Lory in Ha! Ha! Land
The divine comedy of writer, actor, and producer Lory Tatoulian
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August 26, 2011
Young Professionals of Chicago Award 10 Scholarships for Kids to Attend a Local Armenian Camp
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YP Chicago members, who participated in a marathon and successfully raised $4,000 to be used towards scholarships to send kids to Hye Camp.
Earlier this summer, the AGBU Young Professionals (YP) of Chicago awarded 10 scholarships to assist Armenian youth in the Chicago area to attend Hye Camp, a unique, local, week-long, Christian-based camp for Armenian children 8 to 15 years of age who want to learn more about their heritage and the teachings of the Armenian Church. The program includes a variety of educational and fun activities. Every year dozens of families apply for scholarships, though there are always a few parishes that struggle to raise enough money for the kids.
Following the mission of the Young Professionals to take a leadership role and make a positive impact on the community, the group set its sights on raising enough funds to send a minimum of two kids to the camp, which is run by the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.
On Sunday, June 26, 2011, YP Chicago participated in the "Race to the Taste" 5k run in Chicago to raise money for the scholarships. The group received donations from friends, family and the community totaling $4,000, which was enough for 10 scholarships to be awarded on behalf of YP Chicago. Allison Haidostian, a member of the YP Chicago Steering Committee, commented, "It was so energizing to see everyone together on race day. Not only did we far surpass our fundraising goal, but we created a lot of buzz in the community and grew stronger as an AGBU YP group. I look forward to seeing this become an annual tradition."
The Young Professionals drew support from members of the community young and old, as well as from individuals from such distant states as Texas, Virginia and California. Among those running with the Young Professionals was 15-year-old Peter Boyajian of Oak Forest, Illinois, who finished first among competitors under 18 years of age in a race that featured over 1,100 runners. "We are overwhelmed to have received such broad-based support for this worthwhile cause. No child wishing to learn about their Armenian heritage should ever be denied this gift because of financial reasons," said Arina Mavilian, chairperson of the AGBU Young Professionals of Chicago.
YP Chicago is part of a growing network of YP groups and supporters around the world who are committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs for young Armenians between the ages of 22 to 40. For additional information or to join YP Chicago’s e-mail list, visit their website http://yp.agbuchicago.org/.
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