OVER 170 SUPPORTERS ATTEND A GALA DINNER IN LOS ANGELES TO BENEFITACCESS TO CARE NONPROFIT DENTAL CLINIC IN ARMENIA PROVIDING ORAL CARE TO MARTYRED SOLDIERS’ RELATIVES; WOUNDED SOLDIERS, THEIR FAMILIES

On Sunday May 4, over 170 members of the Los Angeles American Armenian community filled the Vertigo Event Venue hall to full capacity for a fundraising dinner for a worthwhile charitable cause: ACCESS TO CARE, a charitable dental center in Yerevan. The inauguration of the clinic took place in Yerevan in June 2022 with the participation of Mr. Chip Laitinen, Chargé d’Affaires of U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
According to a report given during dinner, since its founding in 2022, over 1,130 wounded soldiers, their family members and the family members of martyred soldiers became beneficiaries of the free-of-charge dental services being provided by ACCESS TO CARE.
In the immediate aftermath of the 2020’s 44-Day War, a number of Armenians and their friends mobilized to help Armenia civil society recover from the calamity of the war. The devastation of the Second Artsakh War resulted in the deaths of 4000 servicemen and women and left over 11,000 wounded.
Well-known dentist Dr. Arutyun Saryan and his two dentist sons Dr. Khachatur Saryan and Dr. David Saryan decided to bring their share in the area of their expertise – dental hygiene. They pooled their financial resources and established ACCESS TO CARE non-profit organization in USA and Armenia in order to address the dire need experienced by the Armenian wounded soldiers, their family members and the family members of martyred soldiers.
“Our initiative is dedicated to providing oral care to these brave men and women, many of whom have suffered long term injuries to their physical and psychological well being. In honor of their sacrifices, our endowment also includes care to their loved ones and family members. Though we can never fully repay them for their dedication, we believe that restoring smiles and oral health helps them to regain their identities as important and successful members of society,” said Dr. Arutyun Saryan.
To date ACCESS TO CARE non-profit organization in USA and Armenia enabled its charitable dental center in Yerevan to serve over 1,300 soldiers and their family members, for a combined total of over $500,000 in free dental care including cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, dentures, and implants.
“Now there is huge demand because the government’s resources are limited but the military families’ dental hygiene needs are greater than the available resources. That’s why we all need to pitch in,” said Dr. Armen Hakobjanyan, a supporter of ACCESS TO CARE and founder of Eternal Nation, a non-profit charitable organization – a foundation for a better Armenian future.
In addition to providing care for soldiers, ACCESS TO CARE clinic employs 16 full time staff members, including licensed dentists, assistants, receptionists, lab technicians, and cleaning/maintenance staff who are provided a livable and fair wages.
Those who couldn’t attend but would like to support this most worthwhile project in Armenia and help ACCESS TO CARE to meet a great need, can send in their donations. Please mail your check to: ACCESS TO CARE, 6501 Foothill Blvd. #204B, Tujunga, CA 91042. Donations can also be made via Zelle to Accesstocare@outlook.com.