Armenian Church Endowment Fund - ACEF

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Armenian Church Endowment Fund - ACEF

The Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF) is an independent nonprofit that supports parishes and individuals who are creating a legacy through endowments.

01/12/2025

IN MEMORIAM: SARKIS BEDEVIAN

With deep sorrow, our ACEF family mourns the passing of Sarkis Bedevian, an esteemed, benevolent and ubiquitous advocate of global Armenian causes. Throughout his lifetime, Sarkis was immersed in the Armenian philanthropic community where he held many positions, including membership on the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Church of America. During his 14 years of service on the ACEF Board of Directors, Sarkis' valuable experience in financial and investment affairs provided insightful guidance and leadership. His love of family, faith and the Armenian culture and its people will forever inspire future generations. We extend our deepest condolences and comfort to the entire Bedevian family.

(photo #2: ACEF leadership with Sarkis Bedevian standing, fourth from right; photo #3: ACEF leadership with Sarkis Bedevian seated on right, fourth from front).

12/31/2024

BOARD MEETING INCLUDES 'FAREWELL & THANK YOU' TO LEGACY BOARD MEMBERS GREG ZORTHIAN & MELANIE DADOURIAN
ACEF’s Board of Directors gathered recently for their last meeting of 2024. Among the topics discussed were its investment portfolio presented by Bank of America Private Bank, communications strategies, and the many ways that ACEF serves parishes, the Eastern Diocese and their benefactors. They also bid farewell to Chairman Greg Zorthian and Communications Committee Chair Melanie Dadourian, who are completing their board terms at year end. Both are proud legacies of the organization, for Greg's father Barry Zorthian and Melanie's grandfather Dadour Dadourian were two of the founders of ACEF. Please join us in thanking Greg and Melanie for their outstanding leadership and commitment to ACEF!

12/20/2024

CELEBRATING GREG ZORTHIAN'S THREE DECADES OF SERVICE
ACEF's Board of Directors extends its heartfelt gratitude to Greg Zorthian for his 29 years of service, including the past three as chair and a break (2012-2014) due to term limits. Greg’s exemplary leadership, expertise and unwavering commitment to our mission has played a significant role in the organization's financial and strategic growth. Since joining ACEF in 1992, ACEF has grown from $16.5 million to $150.9 million in 2025*.

We thank Greg for his dedication and contributions and congratulate him on a job well done. His legacy inspires us to continue building a strong financial foundation for the Armenian Church and our beneficiaries. We wish Greg the best in all his future endeavors!

*as of 9/30/24

12/18/2024

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM ACEF! 🎁
Wishing our donors, beneficiaries and colleagues a very Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season. May you and your families enjoy the gifts of peace and love in good health throughout the season and coming year!

11/26/2024

This , the Armenian Church Endowment Fund - ACEF gives thanks for the trust and support our investors and partners have placed in our mission of building a solid financial foundation for the Armenian Church and our beneficiaries. We wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday.

10/28/2024

BUILDING UPON A LEGACY! Looking back to the 1996 ACEF Board of Directors meeting held at then-Chairman Suren Fesjian's office. From 1980 to 1996, under the leadership of Mr. Fesjian, ACEF reached new heights, growing from 51 donors and $1.5M in assets (which took eight years to reach) to more than 750 donors and $33.5M. As we celebrate our 51st year, we continue to be inspired by and build upon this legacy with 2,100 donors and assets valued at $146.2M as of 12/31/23. Visit acefinvest.org.

(Among those pictured are George Kassis, Col. Victor Arzoomanian, Hamo Darmanian, Zaven Dadekian and Greg Zorthian, ACEF's current Chair.)

10/14/2024

HONORING A LEGACY THROUGH ENDOWMENT
In 2020, the family of Edward Onanian established a $500,000 ACEF endowment in his memory to benefit the lay staff of the Eastern Diocese. The fund contributes annually to every participating employee's 403(b) retirement savings plan. “My father was a strong advocate for every member of the Diocesan staff,” said Laurie Onanian. “He greatly valued their hard work and dedication and wanted to provide a secure future for non-clergy workers. Dad was an economist with the US Labor Department and thus knew the importance of retirement plans and their impact on quality of life for one's golden years."

During his ten-year tenure serving on the Diocesan Council, the staff’s high level of dedication made a lasting impression on Edward. He felt it was his duty to make sure they had financial security by way of an annual retirement benefit.

Today, the "Edward Onanian Memorial Fund" has grown to $725,500 thanks in part to the family making annual gifts with a market value, as of June 30, 2024, of nearly $813,950. The Onanian family’s generosity and compassion showcases the way an ACEF endowment can honor a loved one and create a legacy that will have a significant impact on the Armenian Church community.

top photo #1: Edward Onanian with His Beatitude, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, who presented him with the St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal award in May 1987.

lower photo #2: Edward Onanian and family with His Beatitude, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian.

09/23/2024

Robert Cannuscio Recognized For Achievements
We are pleased to share the news that Robert Cannuscio, Armenian Church Endowment Fund - ACEF Board Member and Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath Partner, has been recognized in 2024 for his work in the field of Patent/Intellectual Property Law:

• Named among Best Lawyers® 2025 "Best Lawyers in America" report
• Ranked "Band 3" level for Intellectual Property Law in Pennsylvania in Chambers USA
• Listed in the World Trademark Review 1000 as one of the World’s Leading Trademark Professionals for Pennsylvania

Robert was first elected to the ACEF Board in 2013 and served three terms through 2021. He was once again elected to the ACEF Board in 2023 and currently serves as Corporate Secretary, a position he also held in 2022. ACEF values Robert’s sound counsel and his continued dedication to building a secure financial foundation for the Armenian Church and numerous ACEF beneficiaries. Please join us in congratulating Robert for his professional achievements and the leadership he brings to ACEF. Visit acefinvest.org.

09/11/2024

TEAM PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE! ACEF’s Executive Committee met on August 26th for its last quarterly session before the Fall Board of Directors meeting. Among the key items discussed were Year-to-Date Fund performance, Investment Strategy, Endowment Agreements and Succession Planning to ensure a smooth transition when Board members complete their term. The Executive Committee adheres to core principles of professionalism and mutual respect as it works to build a solid financial foundation for the Armenian Church.

(pictured clockwise from top left: Kirk Hachigian; Melanie Dadourian; Robert Cannuscio; Lisa Kazanjian; Greg Zorthian)

08/05/2024

We are delighted to share ACEF’s 2023 annual report. Review fiscal year fund performance, endowment activities, Board news, and the positive impact our mission has had on the Armenian Church and its community at https://acefinvest.org/about/news/reports/.

07/25/2024

Armenian Church Endowment Fund - ACEF's investment horizon is 15+ years, enabling us to mitigate market volatility and invest in unique illiquid assets to which individual organizations often don't have access. Visit ACEFinvest.org.

07/08/2024

We are delighted to share our advertisement celebrating ACEF's 50 years of investing as a community! It is featured in print and online editions of The Armenian Mirror-Spectator and underscores ACEF's longstanding mission of building a financial foundation for the Armenian Church. We look forward to another 50 years!

Address

630 Second Avenue
New York, NY
10016

Telephone

+12126860710

Website

https://acefinvest.org/

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