News Release
Armenia Fund Raises Close to $70,000 during a Reception in Orange County

OC Armenian community adopts a drinking water distribution project in
Vayots Dzor province

FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE
June 28, 2004
CONTACT: Sarkis Kotanjian
Phone: 818 243-6222
Fax: 818 243-7222
E-mail: skotanjian@armeniafund.org

Glendale, CA – More than fifty Orange County Armenians gathered at
Bistango Restaurant in Irvine, CA on Friday, June 18, 2004 for a
reception organized to thank Armenia Fund’s longtime supporters. The
Chair of the local organizing committee Seda Hambarsumian introduced and
welcomed Naira Melkoumian, Executive Director of “Hayastan” All-Armenian
Fund to her first official visit to Orange County and thanked the
audience for their strong commitment and support of the Fund.
Addressing the audience, Melkoumian said that the enthusiasm shown by
Orange County Armenians demonstrates that Armenia Fund remains an
organization that has earned the trust of the Diaspora. “Armenia is not
only our homeland but also our common heritage that we have received
from our forefathers. It belongs to all of us – the people who live in
Armenia and the people who live in the Diaspora. It is our common duty
to make it strong and prosperous and Hayastan Fund is the organization
that unites our resources to fulfill that duty,” she said. She stressed
that despite the tremendous work that the Fund has done in Armenia and
Artsakh during the last decade, there are yet many problems that need to
be addressed, which is dependent on the continued support of the
Armenian Communities throughout the world.
During the reception, members of the Armenia Fund’s Public Relations
Committee announced the launching of the new “Adopt-A-Project” campaign,
which offers the opportunity for “supporters to select projects that are
close to their hearts and do what they think is most important for
Armenia”. A slide presentation gave details of a select group of nine
projects that ranged from schools, drinking water treatment and
distribution networks to health care centers.
The Orange County Armenian community adopted the construction of a water
treatment and distribution network in Khachik village of Vayots Dzor
province in Armenia, pledging to fully sponsor the $67,520 project. “I
thank the Armenian community of Orange County for their vision and their
patriotism. Together we are making a difference in the lives of our
compatriots in Armenia and Artsakh one project at a time,” – said the
Chairperson of Armenia Fund, Inc. Maria Mehranian.
Armenia Fund, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt non-profit corporation
and is the U.S. West Coast affiliate of Hayastan All-Armenia Fund – the
largest Yerevan-based benevolent organization in Armenia. With is
affiliates in sixteen countries around the world, Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund has raised more than $100 million resulting in the construction of
210 residential buildings, 138 miles of roads, 81 miles of waterways, 36
schools, 14 health care centers and three electric transmission
networks.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress