Christian and Charitable Organizations Awarded $20 Million in Armenian Genocide Settlement
Nine Armenian Christian and charitable organizations began receiving a part of the $20 million settlement between descendants of Armenians who perished in the first genocide of the 20th century and the New York Life Insurance Company.
The nine organizations, including New York's Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Burbank-based Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and New Jersey's Armenian Missionary Association of America, Inc., were chosen for helping Armenians flee from the Turkish Ottoman Empire to the United States during the genocide of 1915, during which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were massacred.
According to Armen Hampar, a member of the Western Diocese, the fund will be a great benefit to the diocese.
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“It would be a great benefit to the diocese. All these organizations are building and have the need for funds, and obviously that kind of contribution to us is going to be very meaningful," said Hampar. "We're looking forward to it and it will certainly enable the diocese to pursue new programs and enhance the ones that are now in effect."
According to reports, many of the thousands of Armenians who purchased insurance policies were massacred during the genocide, and the rightful policy heirs were unable or uninformed of the compensation.
The suit to claim those funds was settled after 5 years of deliberations in January, 2004.
Potential heirs of the policyholders have until March 15 to file a claim for the portion of the $20 million settlement, or their rights will be waved.
Please box: For more information on the settlement or to obtain a Notice of Claim form, call (866) 422-0124 or visit www.armenianinsurancesettlement.com
