AMAA Boston Child Care “Hyeminds” 2024 Features Kev Orkian in Support of Avedisian School

By Christopher Abidian

The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) held “Hyeminds,” to support the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School in Yerevan, Armenia, on November 7 at the Wellesley Country Club in Wellesley, MA.

With 200 guests in attendance, the evening began with guitar virtuoso John Baboian provided background music. Meanwhile, a live auction items was held with including a diamond bracelet donated by Long’s Jewelers in Burlington, round-trip first-class airfares to London or Paris, a golf foursome, and more.

The program opened with Co-Chairs Susan Adamian Covo and Phyllis Dohanian offering their welcome and talking about the event’s roots. They took a moment to remember AMAA’s late Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian.

Clergy took the stage next offering prayers, led by Rev. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian from the Holy Trinity Armenian Church, followed by Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian of the St. James Armenian Apostolic Church, Pastor Aram Bedrossian of the Armenian Memorial Church, and Father Ghazar Bedrossian of the Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church.

Jeanmarie Papelian, a member of the Armenian Educational Foundation and AMAA committee, next introduced a video with footage from the Avedisian School. Melanya Geghamyan, Avedisian School Principal, told viewers, “This school is unique, in the sense that is has been created to give the best education to the socially vulnerable and to the families that cannot afford [schools such as this]. The school gives quality education and serves a diverse array of students. Armenians from China, Syria, Ukraine, Russia and of course from Artsakh. Since October of last year, after their displacement, 44 students and two kindergarteners from Artsakh were accepted into the school…teachers too.”

Following dinner, Stephanie Stepanian extended the AMAA’s thanks to those that evening who sponsored Avedisian School students – and introduced the special guest of the night British-Armenian Kev Orkian. Kev is an award-winning actor, musician, motivational speaker and stand-up comedian. He told hilarious anecdotes, relatable stories, and given that Kev recently visited the Avedisian School in Yerevan in person, inspiring experiences too. He even played an extraordinary piano piece he wrote while on Mt. Ararat – an ode to the Homeland.

After a tribute to the Avedisian School from Papelian, Kev showed he was worthy of adding “auctioneer” to his list of talents, leading a live auction.