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October 18, 2007
Young Professionals Give Back to NY Armenian Home
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Kristen Lipari, an Armenian American young professional from Long Island, chats with one of the residents. -
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More than 20 AGBU Young Professionals bring joy and laughter to residents of the Armenian Home in Queens, New York.
On September 16, 2007, AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York (YPGNY) visited the New York Armenian Home in Flushing, NY, bringing smiles, companionship, and entertainment to its senior residents.
As part of a series of events called "YPs Give Back," 20 young professionals spent their Sunday afternoon visiting with the residents, playing board games and dancing to Armenian music. One of the residents, John Sarian, showed his appreciation to the young professionals by entertaining the crowd with a piano recital of his own.
Resident Charlotte Kechejian appreciated YPGNY's visit as well, "It brings tears to my eyes to see these young people coming to the Home to visit with us.
In addition to indoor entertainment, some volunteers also raked leaves, trimmed trees, and collected garbage in an effort to beautify the backyard garden of the Home.
Aghavni "Aggie" Ellian, Executive Director of the Armenian Home, said, "I'm extremely grateful to the AGBU Young Professionals for remembering the forgotten generation. When they come here and give up their time on a beautiful Sunday, to me it means more than a million dollars.
At the end of a day filled with service, memories, and newfound peers, the YP volunteers returned to Manhattan and enjoyed a group dinner to celebrate their contributions to the community.
Jeff Aris, a newcomer to the YP group, enjoyed having an opportunity to directly contribute to the local Armenian community, "I think it's important for YPs to get together to do community service; it strengthens the bonds among the members and makes a difference in our area.
Aggie hopes that the YPs will continue to come back to the Home for visits and projects in the future. She reiterated, "These visits are like a shot in the arm - it's better than any vitamin the residents could take.
As part of its "YPs Give Back" series, YPGNY anticipates future visits to the Armenian Home, including an outdoor barbeque for residents, as well as other community-service initiatives like building homes with Habitat for Humanity®, serving food to the underprivileged during holidays, and volunteering at local Armenian churches and community centers.
YPGNY Chairwoman Natalie Gabrelian said, "We are excited to expand the types of events we offer, and think that community service is a worthwhile addition to the cultural, educational, and fundraiser events that we traditionally plan.
Fulfilling the YP mission, the "YPs Give Back" series provides a platform to improve community life through a worthwhile humanitarian program, while at the same time facilitating networking amongst the young Armenian community members in a service-oriented setting.
AGBU YPGNY 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 more information on YPGNY, email ypgny@agbuyp.org.
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