ALL ARMENIAN TELETHON 2009 RAISES DONATIONS AND PLEDGES OF 15 MILLION 875 THOUSAND DOLLARS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 27, 2009

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s
12th annual Telethon broadcast live from Los Angeles for 12 hours
has finished. Summing up the results of the fundraising activities
this year, the Fund announced donations and pledges of 15 million 875
thousand 043 dollars. The raised sum will spent on reconstruction of
social and economic infrastructure in Shushi: water pipes, schools,
roads, apartment buildings, thus initiating the revival of Shushi. In
parallel with this work, the Fund will continue rural community
development projects in Armenia and Artsakh.

The Telethon was attended by guests from Armenia and Artsakh, including
the Fund’s Executive Director Ara Vardanian, Prime Minister of the
NKR Arayik Harutyunian. Head of the Artsakh Diocese Bishop Pargev
Martirosian, Spokesman for NKR President David Babayan, Representative
of the NKR to the U.S. Robert Avetisian, other guests and benefactors
participated in the Telethon.

One of the important fundraising events held prior to the Telethon was
the fundraising gala in Moscow where Russia-based Armenian businessmen
gave pledges of 5.29 million dollars which were also included in the
results of this year’s Telethon.

Another important fundraising event was the annual pan European
Phoneathon. Its results were donations and pledges of 1.8 million
dollars, which exceeds by 10% last year’s index of 1.5 million
dollars. More than 12,400 families participated in the Pan European
Phoneathon 2009.

According to the Fund, the Telethon 2009 was the most efficient
out of those held so far in terms of the number of participants and
considerably exceeds the indices of the previous years. The results
of the national fundraising were especially impressive in Armenia:
more than 20 thousand people made donations. Over 13 thousand people
made donations in post offices. One innovation of this year included
donations through SMS messages – thanks to VivaCell MTS, the main
sponsor of the Telethon 2009. Among sponsors were also ACBA Credit
Agricole Bank, Ameria Bank, Ardshininvestbank, and ArmPost.

The fundraising activities in Armenia and Artsakh are continuing. The
results of this year’s fundraising will be summarized in late 2009
when the Fund will sum up the donations and announce the names of
the donors.