Our Mission

The Shnorig Minassian Armenian Education Fund (SMAEF) was established in 2021 to honor and perpetuate the legacy of our namesake. Shnorig Minassian devoted her life to providing the Armenian diaspora with opportunities to preserve and advance our heritage worldwide.

Our dedication to this cause stems from the belief that Armenian language, history, dance, food, art, and overall culture are essential components of the Armenian identity. In the ever-growing diaspora, we strive to ensure our community remains resilient and interconnected, both with each other and our ancestors. This connection is fostered through the spaces we gather in, our celebrations, and the educators and storytellers who unite us.

Who Was Shnorig?

Shnorig Minassian, born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1934, was the eldest of four siblings. Her parents, survivors of the Armenian Genocide from Adana, Cilicia in the Ottoman Empire, instilled in her an unwavering commitment to preserving and spreading the culture, language, and history of the Armenian people. After immigrating to the United States with her husband and four sons in the 1980s, she continued her mission within the diaspora community. Spending twenty-three years with the Kirikian school, contributing to the choir at St. Thomas Armenian Church in Tenafly, New Jersey, and contributing her many talents across many different Armenian cultural programs in the area, her lasting dedication was to Armenian education.

May 15 Requiem Service and Luncheon

On May 15th, 2022, the Minassian family hosted a memorial lunch and requiem service at St. Thomas Armenian Church in Tenafly, NJ in honor of the 2-year anniversary of Shnorig’s passing. Following the church service, SMAEF was introduced with speakers from the Minassian family.