Summer Camp & Christmas Committee members with some of the AMAA staff: (seated L to R) Marie Alberian, Elbiz Baghdikian (Committee Chairperson), Lucy Janjigian (National Chairperson), Lucienne Aynilian (past Co-Chairperson), (standing L to R) Rev. Dr. René Léonian (AMAA Representative in Armenia), Dikran Youmshakian (AMAA Field Director), Magda Poulos (AMAA Development Director), Seta Nalbandian, Louisa Janbazian (Committee member and AMAA Publications/Public Relations Supervisor), Janet Avakian, Andrew Torigian (AMAA Executive Director), Adrienne Talanian, Rosemarie Goulian, Carol Goulian Stewart, Elizabeth Aynilian, Rose Torigian, Lily Anne Babigian and Ida Gueyikian
By Ani A. Janbazian, DMD
Paramus, NJ – Every year, 25,000 needy children in 50 different towns and villages throughout Armenia, Karabagh and Georgia eagerly anticipate the arrival of the Christmas season. For these children and their families, the coming of Christmas means one time out of the year when they can look forward to a joyous celebration where they can come together and glorify Christ’s birth with each other. The AMAA Summer Camp and Christmas Committee’s mission each October is to raise monetary support to provide their underprivileged Armenian little brothers and sisters an annual Christmas Program where they can hear the miracle of the Nativity Story in a theatrical presentation, worship with songs and receive a Christmas Joy Package, which for many of them is the only gift they receive for Christmas.
This year, the AMAA Summer Camp and Christmas Committee celebrated their “Christmas in October” fundraiser on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at the elegant Seasons restaurant in Washington Township, N.J. Over 80 guests who attended were seated at tables with a Christmas wreath in the center, adorned with red and white Christmas ball ornaments tied with strings to donation cards. Guests generously donated and wrote their names on the cards and had them hung on a Christmas tree in the center of the ballroom.
The luncheon began with a word of welcome from Summer Camp/Christmas Committee Chairperson, Elbiz Baghdikian, who introduced Rev. Dr. René Leonian, AMAA Armenia Representative, to give the luncheon prayer. Rev. Leonian then introduced a special guest, Ms. Lilit Galstyan from Armenia. Ms. Galstyan was a recipient of AMAA’s help in many ways; one of them was the receipt of infant formula from the AMAA’s Armenian Children’s Milk Fund during the first few years of her life when she was unable to receive her mother’s milk. Without the formula, she may not have been alive today. Now 17 years old and healthy, Ms. Galstyan thanked the AMAA and recited an Armenian poem. Greetings were given by Lucy Janjigian, National Chairperson of the Summer Camp and Christmas Committee, followed by a moving video presentation that portrayed impoverished families throughout villages in Armenia and children receiving necessary care packages and Christmas gifts from AMAA.
Some of the guests decorating the Christmas Tree with Donation Card Ornaments
The Armenia Summer Camp and Christmas Committee members each year have volunteered their time and efforts to organize the annual fundraiser luncheon to help raise funds to bring some joy into each Christmas season for Armenian children. It was for that reason that during this year’s luncheon, Mr. Andrew Torigian, AMAA Executive Director, gave a word of appreciation to the chairpersons Lucy Janjigian and Elbiz Baghdikian, past co-chairperson Lucienne Aynilian, and present and past committee members for their hard work on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the formation of this committee. Each committee member received a plaque and came together on stage for a round of applause of great thanks. Following the plaque presentation, the guests enjoyed a musical performance by the Harmonia Chamber Players ensemble. The closing prayer was given by AMAA Field Director, Dikran Youmshakian.
Prior to the arrival of the guests at the luncheon, an empty, lone Christmas tree stood in the center of the ballroom. Shortly after the luncheon program began, the tree was overwhelmingly filled with ornaments of donation cards. Each ornament symbolized at least one child who will receive a gift of joy this coming Christmas season. So far, about $20,000 is raised towards this year’s Christmas Joy Packages. If you wish to be part of this fundraising event, you may send your donations to the AMAA at 31 West Century Road, Paramus, NJ 07652, earmarked for Christmas Joy Packages, or donate on-line by visiting http://www.amaa.org. Each child’s Christmas package costs $10.00 and includes the Christmas celebration and a Christmas gift. May God continue to bless us, so that we may be a blessing to others who are in need of love and joy.
Armenian Missionary Association of America 