Armenia Tree Project (ATP) has announced the addition of Maral Habeshian to the organization’s US staff as Western Region Development Director.
“The growth and influence of the Armenian-American community on the West Coast is a force to be reckoned with. We quickly understood that with the third largest concentration of Armenians in the world outside of Armenia and Russia, California needed a strong ATP presence,” said Managing Director Tom Garabedian. “We’re proud to have Maral on our team to continue the work done by Hermine Mahmouzian and to work in collaboration with Anahit Gharibyan.”
Maral’s experience in working with development projects includes working with the World Bank and IMF missions to Armenia, and the Armenian Relief Society’s earthquake relief initiatives in the aftermath of the December 1988 Spitak earthquake.
More recently, Maral worked with Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian and headed marketing and development for the joint USC-Children’s Hospital Los Angeles fetal therapy program, as well as development initiatives and community outreach at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. She was also the English section editor of Asbarez Armenian Newspaper and the project director of the inaugural ANCA National Telethon.
“It’s a privilege to work for an organization that is improving Armenia’s environment with its planting and reforestation efforts and long-term socioeconomic development of villages. ATP is heightening environmental awareness throughout Armenia, and most important, by teaching respect for the environment both in Armenia and in the Diaspora, it is nurturing a new generation,” noted Ms. Habeshian. “I am excited to help raise awareness of these amazing programs and develop broad support in California and beyond.”
ATP’s mission is to develop Armenia through community-based tree planting and environmental education. ATP seeks to reverse the loss of Armenia’s forest cover and to advocate for the sustainable use of our natural resources. ATP’s three major programs are tree planting, environmental education, and sustainable development initiatives. For more information, please visit the website www.armeniatree.org.