For Immediate Release
November 21, 2008

SHUSHI’S CONTRIBUTION TO ARMENIA FUND

NEW YORK, New York — On Friday, November 21, 2008, an elegant and intimate dinner reception took place at the home of Mr. Andreas Roubian, in Saddle River, New Jersey. The guests of honor were H.E. Mr. Bako Sahakyan, President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, and His Eminence Pargev Martirosyan, The Primate of Karabakh. Mr. Roubian was one of the founders of the Karabakh Committee, which became a reality in 1992 at this very location.

Reception at the home of Mr. Andreas Roubian, in Saddle River, New Jersey.

During the tumultuous times in Nagorno Karabakh, when Armenians all over the globe came together in order to provide aid to our people and soldiers fighting courageously for our lands, the Shushi Dance Ensemble, very young at the time, did not miss any opportunity to support the fundraising efforts by engaging the guests through patriotic songs and dance at every event. Soon after, the group adopted the name “Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble” after the liberation of the ancient capital city of Shushi.

The highlight of the evening was a surprise performance by Shushi Dance Ensemble of St. Vartan Cathedral, NY. After performing for the guests, the beautiful and graceful dancers presented a check in the amount of $2000.00 to the Armenia Fund’s 11th International Telethon. The president of Karabakh thanked the group and its Artistic Director and Choreographer, Mrs. Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian, for this very generous donation. The Chairman of Armenia Fund, Mr. Raffi Festekjian, thanked the dancers who volunteered their time for the Phonaton in NYC, and also for their contribution to this year’s fundraising efforts.

Shushi’s next performance will be on the beautiful Costa Fortuna cruise ship during the Armenian Heritage Cruise XII, sailing January 11-18, 2009. The ensemble will have 2 spectacular performances featuring famous vocalists from Los Angeles Hovig Krikorian and Armen Hovanessyan, along with musical director Andranik Mouradian.

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