15,875,043 USD RAISED AT TELETHON 2009

armradio.am
27.11.2009 11:15

Today, at 8am local Armenian time, Hayastan All Armenian Fund concluded
its 12th annual Telethon – a twelve hour non stop live broadcast
from Los Angeles, CA. Summing up the results of a year long effort,
which included a whole range of fundraising activities, the Fund
announced a total of 15,875,043 USD in donations and pledges. The
collected funds will be directed at the realization of a variety of
social and economic infrastructure projects in the town of Shushi.

Through building new roads, schools, rehabilitating water mains and
restoring apartment buildings, the Fund will launch the process of the
revival of the historic Armenian town. Parallel to these projects,
the Fund will continue its rural development effort which reaches
out to the villages of Armenia and Artsakh.

Present at the Telethon were the Executive Director of Hayastan
All Armenian Fund Ara Vardanyan and the Prime Minister of Nagorno
Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan. The Telethon also featured appearances
by Primate of the Artsakh Diocese Archbishop Pargev Martirosian, NKR
President’s press secretary David Babayan, Permanent Representative
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to the United States Robert Avetisyan
as well as other distinguished and benefactors.

In an address to all Armenians, the Fund’s executive director said:
"This Telethon is yet another testament of the unity of the Armenian
people. Today, as a rule, we sum up and present the results of
the fundraising activities organized by the Fund’s various local
affiliates throughout the year. These funds are directed at solving
issues of national importance. I would like to express my gratitude
to all the benefactors; without your invaluable support the Fund’s
work would simply not be possible. It is your trust that makes it
possible to move forward, rebuild our Homeland stone by stone and
craft a bright future for our children."

One of the key fundraising events preceding the annual Telethon was
the fundraising gala in Mosvow where Russian Armenian businessmen
made their contributions – 5,290,000 USD – which were reflected in
the final results of this year’s all Armenian fundraiser.

Another important fundraising event on the eve of the Telethon was
the annual pan European phoneathon. The results of Phoneathon 2009
were 1,800,000 USD in donations and pledges: a 10 percent increase
from the 1,5mln USD collected in 2008. More than 12,400 Armenian
families from all over Europe participated in this year’s Phoneathon.

This year’s fundraising effort was unprecedented in terms of the
number of people who participated and decided to have their input
in tackling the challenge of rebuilding Shushi. The participation of
residents of Armenia was especially impressive with more than 20,000
people making their donations in the period leading to the annual
Telethon. More than 13,000 people made their donations in their
local post offices. Others used their mobile phones in an innovative
fundraising effort that the Fund brought together in association with
Viva Cell MTS mobile operator.

The main sponsor of Telethon 2009 was VivaCell-MTS. Other sponsors
were: ACBA Credit Agricole Bank, Ameria Bank, Ardshininvestbank
and Haypost.

The fundraising activities in Armenia and Artsakh continue. The results
of this year’s fundraising effort will be finalized at the end of
the year when the Fund will sum up all the donations and publish the
names of the benefactors.