PRESS RELEASE
~U"Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund
~UGovernmental Building 3, Yerevan, RA
~UContact: Anush Babayan
~UTel: 3741 52 09 40
~UFax: 3741 52 37 95
~UE-mail: pr@himnadram.org
~UWeb:

24.01.07

The Diaspora Armenian Philanthropist Sarkis Acopian Passed Away

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund informs with regret that a few days
ago in New-York, at the age of 80 died Sarkis Acopian, the great
diaspora Armenian benefactor, the faithful and devoted friend of
Himnadram. He would always respond most enthusiastically to the
developings taking place in the homeland. He donated 1 mln. USD to
the Telethon-2004 which was directed to the construction of the
North-South Highway, and during the Telethon-2006 he expressed
willingness to donate 250 000 USD for the reconstruction and
development project in the Hadrut Region in Nagoro Karabagh.

Philanthropy, social and professional activities have been the most
important part of Sarkis Acopian’s biography. Born to Armenian
parents in Tabriz (Iran), he moved to the United States in 1945,
served in the Army, specialized in mechanical engineer and founded
his own company "Acopian Technical Co."

Sarkis Acopian’ s name is associated with power supply electronic
equipment known and sold worlwide, the first solar radio, Acopian
Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg, the Guide documenting Birds of
Armenia, etc.

In 2000, Sarkis Acopian donated $1 million to the National World War
II Memorial in Washington, D.C. and appeared to be the single largest
donor to the memorial.

Meanwhile, according to Acopian’s close friends, charity was never a
public deed for him and almost always he chose not to disclose the
amount of his gifts.

Sarkis Acopian’s funeral took place on January 19, in New-York.

The Hayastan Fund Executive Board presents its sincerer condolences
to the benefactor’s family and the nearest.