ANCA ENDOWMENT FUND TELETHON RAISES MORE THAN $2.5 MILLION

dowment-fund-telethon-raises-more-than-25-million/
Jun 1, 2009

LITTLE ARMENIA-In what became a strong show of grassroots participation
and reinforced the power of national community participation, $2.6
million was raised during Sunday’s six-hour nationally televised ANCA
Endowment Fund Telethon.

Bolstered by a matching donation of $150,000 by Kirk Kerkorian’s
Lincy Foundation, the telethon attracted a broad cross-section of
the community and the final results proved the commitment of the
Armenian-American community to the advancement the Armenian Cause.

With donations ranging from $5 to $150,000, thousands of
Armenian-Americans took part in the fund-raising effort, with hundreds
more volunteering their time, services and other resources to ensure
the telethon was a success.

The program, aired nationally on Horizon Armenian Television and
the Armenian Russian Television Network (ARTN) and local outlets
throughout the country, featured segments highlighting the ANCA
Endowment Fund’s achievements and activities in Genocide education,
youth empowerment, advocacy training, the advancement of an enduring
relationship between the United States and Armenia and the promotion
of public awareness of the circumstances surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

The telethon, which was filmed live in the Horizon studios,
also featured appearances by Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, leader of the Armenian Catholic Community Father Antoine
Saroyan, Rev. Joe Matossian of the Armenian Evangelical Church,
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian,
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, as well as major donors
and sponsors.

Video messages were broadcast from Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, California State Assemblyman Paul Krikorian and San
Francisco Mayor and California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom.

The 2009 Telethon Committee, which has been planning and executing
the project for the past several months, had produced a well-executed
program hosted by 11 community and media leaders from throughout the
United States, all of whom emphasized the importance of the ANCA
Endowment Fund to the advancement of Armenian-American community
aspirations.

Hosts Karine Birazian, Paul Chaderjian, Alina Dorian, Saro Haroun,
Silva Haroutounian, Ari Killian, Roxanne Makasjian, Steve Mesrobian,
Anahid Oshagan, Aram Sarafian and Manoug Seraidarian adeptly navigated
the audience through the six-hour broadcasts, which was intertwined
with information and education segments, live in-studio appearances,
and pleas from community leaders.

Another highlight of the telethon was the participation of community
organizations, churches and schools, which had activated their
membership and raised funds that were presented on behalf of the
respective groups.

The funds raised during the telethon will be allocated to furthering
the mission of the ANCA Endowment Fund to educate and empower the
community toward advancing issues of concern to the Armenian-American
community.