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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
YPGNY’S Annual Armenian Christmas Auction Raises Record-breaking $20,000
for AGBU Children’s Centers
Surrounded by the stars of Manhattan’s skyline, 200 Armenian young
professionals mixed, mingled, and raised money for charity on the
evening of January 21, 2008. The Armenian Christmas Silent Auction and
Cocktail Reception, which is hosted by the AGBU Young Professionals of
Greater New York (YPGNY), has been going strong since 2000. At a trendy
loft space in midtown Manhattan, the YPGNY committee hosted cocktails
and hors d’oeuvres, plus a silent auction and raffle for their Armenian
peers, which altogether raised a record-breaking $20,000 for AGBU’s
Children’s Centers in Armenia.
As a memorable evening of food, fun, and music proceeded, the event kept
generating excitement and new bids until the silent auction’s
conclusion.
"I had a great time at the Silent Auction. I was definitely impressed
with the venue and all the outstanding items that were donated," said
Chris Gasparian, new to the YP community. "The music made for a lively
atmosphere and an especially entertaining charity event. It was nice to
see how many Armenians came to help support the cause."
Even without winning, guests were more than satisfied with the
unbeatable view of Manhattan, DJ and coming together for a worthwhile
humanitarian cause.
All money raised during the evening was donated to AGBU’s three
Children’s Centers in Yerevan, Armenia, which were established in 1994
through the combined efforts of AGBU and the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.
With local schools being overcrowded and class hours shortened, the AGBU
Children’s Centers were created with the goal of providing a variety of
extracurricular activities to Armenian students. The centers, with a
staff of over 300, provide history, language, art, music, dance, crafts
and gymnastics every day from 2 pm until 7 pm to over 3,500 students
between the ages of five and 16. These students have the opportunity to
gain an education in the arts and humanities that they do not receive in
their daily classroom. In addition, all three locations (Nork, Arapkir
and Malatya) house a chapel for weekly church services and Bible
studies. Several paintings made by students at the AGBU Children’s
Centers were auctioned off at the Armenian Christmas fundraising event.
YPGNY Chair Natalie Gabrelian is proud that the New York-area Armenian
young professional community has consistently supported the charity
event. "YPGNY strives to educate the young professionals about the
outstanding support AGBU provides to our young brothers and sisters
through the AGBU Children’s Centers. Each year, as the popularity of the
event grows, so does the outpouring of support by our generation. We are
proud of the commitment of the Young Professionals and look forward to
the continued success of the Silent Auction Cocktail but, even more so,
to the thriving achievements of the Children’s Centers," she said.
In addition to the efforts of the YPGNY committee, special sponsors that
made the event possible were Onnig Djinguezian, Joe Kasparian and Jerry
Misk.
AGBU YPGNY is part of a growing network of YP Groups and supporters
around the world who are committed to preserving and promoting the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and
humanitarian programs. For more information on YPGNY, email
[email protected].
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
