Square One Restaurants and the Children of Armenia Fund Join Hands to Bring Holiday Baskets to Underprivileged Families

Armavir District, Republic of Armenia, December 24, 2007 — As part of the social component of its Participatory Integrated Rural Development Program, the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) has partnered with Square One Restaurants to distribute holiday food baskets to 368 vulnerable families in the Model Cluster including elderly and low-income families.  “This is a perfect example of private-public partnership, and we are so proud that it is formed in time to bring cheers to hundreds of families for the holidays,” stated Dr. Arpie Balian, COAF Country Director.

COAF’s Participatory Integrated Rural Development program is implemented in the Model Cluster, including Argina, Dalarik, Lernagog, Karakert, Myasnikyan and Shenik communities and benefiting a population of more than 16,000.  The program components include healthcare, social assistance and development, education reform, infrastructure rehabilitation and economic revival.  Realized as part of its social assistance program component, this year’s holiday gifts to the underprivileged population included clothes, shoes, food and miscellaneous supplies.

“This gift is just in time for the holidays,” stated 82-year-old Marusya Ghazaryan.  “This is the third year that COAF is working in our village and has changed our lives around.  We don’t feel left out, abandoned or isolated.  Just seeing them in our village brings hope and belief in tomorrow.  This gift basket containing sweets, dried fruit and a variety of nuts will help us celebrate the holidays in the old Armenian tradition.  I am so grateful.”

Mr. Koryun Minasyan, Shenik Village Mayor, expressed his personal gratitude for this specific project. “I am convinced that my colleagues from neighboring villages will agree with me that the Children of Armenia Fund is always in the right place, at the right time. The village government welcomes COAF’s efforts and all my staff is ready to provide the necessary support and participation in the implementation of other development projects.  We are closing the year on much better ground and looking forward to next year with a more positive attitude.  All of these improvements and little steps forward for our community have been realized because of you!” 

This partnership was also targeted to assist dozens of larger families in meeting their daily needs.  The feedback received from project beneficiaries has been heart-warming.  “We can’t but be thankful for this continuous assistance,” says Sanam Sahradyan, mother of seven children from Lernagog.  “We feel COAF’s supportive hand not only in the community, but also in our personal lives, in providing us with reliable health services and improving the standards of education for our children.”

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Square One Restaurants is an eatery chain operating in Armenia, currently with three locations in Yerevan and Zvartnots International Airport, and serving up to 800 people everyday.  The company was founded in 2004 by Sam Samuelian and Stepan Panosian, Diaspora Armenians who moved to Armenia 6 years ago. They founded the Square One Restaurant chain with the vision of improving service and hygiene standards in the restaurant industry in Armenia.  Key staff of Square One Restaurants are certified by the American National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation for food safety and by the American Hotel and Lodging Association as Hospitality Trainers.  Additionally, Square One is a longstanding partner of organizations such as the Ministry of Social Affairs Unemployment Agency, the American University of Armenia Business School and the American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia. Square One is a founding member and president of the Armenian Restaurant Association.

CONTACTS: Sunny Uberoi, (212) 994-8206; or e-mail info@coafkids.org