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Mer Doon (“Our Home”) NGO, established in 2005, opened its first home in Etchmiadzin, Armenia in October 2006. Mer Doon provides a family environment for young adults in Armenia who have outgrown their childhood home in Armenian orphanages, or who come from seriously disadvantaged lifestyles. Because of Mer Doon, these young adults have now been given the opportunity to become productive members of Armenian Society, instead of being forced to live far more devastating lives on the streets and in less than honorable vocations.
The first facility, located near the Holy See of the Armenian Church, has the capacity to provide a home for up to fourteen young adults, and is currently providing a full-time family environment for the first time in the lives of 10 young women. Each young woman is required to further their education; each is pursuing a skill or vocation that will enable them to enter the Armenian work force. In addition, the residents receive a religious education, learn French, Russian and English languages in-house, and are trained by staff in personal and social skills.
In an effort to give back to society, the residents visit regional orphanages, returning to their childhood homes, and interact with the children to show them that hope for the future exists. Local educators, government officials, and representatives of the Church regularly visit Mer Doon and provide assistance and support. Operating costs include food, clothing, utilities, on-site staff and educational supplies, maintenance, transportation, and related expenses.
Our Home – Mer Doon, Inc. is the United States fund-raising support organization for Mer Doon NGO. Its Board of Directors is bi-coastal, and consists of leaders of the Armenian Community who are committed to bringing a brighter future to young adults in Armenia. In addition to fund-raising, the Board provides oversight and direction to the staff and program directors in Armenia, and is currently working on long-range planning for the future growth of the program. The organization enjoys the sponsorship of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and many other charitable organizations. |
 U.S. BOARD
Julie Ashekian — U.S. Program Director (Kensington, Connecticut)
Julie Ashekian's work with orphans began shortly after the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. She served as National Coordinator of Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP) from 1992-2003, when numerous construction and renovation projects were accomplished under her guidance. During her tenure with CASP, the needs of more than 9000 orphans were addressed. Ms. Ashekian founded Mer Doon along with Armenia based co-founder Tigranoohi Karapetian and serves as a U.S. Board liaison for the program. In addition to considering the thousands of orphans in Armenia as her own family, Ms. Ashekian is a mother of a son and daughter, and is a grandmother.
Adrienne L. Krikorian — President (Woodland Hills, California)
Adrienne L. Krikorian, Esq., is a California business and real estate attorney, and an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. She has devoted her volunteer work over the past forty years to a variety of non-profit organizations focusing on the needs of youth and others in need. She has been an active leader in the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, has served on the Board of Directors of Haven Hills, Inc. (a shelter for victims of domestic violence), and, most recently, Our Home-Mer Doon, Inc. Ms. Krikorian has served her local parish, St. Peter Armenian Church in Van Nuys, since the 1970’s; as a two-term member of the Western Diocese Diocesan Council; and on various boards and committees on the Diocesan level. Ms. Krikorian is currently chairman of the legal committee for the Western Diocese and was recently elected the 2007-2008 Diocesan Assembly Chairman. She joined the U.S. Board of Directors in March 2006 and became President in January 2007.
Garo Garibian, M.D. — Vice-President (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Dr. Garo Garibian, M.D., received his undergraduate degree at Princeton University and his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He has a busy Cardiology practice in Philadelphia and is the chief of Cardiology at Jeanes Hospital. Dr. Garibian, ordained as a deacon in 1989, has devoted his life to service in the Armenian Church on the Parish and Diocesan level. After the devastating 1988 earthquake, Dr. Garibian visited Armenia numerous times bringing medicines and supplies, acting as an ambassador for the motherland. Dr. Garibian is a benefactor and supporter of Mer Doon, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and numerous other charitable organizations in the United States.
Clement Ashekian — Secretary/Treasurer (Kensington, Connecticut)
Upon his retirement from IBM in 1991 as a Computer Systems Engineer, Clement Ashekian assumed the volunteer position as administrative director of CASP, along with his wife Julie. He has served the Armenian Church as a leader on both the Parish and Diocesan levels.
Robert Karanian, Esq. — Advisor (New Britain, Connecticut)
Robert Karanian is an attorney in New Britain, Connecticut. In addition to serving as an advisor on the U.S. Board, Mr. Karanian assisted Julie and Clement Ashekian in the original formation of the U.S. corporation and obtaining tax exempt status with the IRS.
Tanya Paretchan — Advisor (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Tanya Paretchan, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduated from Philadelphia College of Art. She is the owner and president of “Three Trees Fine Art and Custom Framing.” Ms Paretchan was an art teacher at the local Armenian Sisters Academy and additionally taught pre-school and nursery at Holy Trinity Armenian Church Sunday School in Cheltenham, Pa. She is actively involved in the local Armenian community and in her parish. Ms. Paretchan contributes her artistic and business skills to the Mer Doon Board of Directors, coordinating the design and development of the Mer Doon logo, website and publicity materials. She also serves as a liaison with the program directors and NGO Board in Armenia.
Deacon Barlow Der Mugrdechian — Advisor (Fresno, California)
Barlow Der Mugrdechian received his M.A. and C. Philosophy degrees from UCLA, where he majored in Armenian Language and Literature through the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Literatures. For the past twenty years he has taught Armenian language, history, literature, culture, church and a variety of courses on Armenia and the Armenians at California State University at Fresno. Dn. Der Mugrdechian, who is currently serving as the Chairman of the Western Diocese Diocesan Council, has been an active leader of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, serving in leadership roles both on the Parish and Diocesan level.
Rev. Fr. Sarkis Petoyan — Advisor (San Francisco, California)
Father Sarkis Petoyan is a graduate of California State University at Northridge with a B.A. in Humanities, St. Nerses Armenian Theological Seminary in New York and St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, where he earned a Master of Divinity. Ordained in 1998, Fr. Sarkis has served as the parish priest of St. John Armenian Church of San Francisco since his ordination. Fr. Sarkis was recently elevated by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, to Avak Kahana (Archpriest). For the past ten years, as part of his ministry and commitment to Armenia, Fr. Sarkis, and his wife Taleen, have led pilgrimages to Armenia for members of the Western Diocese. In 2008, Fr. Sarkis will lead 34 pilgrims to Armenia, and they will visit Mer Doon as part of their itinerary. Prior to his education and ordination to the priesthood, Father Sarkis worked in the financial industry as a bank manager. Fr. Sarkis and his wife are the proud parents of a daughter, Grace (Shnorig).
Varouj Altebarmakian, M.D. — (Fresno, California)
Varouj Altebarmakian, M.D., received his medical degree from the American University of Beirut in 1974. He is a Board Certified Urologist. Dr. Altebarmakian is Physician in Chief of The Permanente Medical Group in Fresno. He is also an active servant of the Armenian Church, serving on the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, several terms as Chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Western Diocese, and as a leader on the Parish level. Dr. Altebarmakian is actively involved in the future program planning and fund raising efforts of the U.S. Board of Mer Doon. |
