AMAA Summer Camp and Christmas Committee celebrates 10th annual "Christmas in October"

by Ani Janbazian

Published: Monday November 02, 2009

Summer Camp & Christmas Committee members with some of the AMAA staff: (seated L to R) Marie Alberian, Elbiz Baghdikian (Committee Chairperson), Lucy Janjigian (National Chairperson), Lucienne Aynilian (past Co-Chairperson), (standing L to R) Rev. Dr. René Léonian (AMAA Representative in Armenia), Dikran Youmshakian (AMAA Field Director), Magda Poulos (AMAA Development Director), Seta Nalbandian, Louisa Janbazian (Committee member and AMAA Publications/Public Relations Supervisor), Janet Avakian, Andrew Torigian (AMAA Executive Director), Adrienne Talanian, Rosemarie Goulian, Carol Goulian Stewart, Elizabeth Aynilian, Rose Torigian, Lily Anne Babigian and Ida Gueyikian..

Decorating the Christmas Tree with donation card ornaments .

Paramus, N.J. - The AMAA Summer Camp and Christmas Committee celebrated an early Christmas on October 7, raising about $20,000 for "Christmas Joy Packages" for needy children throughout Armenia, Karabakh, and Georgia. Some 25,000 of these children in 50 towns and villages eagerly anticipate the arrival of the Christmas season.

Each October the AMAA Summer Camp and Christmas Committee raises funds to provide their underprivileged Armenian little brothers and sisters an annual Christmas Program where they can hear the miracle of the Nativity Story in a theatrical presentation, worship with songs, and receive a Christmas Joy Package, which for many of them is the only gift they receive for Christmas.

This year, over 80 guests at the elegant Seasons restaurant in Washington Township, N.J., were seated at tables with a Christmas wreath in the center, which was adorned with red and white Christmas ball ornaments tied with strings to donation cards. A lone, empty Christmas tree in the center of the ballroom was soon completely decorated with signed donation cards, each ornament symbolizing at least one child who will receive a gift of joy this coming Christmas season.

The luncheon began with a word of welcome from Summer Camp/Christmas Committee Chairperson Elbiz Baghdikian, who introduced Rev. Dr. René Leonian, AMAA Armenia representative, to give the luncheon prayer.  Rev. Leonian then introduced a special guest, Ms. Lilit Galstyan from Armenia.

Ms. Galstyan was a recipient of AMAA's help in many ways; one of them was the receipt of infant formula from the AMAA's Armenian Children's Milk Fund during the first few years of her life when she was unable to receive her mother's milk. Although public-health experts strongly encourage extended breastfeeding over bottle feeding, it appears that in Ms. Galstyan's particular case, the formula saved her life. Now 17 years old and healthy, Ms. Galstyan thanked the AMAA and recited an Armenian poem.  

Greetings were given by Lucy Janjigian, national chairperson of the Summer Camp and Christmas Committee, followed by a moving video of impoverished families in villages in Armenia and children receiving necessary care packages and Christmas gifts from AMAA.

The Armenia Summer Camp and Christmas Committee volunteers organize the annual fund raiser to bring some joy into each Christmas season for Armenian children.  On this 10th anniversary of the committee's formation, Andrew Torigian, AMAA executive director, recognized chairpersons Lucy Janjigian and Elbiz Baghdikian, past co-chairperson Lucienne Aynilian, and present and past committee members, who were called to the stage to receive a plaque and a round of applause.

The program concluded with a performance by the Harmonia Chamber Players and a prayer by AMAA Field Director Dikran Youmshakian.

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