On May 25th, 2004 in Yerevan, Orran officially opened the doors of its newly-constructed center in the heart of the capital city's downtown area. The four-floor building, which includes four classrooms, a library, a computer room, a social activity area, a dental office, and a well-appointed garden, will serve more than 65 vagrant children and 40 needy elderly.
Joining in the festivities were Constitutional Court Justice, Vladimir Hovhannisian, Minister of Social Welfare Aghvan Vardanian, and other government officials; US Ambassador John Ordway, Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente, German Ambassador Hans-Wulf Bartels, Greek Ambassador Antonios Vlavianos, and other representatives of the diplomatic corps; General Arkadiy Ter-Tadevosian and other leaders of public and non-governmental organizations; and noted intellectuals, academicians, and people of the arts.
The 300 guests were greeted by Orran founders, Armine and Raffi K. Hovannisian and by Orran Board members, Susan Klein, Arshavir Kapoudjian, Aram Harutiunian, and Nick Gilmour. Orran benefactors, Krikor and Anna Krikorian of the United Kingdom were on hand for the occasion.
The red ribbon, symbolizing the threshold of the new Center, was cut by the youngest and oldest members of the Orran family, Mariam Andrikian, age 5, and Tsoghik Sevoyan, 86. After prayers offered by Father Shahe Hairapetian and Father Dajad Davidian, the children performed together with their good friend, star singer, Arthur Ispirian. Krik Krikorian thanked the many people who had made the grand opening possible, recalling the living legacy of his own parents, which he was fulfilling on this day. The program concluded with a beautiful song rendition and dance performance by the young children of Orran.
"We have come a long way from the day we were founded four years ago in a small two-room apartment that accommodated 16 children. But thanks to the wonderful friends of Orran--Gerard and Cleo Cafesjian, Carolyn Mugar, Krikor and Anna Krikorian, the Hovannisian and Kotcholosian families, and so many others--we were able to build this comfortable haven for the children and the elderly. The new facilities will permit us to provide better education and services for the children," Armine Hovannisian said.
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