American philanthropist Jon Huntsman discontinues projects in Armenia

American philanthropist Jon Huntsman discontinues projects in Armenia –

Arminfo – American businessman and philanthropist Jon Huntsman is stopping all his projects in Armenia. Huntsman made that decision in 2014. The reason is the legal action initiated against the Civilitas Foundation in Armenia. To recall, the legal action involved Hunstman’s name. Hraparak (Square) newspaper says that Huntsman’s image in the United States has considerably suffered following the legal action against the Civilitas Foundation and now the philanthropist has lost confidence in his Armenian partners.     

“Though Huntsman has no financial problems and though he expressed an intention to a implement a number of projects in Armenia in the field of education and healthcare, nevertheless, the benefactor decided to give up the idea. The projects implied investments worth millions of dollars”, says the newspaper.   

To remind, a criminal case was instituted against ex-Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian, who founded the Civilitas Foundation in 2012. He was charged with misappropriation of the funds allocated by Huntsman for charity. Oskanian’s supporters claimed that the case was politically charged and was connected with Oskanian’s criticism against the incumbent authorities

Jon Meade Huntsman

Jon Meade Huntsman, Sr. (born June 21, 1937) is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of the Huntsman Chemical Corporation, the largest manufacturer of polystyrene in the United States. Huntsman plastics are used in a wide variety of familiar objects, including McDonald’s clamshell burger containers and L’eggs pantyhose egg shells. Huntsman Corporation also manufactures a wide variety of organic and inorganic chemicals that include polyurethanes, textiles and pigments. Huntsman’s philanthropic giving exceeds $1.2 billion, focusing on the areas of cancer research, programs at various universities and aid to Armenia.

Aid to Armenia

 Huntsman has also contributed to efforts to rebuild in Armenia, which was devastated by an earthquake in 1988. He and other family members have made 46 trips to Armenia over 25 years. He estimates that he has given at least $50 million to relief efforts in Armenia, including money to build schools and hospitals. One of his earliest projects there involved setting up a plant to make concrete, to supply building materials for reconstruction and to employ Armenians. The Huntsmans have built a tile roofing plant in Yerevan, apartment complexes, and a K-12 school in the city of Gyumri. The Huntsmans also provide scholarships to bring Armenian students to American to study at Utah State University. Huntsman has been granted citizenship in the country and awarded two medals of honor by Armenia, one of them the St. Mesrop Mashtots Order.
 
Huntsman is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as an Area Seventy from 1996 to 2011. He also served as a regional representative, stake president and as president of the Washington, D.C. Mission from 1980 to 1983.