Armenian General Benevolent Union

The Armenian General Benevolent Union abbreviated as AGBU, (Armenian: Հայկական Բարեգործական Ընդհանուր Միություն, in Western Armenian Հայ Բարեգործական Ընդհանուր Միութիուն Hay Parekordzagan Enthanour Miyutyun abbreviated as Հ.Բ.Ը.Մ., French: L'Union Générale Arménienne de Bienfaisance abbreviated as UGAB, Spanish: Union General Armenia de Beneficencia abbreviated as UGAB) is a non-profit Armenian organization. It was established in Cairo, Egypt in 1906. With the onset of World War II, headquarters were moved to New York City, New York.

With an annual international budget of $36 million,[1] AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 35 countries. In 2006, the AGBU celebrated its centenary in its headquarters in New York City.[1]

Contents

Activities

Centers, Chapters and Offices

Education

AGBU operates 18 day schools and 15 Saturday (one-day) schools. Some of the important schools run by the AGBU include:

It awards scholarship grants and loans to more than 500 students worldwide; it supports the American University of Armenia and Yerevan State University.

The Union has funded a number of benevolent causes, including supporting the Lord Byron School, which was donated by the British government following the earthquake in Armenia in 1988. The school has continued to twin with the Holgate School in Nottingham.[2]

Youth and Culture

Through its extensive global network of 75 chapters, young professionals groups, centers and offices, the organization sponsors numerous worthwhile cultural and humanitarian programs, including children's centers, soup kitchens, summer camps, athletics and Scouts, internship and mentoring programs and the performing arts. It claims to be the world's largest non-profit Armenian organization.[3]

Publications

With more than a dozen publications in six languages, AGBU has a rich publishing tradition[4]

Presidents

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "About AGBU". Armenian General Benevolent Union. http://www.agbu.org/aboutagbu/default.asp. Retrieved 2008-08-12. 
  2. ^ Obituary for George S. Kurkjian, 2005
  3. ^ "AGBU promotes the Armenian heritage around the world.". AGBU Press Office (Armenian General Benevolent Union). 2008-03-18. http://www.agbu.org/pressoffice/article.asp?ID=491. Retrieved 2008-08-12. 
  4. ^ Listing of AGBU publications worldwide

External links

AGBU Regional:

AGBU Schools:

Others:

Armenian General Benevolent Union
Presidents
Traditional areas of Armenian settlement
Greater Caucasus
Fomer Soviet Union
Americas
Europe
Middle East
Bahrain · Egypt · Iran · Iraq · Israel  · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon · Qatar · Syria · Turkey · United Arab Emirates
Asia
Africa
Oceania