were also made to children in boarding schools, kindergartens, orphanages and through other non governmental children's organizations.

Helping meet the need of an impoverished child with a well-fitting pair of new shoes appropriate for school or play, improves their health and development. New shoes are costly and often times poise a financial hardship for parents of multiple children. Throughout the process, both children and their parents expressed their thanks for this bit of relief.

Through our partially funded Healthy Teeth Project, dental hygiene products were distributed to almost 2,000 children in select rural communities. SERVICE-Armenia 2013 participants both distributed the products and provided instruction on their proper usage.

Our partner, Focus on Children Now spearheaded shoe distributions throughout needy communities in Nagorno Karabakh. Ambassador John Heffern, US Ambassador to Armenia and the US Embassy's Helping Hands group joined with our SERVICE Armenia 2013 Participants to distribution shoes to children in rural communities.
Vanessa Kachadurian
A video report on this completed project can be seen at www.parosfoundation.org/shareapair2013.

The Paros Foundation expresses its sincere appreciation to the donors, the Unison, NGO supporting people with special needs, Focus on children now, Ambassador John Heffern, the Helping Hands group at the US Embassy in Armenia, the Paros Foundation's SERVICE Armenia 2013 participants and all the other volunteers that joined this important effort.
Vanessa Kachadurian
Share-a-Pair's Operation Winter Boots continues to accept donations. A $20 contribution will provide a child in need a new pair of warm winter boots. The Paros Foundation underwrites all administrative expenses allowing 100% of donor contributions to go directly to this project. To sponsor a project of the Paros Foundation's 100 for 100 Projects for Prosperity, please

Monday, September 30, 2013

Vanessa Kachadurian Charity for people with Dyslexia to cope better


A CHARITY wants to reach out to people with dyslexia and help teach them how to cope better.

The condition can affect up to 10 per cent of the population, and the Dyslexia Association of Staffordshire estimates that 25,000 people have the illness in Stoke-on-Trent alone.

    The most common trouble that Dyslexics may have is reading fluently, despite normal intelligence.

However, the difficulties that dyslexia can bring stretch beyond just reading and writing. Memory, organisational skills and even direction can be affected.


Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Businesshttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Thursday, October 31 2013

Tricia Budd, chair of the Dyslexia Association of Staffordshire, said: "If we are lucky enough to get the funding then it will allow us to reach out across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire to identify and help people with dyslexia.

"It is not just children who need help – it affects people of all ages.

"People often just think we help young people, but there are many adults who find they have it.

"We help them with everyday tasks and give them ways to manage their dyslexia.

"It can be something as simple as what it says on the side of a bus. It's amazing the difference that simple techniques can have on people's lives.

"We want to empower individuals to achieve their full potential in education, employmenthttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png and everyday life."

Sandra Sherratt, a project coordinator for the association, said: "I became involved after the group helped my family. It's important to raise awareness and help those who are affected by dyslexia.

"It has a massive impact on people. For example, being able to write their name and address for the first time in their life, finding work, reading to their grandchild or having the confidence to continue with their education.

"These are things that most people take for granted, but that can be difficult for those with dyslexia.

"And you often find that it affects families the most. When a child is identified you may then find other siblings or parents get tested and find they have it too.

"It is important to support the whole family to understand dyslexia and how they can manage it.

"People need help beyond just literacy support.

"We just try and give them strategies to help them with their everyday lives.

"Dyslexia is not something that can be cured, so you have to learn to live with it in the best ways that you can."

The association, which is applying for £11,340, has a helpline and also runs workshops where they help people to plan their time and journeys so that they can find their way, teach techniques to help poor memory, help with reading and writing, show maths shortcuts and demonstrate technology that can make life easier.

0

2


Tweet this article

Share with social media

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Vanessa Kachaduian- Anahit Bayandour dies

Anahit Bayandour dies


January 07, 2011 | 14:15

The renowned translator, human rights activist and public figure Anahit Bayandour died at the age of 70, on Jan. 7 morning.

She is famous for her Russian translations of Hrant Matevosyan. Bayandour was a member of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Armenia of the first convocation. Later she became a human rights activist. In 1992, Anahit Bayandour received the Olof Palme Prize.

Anahit did many good deeds for the orphans of Armenia and many other charities, she will be missed.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Vanessa Kachadurian- Armenia Honors Consummate Volunteer Physician Louis Najarian




Armenia Honors Consummate Volunteer Physician

Posted By Tom Vartabedian On December 8, 2010
MANHASSET, N.Y.—On the day when a tumultuous earthquake rocked Armenia, Dr. Louis Najarian was back home in New York celebrating a birthday, unaware that buildings were being toppled in Spitak and Gyumri resulting in the loss of more than 25,000 lives.


Dr. Louis Najarian
The date—Dec. 7, 1988—continues to maintain an indelible imprint in the life of this prominent New York physician. Since then, he has made annual trips to the homeland, providing medical support to those in dire need and helping to rehabilitate the country both physically and mentally.

