Since 1999, the Paros Foundation’s principle supporters, the Strauch-Kulhanjian Family, have worked to raise awareness of Armenia’s rich culture and promote it on the world stage.
Formally launched in 2006, the Paros Foundation is based in Berkeley, California, USA.

The Paros Foundation’s goal though supporting the capable and unique Paros Chamber Choir is to inspire people world-wide with regards to Armenia’s rich culture. Simultaneously, the Foundation hopes to raise awareness and help improve the conditions for those with disabilities in Armenia.

The Foundation welcomes the involvement of our friends around the world.

About the Chairman
Roger Strauch is chairman of The Roda Group, a venture development company, based in Berkeley, California. His firm, co-founded in 1997 with Dan Miller, provides entrepreneurs the environment, resources, and guidance to launch and grow their high technology businesses. 
 
Mr. Strauch is on the board of directors of four private companies, Polyserve, SightSpeed, Touchpoint, and GameReady. 
 
He is the first CEO and the former chairman of Ask Jeeves, a leading provider of advanced search technologies and services. He is the former CEO of Symmetricom, a telecommunications equipment manufacturer. In 1983 he co-founded TCSI Corp., a telecom software company. As TCSI’s chairman and CEO, Mr. Strauch was responsible for growing the company from start-up to over $60M in annual revenues. TCSI completed a successful IPO in 1991 and secondary public offering in 1996.   
 
Mr. Strauch is a member of the Engineering Dean’s College Advisory Boards of Cornell University and University of California at Berkeley. He is the recipient of the 2002 Wheeler Oak Meritorious Award from the University of California at Berkeley. He is an executive member of the Board of Trustees for the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley and President Emeritus of the Berkeley Repertory Theater. He is a Life Trustee of the Armenian Assembly of America. 
 
Mr. Strauch endowed the Roger A. Strauch Chair in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and co-founded the William Saroyan Endowment for Armenian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. With Mr. Miller, he helped establish the Ask Jeeves Planetarium at the Chabot Space and Science Center and the Roda Theater at the Berkeley Repertory Theater, winner of the 1997 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre.  Mr. Strauch is the principal sponsor of the Paros Chamber Choir of Armenia, which is composed of disabled musicians. 
 
Mr. Strauch earned a Bachelor of Science degree, with distinction, from Cornell University and Master of Science degree from Stanford University, both in electrical engineering. He holds two patents in the area of wireless communications.

About the Executive Director
Peter Abajian served as the Director of the Armenian Assembly of America’s Western Office located in Beverly Hills, California.  In this capacity, Mr. Abajian worked with both the Armenian community and the Congress to promote a stronger US/Armenia relationship, while simultaneously working to expand the Armenian Assembly’s membership and financial support in the West.

In late 2002 Mr. Abajian was promoted to Deputy Executive Director responsible for oversight of the Western Office and national development.  Serving in this capacity until 2006, Mr. Abajian spearheaded efforts to raise new financial support, organized several successful national events, and served as one of the organization’s chief spokespeople. 

From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Abajian worked with the San Fernando Valley Association for the Retarded--New Horizons, one of the largest facilities serving adults with developmental disabilities in Southern California.  As the organization’s Marketing Director, Mr. Abajian was responsible for raising funds to support the programs including residential group homes, sheltered work shop, work training and activity center programs. 

1988 to 1991 Mr. Abajian worked at the Armenian Assembly’s headquarters in Washington, DC serving as Director of the Assembly’s Summer Intern Program.  Mr. Abajian’s first exposure to the Armenian Assembly came in 1986 when he served as an Intern in Washington with Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) through the Assembly’s Program.

Mr. Abajian received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and took graduate courses in Business and Marketing at George Washington University in Washington, DC. 
He and his wife, Houry, are proud parents of identical twin daughters.