ARMENIA FUND TELETHON 2008 TO AIR NOVEMBER 27
armradio.am
20.11.2008 13:16
Armenia Fund’s International Telethon, a Thanksgiving Day tradition for
Armenians around the world will air for the 11th time on November 27,
8am-8pm PST. Building on the results of last year, the pan-Armenian
fundraiser will benefit major infrastructure development projects in
the remote border villages of Armenia and Artsakh.
"Our guiding light in choosing the beneficiary projects are the
decisions of the International Board of Trustees of "Hayastan"
All-Armenian Fund. They decide the nature of the projects and their
respective priorities. Working in conjunction with the governments of
Armenia and Artsakh, our Executive Board in Yerevan spends several
months performing feasibility studies on several dozens of proposed
projects. The purpose of the extensive studies is to help decide
what plays a key role on the development of border villages. After
implementation, the goal is to have maximum impact on the lives of
residents of those communities", said Maria Mehranian, Chairperson
of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region.
In Southern California, the Telethon will once again air on KSCI
Channel 18 for full 12 hours, 8:00am-8:00pm PST. Around the world the
Telethon will be featured on H1-Armenian Public Television. Los-Angeles
based 24 hour Armenian Russian Television Network and Horizon Armenian
TV will also air the Telethon in its entirety, on its cable, satellite
and internet networks.
As always, this year’s broadcast will feature a selection of the best
Armenian performers from Armenia and the Diaspora. Artists will include
Arame, Razmik Amyan, Gagik Badalyan, Emma and Aramo, Harout Hagopian,
Helen, Arax Karapetyan, Martik, Gor Mkhitarian, Armen Movsisyan, Harout
Pamboukjian, Sako, Hovhannes Shahbazian, Sonya Varoujian and others.
The program will also feature a live performance by the 2007 and
2008 season winners of Shant TV’s National Singer contest show, Sevak
Amroyan and Haykuhi Babakhanyan, made possible by Los Angeles based
Armenian Russian Television Network (ARTN).
Airing live at 8:00 in the morning from Hollywood and continuing for
12 hours, Telethon 2008 will reach every continent, entering Armenian
homes through satellite, cable and internet means. In the United
States alone the potential audience for the Telethon is around 55
million households in the states of Arizona, California, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Texas.
"In the last 6 months Armenia Fund production crews, including
myself, have traveled extensively in Armenia and in Nagorno Karabakh,
documenting the impact of Armenia Fund’s projects on the lives of
ordinary people in the villages. What strikes me the most during my
travel is the determination of the Armenian people to better their
lives and the lives of the future generation s in an independent and
free Armenia. I never sensed despair in Armenia. I always found hope",
said Michael Levin, Executive Producer of Telethon 2008.
Last year more than 250,000 Armenian families around the world
have participated in the Telethon generating more than $15
million. Individual donations ranged from 100 drams (30 cents) to
several million dollars.
"This year we are asking our donors to join our "DOLLAR-A-DAY"
campaign by contributing $365 for the year 2008. If you think about
it this is the most practical way of fulfilling our "azkayin dourk"
– national giving, a concept that was at the crux of issues when
"Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund was formed 17 years ago. My modest
calculations put the number of Armenian families in the United States
at 270,000. If every family gives a dollar a day in the United States
alone, that makes it close to $100 million a year. Think about it when
you watch the Telethon this Thanksgiving Day, November 27. Donate
a dollar for every day of 2008. Say that you care about Our Home,
Armenia every day!" said Sarkis Kotanjian, Executive Director of
Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region.