Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 North Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206
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PRESS RELEASE
Contact ~ Sarkis Kotanjian
info@armeniafund.org
Armenia Fund Launches Telethon 2009 Campaign: `Our Shushi’
Baroness Cox Presented `Angel of Artsakh’ Award
Los Angeles, CA – Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region is pleased to
announce the launch of its 12th International Telethon campaign. The
live fundraising program will air on television sets in all major
Armenian-American communities in the U.S. and across the globe on
November 26, 2009, 8am-8pm PST as well as on the internet at
On Saturday, October 3, 2009, Armenia Fund’s long time supporters and
donors gathered at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Ara and Julia
Aghishian, Chairman of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region, to unveil the
2009 Telethon logo. The unveiling event has become a tradition over the
past years and marks the launch of the campaign. The Guest of Honor at
the special dinner reception was the Rt. Hon. The Baroness Caroline Cox
of Queensbury. Lady Cox is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords of
the United Kingdom. She has been a strong advocate of Nagorno Karabakh’s
right to self determination and has visited the country numerous times
on humanitarian missions.
Present at the event were members of the board of directors of Armenia
Fund U.S. Western Region, as well as the Honorable Grigor Hovhannesyan,
the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles.
Ara Aghishian welcomed all guests and thanked them for their continuous
financial and moral support to Armenia and Artsakh. Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church convened the opening prayer appealing to the greater
Armenian-American Diaspora to continue its noble support of the Armenia
Fund and its humanitarian mission.
Attendees at the event got a first hand look at the conditions
surrounding Shushi through a video segment.
`Besides being the cradle of Armenian culture and arts, Shushi is a town
that symbolizes the turning point in our modern history. After centuries
of losing lands and crumbling under the yoke of oppressive nations, on
May 9, 1992 we had a victory which lifted the spirits of an entire
Armenian nation and inspired our soldiers to win truly heroic battles,
thanks to which today we have a free Artsakh. Your support will ensure
that collectively we remove Shushi’s ruins – reminders of the brutal war
– and replace them with new schools, hospitals, kindergartens and
residential buildings so that the streets of Shushi are once again
filled with children’s laughter…’, said Aghishian.
Baroness Cox offered her remarks telling her story of how she became
involved with Armenia and specifically, Artsakh. She shared her
eyewitness account of the horrors of war in Nagorno Karabakh.
`Armenia and Artsakh and its heroic people have a special place in my
heart. For years, I have been closely following the works of the Armenia
Fund…a commendable organization worthy of the highest praise. Your
efforts have helped dignify the lives of your fellow countrymen… Shushi,
this heroic town that symbolizes a new day for the Armenian people needs
your help and care today. May God Bless you and the Armenia Fund’, said
Lady Cox.
Aghishian and Vice Chair of the Fund, Koko Balian jointly presented
Baroness Cox with the `Angel of Artsakh’ award in recognition of her
continued support and service to the Armenian people.
Mr. Edik Balaian, the artist of the 2009 Telethon logo offered his brief
remarks regarding the concept of the logo and choice of colors. He
mentioned that the concept of the logo stems from the Angel of Artsakh –
a prominent symbol depicted on the bell tower of the St. Savior
Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi.
Chairman Aghishian invited Berj Boyajian, Tomik Alexanian, and Maria
Mehranian, former Chairpersons of Armenia Fund to join Baroness Cox in
unveiling of the Telethon 2009 logo.
The event also secured the participation of 400 community members for
the Armenia Fund Annual Gala. The gala will be held on Sunday, November
22, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Century City,
California. The Guest of Honor at the 2009 Gala will be H.E. Arayik
Harutyunyan, Prime Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
In Southern California, the Telethon will 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.
For more information, please log on to
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and
infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Since 1991, Armenia Fund has rendered more than $190 million in
development aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is
the U.S. Western Region affiliate of `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund. Tax
ID# 95-4485698