(April 8, 2005) — When senior Ani Burr heard that 31,000 children die every day due to hunger and hunger related diseases, she knew she needed to help. Burr recalls back to February when she participated in the World Vision Thirty Hour Famine and took her part in protecting the children. During the famine fund-raiser in February, criminal defense lawyer Chris Armen and businessman David Mgrublian spoke to the attendees. All participants of the fast had nothing to eat but only water for 30 straight hours. The activity raised almost $114,000 for Sudan, Armenia and other third world countries. Burr described the fast to be a fulfilling experience, knowing it raised awareness in the Glendale community and money for starving children. Burr has dedicated 1,236 hours volunteering in the community. The fast is one of the few activities that she has participated in. She has also volunteered for the past two years as a camp counselor and campfire coordinator in the Hye Sierra Camp in Fresno. Her job required her to watch approximately 13 girls and organize events to entertain the campers. Even after the camp event, some of the girls visit Burr and talk about the great time they had at the camp. “By counseling it’s like giving back to a camp that gave me so much as a child; it’s great knowing that the counselors that I have looked up to have passed the role to me.” As a member of St. Peter’s Armenian Church Youth Ministries and its youth program In His Shoes Ministry, Burr has organized toy drives for children shelters, community feeds, and blanket making for local children hospitals. At the feeds, donors supply food and the group members make peanut butter or turkey sandwiches for the homeless. The ministry focuses on teaching the youth about Jesus and showing them the life of those less fortunate. “Living in America we are so fortunate to have luxuries that we don’t need, and there are people that do not even have their necessities,” said Burr. Working with the youth program, Burr has grown to be very close with the members. “All the activities bond us closer to each other. We have built our own big family,” she said. Burr also coaches for the La Cañada softball team and the girls’ AYSO Tujunga soccer team. “I love working with kids. It’s a positive way to impact their lives,” said Burr.