Andrea Tilbian Halejian Memorial Fund

The Andrea Tilbian Halejian Memorial Fund memorializes Andrea Tilbian Halejian.

Contributions keep her spirit of kindness and compassion alive and enable the Fund’s mission to support the charities and activities she cared about during her lifetime.

Andrea Tilbian Halejian (1952-2014), was a vibrant and impassioned wife, mother, daughter, niece, aunt, cousin and friend whose life ended much too soon. An active and enthusiastic leader in her church, St. Leon Armenian Church of Fair Lawn NJ, Andrea directed many valuable programs to include cooking for a community shelter, running twice-annual blood drives, co-chairing Diocesan assemblies, teaching Sunday School and supporting Camp Nubar activities and events. In her wider community, she chaired the Coolidge School (Wyckoff, NJ) bike rally, initiated an art docent program at Coolidge School, worked with the Girl Scouts, helped with many school programs and was a spirited supporter of elementary school, high school and college athletics. A kind, dedicated, loyal and compassionate person, Andrea touched many lives through her sensitivity, optimism, and boundless energy.

The Andrea Tilbian Halejian Memorial Fund is established to sustain those qualified charitable organizations that Andrea supported. Grants may also be given to a graduating high school senior of Armenian descent who best demonstrates the values that Andrea cared about so deeply, including academic achievement, community involvement, leadership, and most importantly, placing others before self.

Since the Fund’s founding, a range of organizations received grants to support various causes.  These organizations include the Fund for Armenian Relief, the Center for Peace, and Justice & Reconciliation (PJR) at Bergen Community College.  The NNJCF’s Fund also awarded grants to the Center for Food Action, Vitalant and Eva’s Village.  Recent grants were awarded to KEYS (Kids Empowered by Your Support, Inc.), Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, Careers Through Culinary Arts Program and LA Family Housing.

In 2022, a grant of $13,5000 was awarded to the Armenian International Medical Fund (AIM Fund) in Glendale, California. The grant supports the AIM Fund’s program to provide children and young adults with cochlear implants in the Caucasus region in Europe.  Learn more about this grant award.

Enjoy this song written and performed in Andrea’s honor by Jeff Allen and Linda Araz Berenson: