NYC YP fundraiser brings YP endowment to over $100,000
Programs support children’s centers in Yerevan
Published: Tuesday February 23, 2010
icle/2010-02-23-nyc-yp-fundraiser-brings-yp-endowm ent-to-over–100000&pg=2
New York – The AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York (YPGNY)
kicked off 2010 with its most popular fundraiser held on January 9,
2010.
Close to 200 Armenian Americans from the New York metropolitan area
gathered at 206 Spring Street for the 9th Armenian Christmas Cocktail
& Silent Auction, welcoming the new decade with new hope and vision.
Holding true to the sentiment "Christmas is for the children," the
sold-out event raised $17,500 for the AGBU Children’s Centers in
Armenia. Once again defying the bitter economic climate, YPGNY
continues to rock in Armenian Christmas with impressive fundraising
efforts.
"As we all know, the US economy has seen one of the worst economic
recessions since the Great Depression. What’s more upsetting is that
in times like these, we are still more fortunate than a majority of
the children in Armenia. It’s a great feeling to be able to help them
out, all while having fun at the AGBU Silent Auction," said volunteer
Aram Babikian. "Through efforts like these, I see how AGBU’s
investments in improving Armenia’s infrastructure truly come to
fruition. I’m proud to increase my involvement with YPGNY more and
more each year because of it."
The three-floor townhouse in the heart of Manhattan’s SoHo district
offered a warm and sophisticated atmosphere, inviting guests to mix
and mingle with friends, old and new, while enjoying a memorable
evening of food, fun, music, and continuous excitement generated with
each new bid until the conclusion of the silent auction.
Hailing from Dubai, Arly Tuysuzian is already looking ahead to
attending more YPGNY events.
"Since I’m new to New York, the Silent Auction was really my first
AGBU event in the city. I was so impressed with the venue, the
impressive variety of items for auction, and the number of Armenians
that came together to support the Children’s Centers. I had a great
time meeting new people, helping the committee organize the night, and
learning how I could be involved in more of these events."
The evening included a stylish silent auction with items donated from
some of the city’s leading businesses and generous individuals. Silent
auction items included restaurant and beauty gift certificates from a
plethora of New York City hotspots, roundtrip airline tickets from New
York to Los Angeles, technological novelties such as the Amazon Kindle
and netbook computers, fashion products from the likes of Alex and
Ani, Hermes, Juliette Jake, Movado, Prada, and Tiffany & Co., sports
and Broadway show tickets, items from designer Michael Aram, and
several pieces of fine jewelry.
Among the most coveted pieces available for auction were works of art
from the AGBU Children’s Centers that exhibited the skills of the
children and highlighted their role in continuing the artistic
heritage of Armenians. Additional raffle prizes, including more
restaurant gift certificates, jewelry, baskets of scents, and a
personal oil painting studio portrait, were also offered to guests
eager to donate to the cause.
YPGNY chair Aline Markarian is grateful for the outpouring of support.
"Each year, as the popularity of the event grows, so does the amazing
kindness of the Armenian and especially non-Armenian communities
alike. Our donors generously open their hearts, wallets, and
businesses so that we can, in turn, fill the hearts and souls of the
children in Armenia with hope," she said.
Catering for the evening’s festivities was provided by local food
emporiums Al Bustan Restaurant, Bread & Olive, Delmonico Foods, Hayat
Catering, Krichian Foods, as well as the eternal hearths of the
kitchens of YP members and their families. A special thanks to chef
Lina Markarian for adding professionalism to the culinary flair of the
evening. Glasses were plentifully filled with wine and spirits very
generously donated from a number of individuals and venues, including
Clovis Point Winery and Manhattan Beer Distribution. A generous number
of community supporters contributed their time and services to enhance
the Armenian Christmas event.
Event chair Sheila Kahyaoglu was excited by their accomplishment and
highlighted the many individuals who contributed to the evening’s
success. "Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to Sandra and Perssy
Mergeanian for their overwhelming support, to Onnig Djingueuzian, our
honorary YP, always young at heart, for his unparalleled enthusiasm
and spirit, and to the entire team at BR Guest Restaurants for
embracing our cause and making this a truly successful evening," she
said.
In support of Yerevan children’s centers
Since 2000, YPGNY has hosted the Armenian Christmas Reception as an
enjoyable and unique way to raise funds for the three Centers in
Yerevan. Despite being so many miles away, they are so close to our
hearts.
YPGNY vice chair, Alexis Halejian, knows the wonder of the Children’s
Centers first hand, "My first interaction with the Children’s Centers
was in 2007. I was in Yerevan as an AGBU intern and had the
opportunity to ‘sharpen’ my Armenian dance skills. Far from perfection
(as many know), I was sent to the best teachers for help — the
students at the AGBU Nork Children’s Center. After weeks of practice,
these kids finally let me and my friends perform in their final show
of the school year. Believe it or not, we got a standing ovation.
Being up on the same stage with these students made us all feel like
one of them … but the truth is, the way they are growing up is so
much different than the way we did in America."
Back in 1993, AGBU joined forces with the Holy See of Etchmiadzin to
establish the AGBU Children’s Centers in the Nork, Arapkir, and
Malatya sections of Yerevan. Providing a constructive after-school
environment to over 3,500 students ages 6 to 16, the Centers cultivate
the talents of young Armenians by broadening their knowledge in
courses unavailable to them at overcrowded public schools.
With an administrative staff of 300, the Centers provide four hours of
daily instruction in music, dance, arts & crafts, gymnastics, martial
arts, computers, language, history, as well as developing other
practical real-life professional skills. Throughout the years, over
15,000 students living in low- to middle- income homes have benefited
from this very important program.
Making a global commitment to support the AGBU Children’s Centers,
YPGNY established the AGBU YP Endowment in 2002 for their benefit.
Now a pan-YP endeavor, YPGNY makes its share of the global
contribution through monies raised at the Armenian Christmas
Reception, as well as from the annual HALO (Helping Armenia’s Little
Ones) campaign. Suitable for recipients of all ages, the YPGNY HALO
campaign allows individuals to give a gift from the heart and
simultaneously help children of Armenia during the holiday season.
Donations made in honor of another loved one, family, or friends are
transformed into personalized gift cards by YPGNY’s group of Santa’s
helpers. This year, close to 100 certificates spread holiday cheer to
mailboxes worldwide. Together with YPGNY’s 2010 donation, the AGBU YP
Endowment now totals over $100,000.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
AGBU YPGNY is part of a growing network of over two dozen YP groups
around the world run entirely by volunteers who actively engage young
Armenians between the ages of 22 and 40 in the mission of AGBU. To
learn more about YPGNY and how you can be part of the network, email
[email protected].
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please
visit