PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: pr@himnadram.org
Web:

4 November, 2008

Some $30 Million Pledged During the Hayastan All Armenian Fund’s Fundraising
Dinner in Yerevan

Yerevan, November 3, 2008 – Some $30 million dollars were pledged at the
fundraising dinner held in Yerevan on November 1 in support of Hayastan Fund
Telethon 2008; the event took place under the auspices of Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The
dinner was a most impressive demonstration of combined potential and
commitment of some 120 businessmen from Armenia and Russia.

The contributions will be used primarily for the comprehensive development
of rural areas in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh as well as a number of
special projects.

The Hayastan Fund Board of Trustees was represented at the event by the
Presidents of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, Catholicos of All Armenians,
Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Central
Bank of Armenia and Board member- ministers, Chairman of the Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen, as well as Hranush Hakobyan heading the newly
established Ministry of Diaspora.

The message of blessing and welcome of Catholicos of All Armenians
instigated the dinner. This was followed by the President Sargsyan’s speech:
"Everybody knows about the important mission of the Hayastan All Armenian
Fund, as well as the large-scale activity it has been carrying out. The
annual fundraising is a great opportunity for our people to take part in
rehabilitation and prosperity of our Homeland irrespective of their age and
social belonging. This is a chance for each and every Armenian to feel part
of the whole, realize that national unity is not merely an abstract and
sublime concept; it is a real power that accomplishes the impossible.
Families both from Armenia and Diaspora have the opportunity to take part in
solution of national problems. And finally, this is a good occasion for the
benefactors and businessmen to bring their input in nation-building
initiatives. I call you to actively participate in this fundraising event
and be generous, faithful to the tradition set by our well-off benefactors.
Thanks to those traditions we have preserved our culture and education,
churches and orphanages; we have protected our country and people despite
lack of statehood. These traditions we must reestablish and develop further",
pointed out the President.

Hrant Tokhatyan, the master of ceremony, was announcing the pledges. Samvel
Karapetyan, Sergey Hambardzumyan, Gagik Tsarukyan, Seiran Karapetyan, Genadi
Stepanyan, Ashot Khachaturyan, Mikhail Baghdasarov, Samvel Alexanyan,
Barsegh Beglaryan, Tigran Arzakantsyan, Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine,
"Mikael Vardanyan" Foundation, "Eduardo Eurnekian" Group, ArmRusGasProm,
Karabakh Telecom were among the major donors of the event. Names and amounts
of the donors will be also announced at the Telethon and published in media.

"We are grateful to all those, who have not been indifferent to life of
Artsakh people and taken part in all our accomplishments. Our compatriots
have not only shared our success, they supported us in overcoming our
problems. I am thankful to the President of Armenia for this initiative, the
idea of which is unity of our people", said President of Nagorno-Karabakh
Bako Sahakyan. In his appeal the Catholicos of All Armenians encouraged
those present to bring their contribution to the Hayastan Fund’s projects.

"On behalf of Hayastan All Armenian Fund I would like to thank all those who
contributed to the Fund’s projects today. I ensure that each cent donated
will be used to solve crucial problems in our country", said Hayastan Fund’s
Acting Executive Director Ara Vardanyan in his Thank-you speech.

Telethon will be broadcast from Los Angeles on November 27. Major sponsor of
Telethon 2008 is Vivacell-MTS. Ardshininvestbank, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank
and Haypost CJSC also sponsor the telethon.

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Hayastan All Armenian Fund