About MMKH Foundation
Honoring the legacy of Mari Mannik Koleyan through education, cultural pride, and community support.
Mari Mannik Koleyan
"With great effort, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished – difficulties become easy, and the impossible becomes extraordinary."
Our Story
The MMKH Foundation was established in honor of Mari Mannik Koleyan, a woman whose life embodied resilience, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the power of education, culture, and community.
Born in Istanbul to Armenian parents who were survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Mari was raised with a deep awareness of her heritage and the importance of preserving it. Her family's journey was marked by displacement, but never by defeat. From an early age, Mari understood that education, language, and kindness were tools for survival — and more importantly, for thriving.
Mari's life was shaped by perseverance. She was a student, a teacher, an immigrant, a mother, and a grandmother who carried her values with quiet strength and unwavering grace. After immigrating to Montreal in the late 1960s, she continued to serve her community through education, volunteering, and cultural engagement — teaching, writing, and guiding others with the same gentle wisdom she gave her own children.
The MMKH Foundation is rooted in the values Mari held close: that every student — especially those who face obstacles beyond their control — deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated. Our mission is to recognize and uplift students who demonstrate perseverance, cultural pride, and the determination to succeed despite the odds.
Through educational awards and cultural initiatives, we carry forward Mari's legacy — not only by remembering who she was, but by helping others become who they are meant to be.