The J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center has taken delivery of a new wheelchair-accessible van, the result of a successful fundraising campaign.  The effort included donations from over 150 individuals and companies, an $8,000 donation match from Aram Garabedian and his co-partners at the Warwick Mall, and a generous personal donation from Aram Garabedian.

The new vehicle, which expands Trudeau’s transportation services for adults with disabilities, can transport up to six wheelchair users and is equipped with state-of-the-art safety technology for securing all wheelchair models and scooters.

“I am so happy to have this beautiful van to safely transport the men and women we support,” said Vice President of Adult Services Charlotte Higham. “I’m also grateful to Aram Garabedian and his Warwick Mall partners for their match contribution. The van will increase Trudeau’s access to community opportunities and give the people we support a smooth ride. Everyone at Trudeau appreciates the generosity of all of those who made this possible.”

Aram Garabedian, President of Bliss Properties, presented the match challenge to the Trudeau Center as fundraising efforts for the van were ending and the Center was close to meeting its goal. Garabedian said in a statement, “The arrival of this van could not come at a better time. We all need uplifting news and the community support behind this van is heartwarming. Helping the Trudeau Center with this project was extremely important to me. Much of what I do is in tribute to my late mother, an Armenian Holocaust survivor, and I know that she would be proud of this latest accomplishment.