Once and twice a year, he puts his medical practice on hold, takes leave from his family and friends, negates his personal life, and heads to Armenia where he spends weeks providing crisis intervention to victims.

It’s his birthday gift to humanity—a volunteer role he’s played for the past 22 years at no cost to the country. Much of the expense has been absorbed out of his own pocket, except for an occasional stipend. At first, the project was under the auspices of the Armenian Relief Society’s (ARS) Western Region in California. They financed the expense and sent many clinicians to work with him at both cities. Unfortunately, the ARS decided to close the clinics in spite of the tremendous need.

That has not prevented Najarian from traveling and working on his own. He’s become more than enamored by his mission of faith and loyalty.

“The primary goal for a physician is to heal,” he said. “Many choose clinical practice, research or academia. Some aspire to chair departments. Others become administrators. It’s a rare opportunity to influence one’s discipline in an entire country. The earthquake, world political events, and my upbringing with immigrant grandparents [genocide survivors from Govdoon Sepastia] allowed me to give something on their behalf and impact the mental health delivery system of our homeland.”

Now, the country has reached out to Najarian. While presenting a research paper on resilience and an 18-year follow-up on earthquake victims, he was presented a coveted Mghitar Heratsi Gold Medal for contributions in the fields of education, science, and medicine.

The award came as a total surprise from the region’s Yerevan State Medical University and was presented before 150 international specialists attending a three-day conference in October. Also there to applaud him were Dr. Samvel Torossian, chief psychiatrist of Armenia; Dr. Armen Soghoyan, president of the Armenian Psychiatric Association; and Dr. Khachatur Gasparyan, chairman of the Medical University’s department of psychology.

The award followed several others Najarian has received in the past, but from America. His work in psychiatric care has remained pivotal and appreciated. The Gold Medal reflects his highest and proudest achievement.

Mghitar Heratsi was a 6th-century philosopher and physician in Armenia who contributed much toward medical care, research, and humanism at the time. He was often called the Armenian Hippocrates.

The medical institute was part of Yerevan State University until 10 years ago when it was established as a separate university and named Yerevan State Medical University after Mghitar Heratsi.

“A lot of the credit goes to Dean Gohar Kyalyan for doing a tremendous job in renovating the facility and enhancing the quality of medical education in Armenia,” said Najarian. “The curriculum now follows that of Boston University’s Medical School due to the efforts of Dr. Aram Chobanian.”

One week after presenting his paper and being given the medal, Najarian delivered the same research on resilience at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at its annual meeting in New York and received considerable attention.

“There are no specific reports of an 18-year follow-up on the functioning of adults who were traumatized as children,” he pointed out. “Our research on treatment of traumatized children has provided the foundation for intervention in other disasters such as the war in Bosnia, along with September 11 and Hurricane Katrina in this country.”

According to Najarian, all clinicians working in the area of trauma refer first to the “Armenian studies” in the scientific literature.

“Our goal was service, training, scientific inquiry, and the ability to put Armenia on the world psychiatric map,” he added. “Every opportunity I have to address organizations, I encourage people in all disciples that their expertise is needed in Armenia. Many medical specialists have spent time in Armenia as Fulbright Scholars. For me, it’s been an opportunity and privilege to do in Armenia what I have done in New York and I couldn’t let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass.”

Najarian is well-known throughout the Armenian community of America as an activist, proud parent, organizational impresario, and sports aficionado. With a son like Berj, he has no choice at the athletic end. The younger Najarian happens to be the personal secretary to New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick and has three Super Bowl rings to show for it.

Louis and his wife Elenne are also parents to two other sons, Haig and Aram, both college-educated with fine jobs.

“While living in Gyumri for a year (1990-91), Najarian stayed with a family of seven in an attached trailer while working to establish mental health clinics there. He maintained his own sanity by visiting churches and playing his clarinet, also sailing on Lake Sevan and skiing at Dzagnadzor resort.

“I came home twice and Elenne visited me once,” he recalled. “It was a bigger sacrifice for my family but the timing was right for everyone. After I returned, it took me three months to resume a full-time private practice. My family has given me its full support and for that I’ve been thankful.”

Najarian received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and his MD from St. Louis University of Medicine. He continues to work as a clinical professor of psychiatry at New York University of Medicine. His private practice deals primarily with children.

He is a member of the Karaghuesian Corporation Board of Directors in New York, helping supervise the operation of six dental clinics in Armenia in addition to providing medical support to youngsters and families in Beirut and Aleppo. He also belongs to the Parish Council of Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Bayside.

Where he finds the time to play clarinet with the theatrical group, “The Way We Were,” which staged “Hello Ellis Island,” is anyone’s guess, not to mention skiing with his grandchildren and sailing competitively in Rockport, Mass., where the family owns property.

“The future holds a lifetime of commitment—one person at a time,” he maintains. “I’ll continue to consult and provide continuing education for as long as the opportunity and need persist. It’s been my calling and I’ve answered it.”