Hoops for Kids team
When we founded Hoops for Kids we started with just one school in Armenia with the intent to install basketball hoops and give the children equipment for their school. By the end of the year we hope to serve thousands of underprivileged in communities worldwide.
Thanks for the support that made it all possible!
Arman Apikov
Founder/CEO
Arman Apikov graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Real Estate. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he began to manage and purchase investment properties throughout the Los Angeles County. During that time, Arman attended Woodbury University and received a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership. He has a long history of community involvement as an athlete and as a coach. Arman has been coaching Armenian boys club teams for the past fifteen years He has worked as an assistant coach for the Bell-Jeff High School varsity basketball program in Burbank, California. He also worked as the head coach for Village Christian middle school basketball program. Arman has traveled to number of countries to participate in basketball tournaments and now has decided to give back to his community.
-Coach John Wooden
Arpi Koltougian-Apikov
Co-Founder
Arpi Koltougian-Apikov graduated from University of Cal State Northridge with honors where she received a degree in Biology and a minor in Sociology. She then attended Medical School and is now a dedicated Physician. From a very young age, Arpi was involved in helping the community. She was part of the Armenian Youth Federation and participated in the Youth Corps in which they helped built a school in the village of Ashan, in Nagorno-Karabakh. With this in mind, the decision to start Hoops For Kids was made on the basis to strengthen and establish ties with the homeland.
Ani Aghavni Minassian
Community Partner – Armenia
It was the call of Motherland that made Ani Minassian to relocate from United States to Armenia in 1991.
She has been active in numerous humanitarian organizations serving on their committees and boards, devoting herself to Armenia and her people.
She resides in Yerevan with her husband, Varoujan Minassian.
Hamed Afagh
Coach – United States
Hamed Afagh is a coach for the Hoops for kids family. He has played professional basketball for the Iranian national team for seventeen years. He has multiple national championships with record breaking shooting and defensive awards, along with olympic gold medals. Coach Hamed teaches and guides our kids to help understand the fundamentals of the game. He has effective coaching techniques, core conditioning skills and professional enthusiasm when it comes to basketball education.
Special thanks to Nyree Derderian
for putting the idea into perspective and motivating us to make this project a reality.