Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 North Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206

Tel: 818-243-6222
Fax: 818-243-7222
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PRESS RELEASE
Contact ~ Sarkis Kotanjian
info@armeniafund.org

Armenia Fund Honors VivaCell-MTS CEO Ralph Yirikian

Los Angeles, CA – On Friday, April 16, 2010, during a dinner reception
held at the residence of Ara and Julia Aghishian, Armenia Fund U.S.
Western Region honored long time supporter Ralph Yirikian, Chief
Executive Officer of VivaCell MTS with the Armenia Fund Corporate
Philanthropy Award. Yirikian was visiting the United States to expand
VivaCell-MTS’s corporate social responsibility programs.

The event attracted Armenia Fund’s long time supporters and donors and
provided a unique opportunity to meet with Yirikian who has long shared
the unshakeable devotion to the betterment of the Homeland. Also,
present at the event was Consul General of the Republic of Armenia,
Grigor Hovhannissian.

U.S. Western Region Chairman, Ara Aghishian, Esq., expressed gratitude
to VivaCell MTS for its generous support of Armenia Fund’s
nation-building efforts in Armenia and Artsakh. Since 2007 VivaCell MTS
has been the general sponsor of Armenia Fund’s Telethon – an
international live fundraiser that reaches every Armenian community
around the world – underwriting the production cost and maximizing the
impact of every donation in the Homeland.

"Armenia Fund appreciates VivaCell MTS’ belief in leading by example
when it comes to corporate philanthropy in our Homeland. VivaCell’s
partnership with Armenia Fund brings a tangible positive change in the
lives of thousands in Armenia’, said Aghishian.

Mr. Yirikian spoke of his personal story of permanently moving to
Armenia with his family, a challenging task at first, but a very
rewarding experience for his Armenian identity. "Instead of listening to
others’ experiences in Armenia – good or bad – one should visit Armenia,
stand on its soil, breath its air, drink its water and talk to its
people. Only this way one can fully grasp his or her Armenian identity
and shape an opinion about what Armenia is’, said Yirikian.

Yirikian thanked Armenia Fund donors and supporters for their unwavering
commitment to working towards a stronger Armenia and a prosperous
Homeland. "We stand by Armenia Fund because we believe in Armenia Fund’s
mission. We will continue supporting it’, added Yirikian.

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