PRESS RELEASE
"Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Building 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Anush Babayan
Tel: 3741 52 09 40
Fax: 3741 52 37 95
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
28.11.06
`Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund Telethon: Unprecedented $13.7 Million
Pledged
Telethon 2006 Marks All Time High, Breaks Records
Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Yerevan – `Hayastan’ All-Armenian
Fund and its 20 international affiliates are pleased to announce that an
unprecedented $13.7 million was pledged internationally during various
fundraising events held across the world. `Hayastan’ All-Armenian
Fund’s ambitious drive to raise critical assistance and funds for
Nagorno Karabakh concluded with its 9th annual international telethon
which was held on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2006 in Los Angeles.
President of Nagorno Karabakh Arkady Ghoukassian and Primate of the
Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev
Martiorisyan were present at the studio, joining `Hayastan’
All-Armenian Fund donors in rallying support.
Broadcasting in more than 20 major U.S. cities as well internationally
via satellite through H1-Armenian Public Television in all continents
and streaming live on the internet for 12 hours, Telethon 2006 marked an
all time high amongst all telethons ever conducted by `Hayastan’
All-Armenian Fund. The total amount pledged – $13.65 million – almost
doubled last year’s telethon results of $7.77 million. Proceeds from
Telethon 2006 will benefit `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund’s Revival
of Artsakh program, as well as the critically important regional
development plan of the southernmost borderline region of Hadrut.
`The unprecedented success of this Telethon is a result of the
Diaspora’s unshakable belief in the mission of our unique organization
that unites all Armenians around the world under one mission –
building a stronger, viable Armenia. The consistent transparency of the
Fund through rigorous international audits, strict accounting practices,
and oversight mechanisms by the Diaspora have reinforced the public’s
resolve to help Armenia and Artsakh’, said Executive Director of
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, Naira Melkoumian.
Prior to the Telethon, `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund’s European
affiliates, under the leadership of the French affiliate – Fonds
Armenien de France – organized a successful Pan-European Phone-a-Thon
campaign that raised more than $1.5 million (1.1=80 million) in pledges.
`During the years, the Phone-a-thon has become a pan-European movement
to assist Armenia and Karabakh’, stated Mr. Bedros Terzian, Chairman
of Fonds Armenien de France. The German affiliate of the Fund –
Armenien-Fonds e.V. – has pledged more than $60,000.
The unprecedented success has echoed in the international press as well.
An article entitled `Armenians together in spirit and electrons’
appeared on the front cover of Los Angeles Times California Section the
following morning. Other prominent media outlets such as the Associated
Press, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, NBC, CBS and
others gave extensive coverage to the 12-hour live event that
highlighted the worldwide unity of Armenians. This year’s result for
the Fund’s U.S. Western Region affiliate – Armenia Fund, Inc. – is
the pinnacle of the development course that was adopted three years ago.
`This year, Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region was able to bring its
grand, mid level, and public grassroots donors together marking the
highest participation ever! This effort reflects an unparalleled $8.4
million in the U.S. Western Region only,’ stated Maria Mehranian,
Chairperson of Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region.
`Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund’s 9th international telethon was also
widely broadcasted in all Eastern U.S. media markets, stretching from
the Floridian Panhandle to New England and the Great Lakes Region.
"Armenians all over the world voted with their wallets to support
Karabakh and `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund’, said Kevork Toroyan,
Chairman of Armenia Fund USA, the U.S. Eastern Region affiliate of the
Fund.
For the first time donations from Armenia and Artsakh surpassed $1.54
million dollars through an aggressive fundraising and public relations
campaign. Whether in Toronto or Buenos Aires, the Fund’s affiliates
stretching all over the globe, were truly instrumental in the success of
the worldwide fundraising effort. The Canadian Toronto affiliate has
already raised more than $300,000. The Argentinean affiliate, Fundo
Nacional Armenia, organized a benefit concert in Buenos Aires, as well
as a four day Phone-a-thon campaign. The Argentinean affiliate raised
more than $50,000. Armenians in the United Kingdom through the Fund’s
branch have collected more than $30,000.
The largest donors for Telethon 2006’s beneficiary project – Revival
of Artsakh were:
Lincy Foundation (U.S. Western Region) – $2.0 million for the
constructions of schools in Karabakh; Project CURE (U.S. Western Region)
– $2.0 million in medical equipment and supplies for Karabakh hospitals;
Vahe Karapetian (U.S. Western Region) – $1.5 million for the
construction of the road leading to the Amaras Monastery; Jerry
Turpanjian (U.S. Western Region) – $1.25 million for the construction of
the Stepanakert School #11; Ara Abrahamyan (Russia) – $1 million for
construction of a school in Stepanakert; Louise Manoogian Simone (U.S.
Eastern Region) – $500,000; Sarkis Acopian (U.S. Eastern Region) –
$250,000; Tigran Movsesyan (Armenia) – $140,000; AGBU
Manoogian-Demirdjian School (U.S. Western Region) – $115,000; Levon and
Grigor Termendjian (U.S. Western Region) – $110,000; Mikhail Baghdasarov
(Armenia) – $100,000; VivaCell (Armenia) – 67,000; Arkady Ovannessian
(U.S. Western Region) – $60,000; Samvel Alexanyan (Armenia) – $50,000;
and Ruben Hayrapetyan (Armenia) – $50,000.
`Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund continues to accept donations through
its global network of 20 affiliates and branches.