THE HAROLD AND JOSEPHINE GULAMERIAN ARMENIAN ORPHAN FUND
gulamerianfund.org
Originally from Van (Armenia), Harold Gulamerian was born to immigrant parents in 1924. Harold joined the army in 1943, and, after the war, went to City College to get a degree in science and business administration and then a law degree. When Norman, Harold’s brother, got home from the service, he apprenticed himself to artist Frederick Taubes (1900-1981). He primed his canvases and ground his paint. Norman, an artist himself, was having trouble finding unprimed linen. Harold suggested they import it from Belgium. That was the start of Utrecht Art Supply.
Harold and Norman sold their Belgian linen out of their basement in Brooklyn. The two brothers dedicated themselves to supplying artists with the “highest quality art materials and supplies for the best value.” In 1951, they rented an office at 119 West 57th Street. The Gulamerian brothers’ artist supply business grew quickly. In 1957, they developed their revolutionary acrylic gesso for priming artist canvas. In 1958, they rented factory space at Bush Terminal in Brooklyn. By the end of the early 1960s, they had expanded the Utrecht line to include professional-grade artist oil paints, acrylics, and watercolor supplies, sold at manufacturer-direct prices. In 1968, they opened their first retail store at 32 Third Avenue in New York City. They then opened locations in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Washington DC, Berkeley, and San Francisco. By the time they sold their business in 1997, they had grown from a small space in Bush terminal to 50,000 square feet and an additional 50,000 square feet of retail space.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold and Josephine Gulamerian visited Armenia in 1998 at the invitation of Catholicos Karekin I. The Gulamerians were very moved by this visit, especially by the orphaned children they met. The Harold and Josephine Gulamerian Armenian Orphan Fund is dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned Armenians throughout the world.
The Harold and Josephine Gulamerian Armenian Orphan Fund, through a cooperative agreement with SOAR, provides support to the orphanages and orphan summer camps in Armenia, Artsakh, Javakh, Lebanon, and Syria.
Every year the Gulamerian Fund sponsors a retreat for the girls at Mer Hooys and Mer Doon. GO HERE to see pictures, videos, hear songs, and more from these retreats.
The Gulamerian Fund is a major contributor to the Mobile Eye Care Project.
See all updates HERE.
The Gulamerian Fund is a major contributor to the SOAR Transitional Center.
See all updates HERE.
See GAOF funded projects from 2019 and 2020 below. Visit their website to see all funded projects.
2020
March-April
Beginning construction for a wood shop at Kharberd funded by the Gulamerian Fund
February
Six months of carpet weaving classes for the girls at Naghasyan Children’s Support Center (formerly Mer Hooys) funded by the Gulamerian Fund
January
30 chairs and 16 pieces of soft furniture for the rooms at Gavar, funded by the Gulamerian Fund
2019
October
A new microwave and freezer for OLA Kanaker funded by the Gulamerian Fund
A garden for Warm Hearth funded by the Gulamerian Fund and SOAR San Diego
September
Karine Antanosyan’s tuition payments to Yerevan State University was paid by The Harold and Josephine Gulamerian Armenian Orphan Fund
July
Garden Project at Sisters of Charity funded by the Harold and Josephine Gulamerian Armenian Orphan Fund
June
The Global Hosting Program goes to Thessaloniki in 2019, funded by the Harold and Josephine Gulamerian Armenian Orphan Fund.
Go HERE to see daily updates.
March
A new changing room at the Kharberd hippotherapy arena funded by SOAR and the Harold and Josephine Gulamerian Armenian Orphan Fund