In 1950, AEF’s visionary founding members – Harry Carian, Arshag Dickranian, Ben Kazarian, Mard Peloian, Alex Pilibos and Arpaksat Setrakian – set out to follow four objectives in their commitment to higher education and the Armenian youth: to render financial assistance to Armenian schools irrespective of their religious affiliation; to assist needy students of Armenian parentage in acquiring an
education in schools, colleges and universities; to form and to aid in the establishment of Armenian schools and cultural centers; and to promote Armenian studies and research programs in American colleges and universities. In the last 60 years, AEF has monumentally surpassed the goals the founding fathers envisioned. Since 1950, AEF has been a cornerstone of the Armenian educational movement around the world. In the last 15 years alone, AEF has allocated $6 million in financial assistance to Armenian students and educational institutions. AEF has built and supported numerous Armenian day schools around the world, including the United States, Middle East and Armenia. The AEF Chair at UCLA and New Textbooks
In 1986, AEF established the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair of Modern Armenian History at the University of California, Los Angeles with a half a million dollars donated by its board members, general membership and friends. In 1993, AEF provided funding for the printing and publishing of Armenian textbooks prepared for California day schools under the auspices of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. Scholarships
AEF has assisted thousands of students in the United States, Middle East and Armenia by establishing scholarships made possible in large part due to the following generous endowments:
Richard Tufenkian Fund: Established in 1992 by Ralph and Savey Tufenkian in memory of their son. The $238,000 endowment grants $16,500 annually in scholarships to students attending universities in the United States, Armenia and Artsakh. AEF has granted over $260,000 in scholarships. Jorjorian Fund: Established in 1994 by George Jorjorian in memory of his parents, Bagdasar & Vehanoosh Jorjorian. The $85,000 endowment grants $6,000 annually in scholarships to graduates from the Gulbenkian School in Anjar who attend universities in Lebanon. AEF has granted $90,000 in scholarships. Peschtimaldjian Fund: Established in 1998 by bequest from the estate of Oschin Peschtimaldjian. The $50,000 endowment provides $2,000 annually in financial assistance to the Tutunjian School in Plovdive, Bulgaria. AEF has allocated $21,500 to the school. Movsisian Fund: Established in 1995 by a bequest from the estate of Koreun Movsisian. The $58,000 endowment provides scholarships to law students in Armenia. AEF has granted $17,000 in scholarships. Shrikian Fund (Anjar): Established in 2005 by Very Reverend Nareg and Yeretskeen Shrikian in memory of their parents. The $150,000 endowment provides financial support for the Gulbenkian School in Anjar, Lebanon. To date AEF has allocated $37,000 to the school. Mgrdich Fidanian Fund: Established in 2006 by Hovsep and Hilda Fidanian in memory of their son “Mego”. The $100,000 endowment provides $5,000 annually to cover the tuition for five students in Armenia. AEF has granted $13,500 in scholarships. Shrikian Fund (Antelias): Established in 2009 by Very Reverend Nareg Shrikian in memory of His Holiness Catholicos Karekin I. The $150,000 endowment provides funds for the preparation of priests at Antelias Seminary. AEF allocates $5,000 or more annually to Antelias Seminary. Armenia Full Tuition University Scholarships
In 2007, AEF initiated a program to provide four-year tuition scholarships in Armenia. The scholarships are provided to encourage and promote students who are gifted and have excellent academic performance and who are from financially vulnerable families. The students are required to do community service in order to continue receiving the scholarship. Individuals sponsor students by providing $1,000 a year for four years. AEF is currently providing full tuition to 30 students in Armenia. Armenia School Renovation Program
Since 1998, AEF has allocated over $4 million to construct and renovate over 180 schools in the remote villages of Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk. These renovations have been made possible by the generous financial support of sponsors who generally provide 65% of the total renovation cost. School Supplies and Computer Project
With the help of its volunteers and through generous donations from its members and supporters, AEF has embarked on two new projects in supporting schools in Armenia. In the last year, over 136 boxes of school supplies and clothes were shipped to over 37 schools in Armenia with over 2700 students receiving supplies. AEF is also in the process of installing computers and training school staff in the use of computers for village schools renovated by AEF. New York Life Project
AEF was one of nine organizations selected to receive a share of a $3 million allotment from the New York Life settlement and to utilize the funds for humanitarian projects. The settlement proceeds ($333,333.33) were allocated by AEF to three projects: (1) 2,828 sets of school furniture were provided to 55 renovated schools at a cost of $185,280; (2) full university tuition was provided to 12 orphans until their graduations (one of the recipients is graduating from a five-year medical school program this year); and (3) four village schools in regions where refugees from the Turkish massacres were settled were renovated at a cost of $100,000. Over the past 60 years, AEF has grown into a thriving organization with a diverse membership of dedicated individuals. With only one part-time employee in its Glendale office and one employee in Yerevan, the majority of the work is done by AEF members who volunteer countless hours and are never reimbursed for their expenses. AEF’s success in each of the above-mentioned projects is attributable to our generous benefactors and supporters to whom we are eternally grateful. The AEF welcomes to its fold anyone who shares the commitment of its founding members and who will bring to the organization new energy and fresh ideas. As it looks with optimism toward the future, AEF hopes to be of even greater assistance to young Armenians pursuing all levels of education, as well as to continue providing financial help to students and institutions in Armenia, the United States and other countries.
