History

Although the Foundation has assisted in a number of fund raising activities for well established children's aid agencies throughout its 22 years of existence, it has also produced several high-profile concerts for specific emergency causes. In 1987 the Foundation staged an emergency concert at the Royal Festival Hall, again in aid of the Birds' Nest Orphanage, during the civil war in Lebanon.

His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, and former Prime Minister, Lady Margaret Thatcher, supported the concert. The Foundation was able to assist Aid Armenia in building St. Nareg Children Hospital, the opening ceremony of which was on 25th April 1992.

In the 1990s, through his professional engagements Mr Melkonian personally raised money for the street-children in Guatemala, for children in Bosnia and for his ongoing work in Ethiopia.

On 20th May 1999, the Foundation staged the Children of Kosovo concert at the Royal Albert Hall to support Save the Children's ongoing work in the Balkans. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Choral Society, Amanda Roocroft, Sally Burgess, Willard White, Stephen Kovacevich and many more leading artists gave their services free.

On 28 June 2005, Ragheb Alama, the Lebanese superstar, gave a concert at the Royal Albert Hall to befit the Melkonian Foundation's work with children in Lebanon

Until now the Foundation has worked on a project-by-project basis in times of emergencies, raising funds to aid children orphaned as a result of wars or natural disasters. Chaired by Mr Melkonian, members of the committee have donated their time and services to administer the Foundation's projects, thus maximising the level of the funds for the less fortunate. Based on this principle, the Foundation now intends to support specific orphanages on a regular basis with money raised by an on-going fundraising programme.

The fundamental role of the Foundation is to raise awareness worldwide of the problems confronting homeless children and orphans each day.

The Melkonian Foundation - working with people for the benefit of children in need.

A brief history Miss Maria Jacobsen, a missionary from Denmark, saved many children, orphaned in the Middle East as a result of the First World War, from starvation and disease. In 1928 she founded the Birds' Nest Orphanage in Byblos, Lebanon. The Danish Philanthropic Association and K. M. A. (Women Missionary Workers), provided funds for the Orphanage for more than sixty years. In July 1970 the ownership and administration of the orphanage was transferred to the local authorities in Lebanon.		Maria Jacobsen
The Foundation's first fund raising event was the 'World Song Festival' at the Royal Albert Hall in 1983 in aid of both the National Children's Home, and the orphanage in which Mr Melkonian was brought up.
Although the Foundation has assisted in a number of fund raising activities for well established children's aid agencies throughout its 22 years of existence, it has also produced several high-profile concerts for specific emergency causes. In 1987 the Foundation staged an emergency concert at the Royal Festival Hall, again in aid of the Birds' Nest Orphanage, during the civil war in Lebanon.
In 1989, following the devastating earthquake in Armenia, the Foundation staged a special emergency concert Orphans of Armenia at the Royal Festival Hall for the benefit of the 15,000 children orphaned as a result of the disaster. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, along with Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Igor Oistrakh, John Ogdon, Brenda Lucas, Julian Lloyd Webber, and many other leading artists gave their services free.
His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, and former Prime Minister, Lady Margaret Thatcher, supported the concert. The Foundation was able to assist Aid Armenia in building St. Nareg Children Hospital, the opening ceremony of which was on 25th April 1992.
In the 1990s, through his professional engagements Mr Melkonian personally raised money for the street-children in Guatemala, for children in Bosnia and for his ongoing work in Ethiopia.
On 20th May 1999, the Foundation staged the Children of Kosovo concert at the Royal Albert Hall to support Save the Children's ongoing work in the Balkans. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Choral Society, Amanda Roocroft, Sally Burgess, Willard White, Stephen Kovacevich and many more leading artists gave their services free.
In March 2000, the Foundation launched the 5p a word 'Poetry Competition 2000' in schools nationwide. The Competition was supported personally by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
On 15th April 2003 the Foundation staged 'Favorite Classics' at the Royal Festival Hall with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Vartan Melkonian as the Conductor, for the benefit of the orphanage in which he himself was brought up.
To herald the 2003 Christmas season at the Royal Festival Hall, Vartan Melkonian conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra on 1st December 2003 to benefit Save the Children's work in Iraq.
On 23rd May 2004, Kazem Al Sahir, gave a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of the Melkonian Foundation's work with Children of the Middle East
On 28 June 2005, Ragheb Alama, the Lebanese superstar, gave a concert at the Royal Albert Hall to befit the Melkonian Foundation's work with children in Lebanon
1July 2005 An Audience with Vartan Melkonian and the London Chamber Orchestra,was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on. Vartan told the remarkable story of Maria Jacobsen and then conducted the orchestra with a classical programme: Mozart, Faure and Beethoven.
Until now the Foundation has worked on a project-by-project basis in times of emergencies, raising funds to aid children orphaned as a result of wars or natural disasters. Chaired by Mr Melkonian, members of the committee have donated their time and services to administer the Foundation's projects, thus maximising the level of the funds for the less fortunate. Based on this principle, the Foundation now intends to support specific orphanages on a regular basis with money raised by an on-going fundraising programme.
The fundamental role of the Foundation is to raise awareness worldwide of the problems confronting homeless children and orphans each day. The Melkonian Foundation - working with people for the benefit of children in need.