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Philanthropic Organizations
The Lincy Foundation
Founder: Kirk Kerkorian
Kirk Kerkorian is an American with an Armenian heritage. Kerkorian was a former welterweight boxing champion in the amateur ranks prior to World War II, a former combat pilot for the British Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and a private Cessna pilot after.
Kerkorian went to become a successful businessman in Las Vegas after the war. He was involved in the establishment of Las Vegas’ trademark hotels, the Caesars Palace and the Flamingo (now Hilton Las Vegas). He entered the movie industry with the buyout of MGM and did business in the automobile industry as a stakeholder of General Motors.
Areas of Interest:
- Education
- Social Services
More about the Lincy Foundation and its Notable Projects/Programs:
The Lincy Foundation was named after Kerkorian’s two daughters, Tracy and Linda. The Foundation’s aim is to help improve the lives of the Armenian people, primarily in education and social services. The Foundation has collaborated with several non-profit organizations in doing charitable projects in Armenia.
Most notable of these partnerships is with the Catholic Medical Mission Board, to whom the Lincy Foundation has made crucial contributions to cover the costs incurred by the Catholic Medical Mission Board’s program Healing Help. The donation made an impact on the Mission’s goal to lessen the effects of the healthcare crisis in Armenia and help support the country’s hospitals, many of which are undermanned and have outdated medical equipment.
Other projects of the Lincy Foundation include the reconstruction of major buildings, roads and other infrastructures (bridges, etc.), renovation of cultural and historic sites, construction and repairs of most churches, and city beautifications.
Last 2006, the Lincy Foundation has donated $60 million to the Armenian Government directed for three purposes – road construction, improvements for the city of Yerevan, and school repairs. All three objectives were given an allotted $20 million each.
The Lincy Foundation is also a key component of the United Armenian Fund, a collective initiative aimed to develop and aid Armenia.