ARMENIA FUND USA VOLUNTEERS PREPARE FOR THANKSGIVING DAY TELETHON

By Taleen Babayan

The 11th annual Armenia Fund Telethon will take place on Thanksgiving Day in a global effort to raise money for the Armenia Fund Rural Development Program (RDP) focusing on the Lori and Tavush regions in Armenia and the Martuni region in Karabakh.

In an effort to maximize participation in the Telethon, a Phon-a-thon has been organized with the help of many Armenian youth, who will make hundreds of phone calls from November 13 – 27 to inform people of the upcoming telethon and urge them to donate money to this noteworthy cause. This pre-telethon effort will help spread the word about the Telethon and receive early donations for the Rural Development Program.

The three key volunteers who are spearheading the Phon-a-thon are Azatuhi Ayrikyan, Shaunte Baboumian, and Raffi Elchemmas.

Organizing the phon-a-thon for the first time in the Midwest, Elchemmas has mobilized 15 volunteers to make phone calls from the St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, Michigan.

On his third trip to Armenia this summer, Elchemmas finally had the opportunity to travel to the Karabakh for the first time. While there he visited the Martuni region, and had the opportunity to go back to Karabakh three more times during his two month stay. "I really fell in love with it and the scenery and the people. And I was happy when I heard that this year's telethon would be to raise money for Martuni," said
Elchemmas, 22, and a senior at Michigan State University majoring in sports communications and kinesiology.

Elchemmas was deeply touched by the Armenian children he met during his travels to Armenia and Karabakh, which prompted his participation with this year's Phon-a-thon.

"I saw my face in these children's faces and saw the same character traits in me in them," said Elchemmas.

When Azatuhi Ayrikyan traveled to Karabakh and saw first-hand the work that Armenia Fund has done there, she decided to participate in this year's Phon-a-thon.

"Armenia Fund appealed to me because while driving through Stepanakert two summers ago, my father told me that Armenia Fund's efforts had resulted in the creation of these new roads," said Ayrikyan, 23, and a graduate student Boston University.

This is the first time Ayrikyan is volunteering with Armenia Fund in a coordinating position. Ayrikyan has had experience with Armenian activism, working most recently with "Armenians for Obama."

When Shaunte Baboumian first volunteered for the New York chapter of Armenia Fund USA she enjoyed it greatly, especially because it was very grass-roots. She has since continued her involvement and will again participate in the 2008 Phon-a-thon and Telethon.

"This is an amazing project and it gets the youth and donors here involved and helps bring knowledge to people about Armenia Fund," said Baboumian, 21, a senior at Columbia University majoring in neuroscience, who will be making phone calls with Ayrikyan from New York City. "It's nice because donors know what they are giving to."

Armenia Fund USA was founded in 1992 and was one of the first of Armenia Fund's 18 international affiliates and serves Armenians in the United States, east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all Armenians. The Fund has adopted a policy to go "Beyond Bricks and Mortar" to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.

The Armenia Fund Telethon 2008 will take place on Thanksgiving Day from 11am to 11pm eastern. Please visit armeniafundusa.org for channel information.

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: founded in 1992, was one of the first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 18 international affiliates and serves constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all Armenian constituents. Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 18 international affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and Karabakh. The Fund has adopted a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.

To learn more about Armenia Fund USA, please visit our website at
www.ArmeniaFundUSA.org or call us at 212-689-5307.

Armenia Fund USA
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 301
New York, NY 10038