$52,000 Raised for Ferrahian Reconstruction

[Guest]

$52,000 Raised for Ferrahian Reconstruction

 

* Mr. & Mrs. Charlie and Julie Ghalian donate $25,000

 

ENCINO--More than $52,000 was raised for the reconstruction of a building at the Ferrahian church/school complex, during a

dinner-dance on Saturday, June 10. The event was organized by the board of trustees of the Holy Martyrs Armenian church and

Ferrahian school, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Rosdom Chapter, local chapters of the AYF, ARF, Hamazkayin,

Homenetmen, the Ferrahian Alumni Association and the Armenian-American Council on Aging.

 

During the event, Mr. & Mrs. Charlie and Julie Ghalian donated $25,000 toward the construction of an office in the new building.

 

Rev. Razmig Khachadourian said the benediction and also conveyed a message on behalf of Western Prelate Bishop Moushegh

Mardirossian, who highlighted the important role the new facility will play in the betterment of the community's cultural and educational

advancement.

 

In his message the Prelate also thanked the Holy Martyr's Church parishioners, the boards of education and finance at Ferrahian, as well

as all the organizations working within the facility.

 

Following remarks by ARS Anahid chapter chairwoman Arousiag Markarian, Master of Ceremonies Khatchig Titizian presented an

overview of the church/school complex.

 

He explained that the land on which the school and the church stand, was purchased for $50,000 in 1960 from a member of the Anglican

Church, through negotiations by late community activist Florindo Arklin, who negotiated $10,000 off the original plan.

 

In 1963 the Holy Martyrs Church was founded through the efforts of the ARF and ARS chapters and their supporters and in 1964 the

Holy Martyrs School opened with 12 students. Than number rose to 105 in the ensuing 10 years.

 

Through the efforts of benefactors Arshag Dickranian, Mattheus Ferrahian and Kevork Avedissian, two houses adjacent to the complex

were purchased and now house the current facility for Ferrahian school, whose founding principal Gabriel Injejikian completed a 26-year

tenure as the principal of the first Armenian day school in the United Sates.

 

In conclusion, Titizian pointed out that Ferrahian boasts more than 1,100 alumni, who have fostered the importance of national spirit and

community responsibility.

 

Titizian also thanked Jassik Jarahian for her work on decorating the hall for the event.

 

The evening's entertainment was provided by well-known singers Raffi Khardalian and Karnig Sarkissian.

[Guest]

Bravo AYF )