Friends of Warm Hearth
Partnering to develop and sustain Armenia’s FIRST group home for
orphans with disabilities
Founder & Executive Director, Natalie Rizzieri, with five of Warm Hearth’s first residents.
From left to right: Yulia, Alina, Natalie, Gayane, Davit and Roman.
Defend the poor and fatherless. Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy. Free them from the hand of the wicked.
Warm Hearth was founded in 2005 by Natalie Rizzieri, a former U. S. Peace Corps volunteer, who worked at an orphanage in Armenia for two years. Near the close of her service, she was informed that eight of the orphans would be sent to governmental psychiatric institutions to spend the remainder of their lives. Not only do these beautiful individuals need not be institutionalized, but the institutions are referred to as "graveyards" by Armenians because of the horrendous and inhumane conditions.
Warm Hearth offers a community-based alternative to these institutions. With the support of Amante Mission, Warm Hearth is able to provide a long-term group home to orphaned individuals with disabilities who have outgrown the orphanages and have no other humane alternative. Amante Mission has partnered with Warm Hearth since the project’s inception, providing vital administrative and advisory support.
In addition, Amante Mission traveled to Armenia to record songs and poetry performed by the orphans and to produce a CD of their performance. A copy of this CD is available for a suggested donation of $10. All proceeds will be used to support Warm Hearth. Amante Mission currently serves as Warm Hearth’s Prayer Coordinator and in an advisory capacity.
To order a CD or to learn more about this project, contact
Friends of Warm Hearth, Inc.
P. O. Box 1037 Tempe, AZ 85280
480.921.1181