TAMAR AZNAVOUR GRATEFUL FOR CHRISTIAN GENEROSITY

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TAMAR AZNAVOUR GRATEFUL FOR CHRISTIAN GENEROSITY

 

An endowment fund established in memory of Mabel Fenner

assists Armenian college students in achieving their goals

 

By Paulette K. Doudoukjian

 

* * *

 

`It's heartbreaking to go through difficult times,' reflects Tamar

Toranian-Aznavour. `But afterwards it's so peaceful, and you receive a

sense of strength from within that provides you with more confidence.'

 

Tamar is the first recipient of the Mabel Fenner Scholarship, a newly

established scholarship awarded through the Armenian Church Endowment Fund

(ACEF). And she is indeed is developing greater confidence in herself with

each passing day, following some difficult personal challenges over the years.

 

First, she was awarded the scholarship, which came at a crucial point in

her life. This scholarship, amounting to approximately $3,750 generated

from the $50,000 Fenner Endowment Fund, was exactly what she needed to help

her complete her last semester in college to earn her Bachelor of Science

degree in textiles and apparels, with a minor in art. Following this,

everything else in Tamar's life started coming up roses. Soon thereafter,

she found a job in her area of expertise, fashion apparel, and just

recently she became a United States citizen.

 

What more could Tamar ask for? Well, not much at this time, according to

her. She is very grateful for all that she has been blessed with over the

past few months, and is very quick to thank God, the late Mabel Fenner, and

the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America for her good fortune.

 

`When I received the check, I immediately went to my bedroom, fell on my

knees, and thanked God in prayer,' said Aznavour, who was born and raised

in Lebanon then moved to Dallas, TX with her family in 1985.

 

As for the person who made this all possible, according to her beneficiary,

Linda Haig, `I'm sure this is making Mabel smile.'

 

Mabel Fenner passed away in April 1992 at the age of 84 in Los Angeles,

CA. The few relatives she left behind described Mabel as a good person who

kept to herself. In fact, Linda Haig's mother, Elsie, who was related to

Fenner through marriage, said that Mabel lived a very quiet, meek life in a

one-room apartment. It wasn't until her passing that they discovered her

nest egg of approximately $300,000.

 

`She lived a very frugal life. We had no idea that she had any money,'

explained Elsie. `She deprived herself of so much and we don't know why.'

 

According to both Elsie and Linda Haig, Mabel, who was born in Turkey then

moved to the United States with her family as a young girl, graduated from

high school and immediately began working as a bookkeeper until her

retirement. From that point on, she lived off of social security and never

bought anything for herself.

 

Elsie and Linda watched after Mabel for several years, through many

age-related illnesses. Elsie explained that Mabel, who was married briefly

earlier in her life and had no children, felt particularly close to Linda

since she too was a single, working woman. That's the reason Linda was

named as the beneficiary of Mabel's estate while Elsie was the executor.

 

Mabel's will indicated that the sum of her estate be divided among several

various charities--including the Diocese of the Armenian Church of

America--in memory of Fenner's parents.

 

Because of Mabel's unselfish and generous request, Linda Haig explained why

she chose to start an endowment as opposed to giving a straight donation to

the Diocese. `I thought something in Mabel's name would be important…a

legacy for her.'

 

Through this particular ACEF endowment fund, each year a worthy college

applicant chosen by the Primate and the Diocesan Department of Youth

Ministry will be awarded a scholarship from the interest generated off the

fund. This money is to assist struggling college students in furthering

their studies.

 

From every indication of Fenner's humble life, this is exactly how she

would have wanted the money used: to help improve the life of another.

 

Elsie Haig expressed her congratulations and well wishes to Tamar as the

first recipient of the Mabel Fenner Scholarship, `I'm very excited that

things have turned out so well for her and that this scholarship has been

beneficial. I praise God for that. It is very gratifying.'

 

Tamar is grateful as well for this financial boost that set her on what

appears to be a fruitful path. She now vows to continue helping others as

she has been helped herself. Tamar clearly explains that she does not plan

to keep the scholarship money but rather pay back either the fund, or apply

the amount she received to another fund.

 

`I would love to pay this scholarship fund back or any other fund that

would help other students that are going through tough times,' said

Aznavour. `I can't express my gratitude enough now, but I will show it in

the future.'

 

`This is truly the nature of Christian spirit--giving unconditionally,'

said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian

Church of America. `Both Mabel and scholarship recipient Tamar are women

to be admired for their unselfish acts of kindness, caring and concern for

others. As it is beautifully expressed in Luke 6:38: `Give, and it will be

given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running

over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you give will be the

measure you get back.''

 

For information on the Mabel Fenner Scholarship--or to establish an

endowment fund in your own name or that of a loved one--contact the

Armenian Church Endowment Fund at the Diocese of the Armenian Church of

America, 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016. ACEF can also be reached

by phone at (212) 686-0710, or by e-mail at acef@armeniandiocese.org.

 

--7/13/00

960 words