For Immediate Release
November 4, 2008

SOME $30 MILLION PLEDGED DURING THE HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND’S FUNDRAISING DINNER IN YEREVAN

Yerevan, Armenia — Some $30 million dollars were pledged at the fundraising dinner held in Yerevan on November 1 in support of Hayastan Fund Telethon 2008; the event took place under the auspices of Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The dinner was a most impressive demonstration of combined potential and commitment of some 120 businessmen from Armenia and Russia.

The Hayastan Fund Board of Trustees was represented at the event by the Presidents of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, Catholicos of All Armenians, Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia and Board member- ministers, Chairman of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen, as well as Hranush Hakobyan heading the newly established Ministry of Diaspora.

The message of blessing and welcome of Catholicos of All Armenians instigated the dinner. This was followed by the President Sargsyan’s speech: “Everybody knows about the important mission of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund, as well as the large-scale activity it has been carrying out. The annual fundraising is a great opportunity for our people to take part in rehabilitation and prosperity of our Homeland irrespective of their age and social belonging. This is a chance for each and every Armenian to feel part of the whole, realize that national unity is not merely an abstract and sublime concept; it is a real power that accomplishes the impossible. Families both from Armenia and Diaspora have the opportunity to take part in solution of national problems. And finally, this is a good occasion for the benefactors and businessmen to bring their input in nation-building initiatives. I call you to actively participate in this fundraising event and be generous, faithful to the tradition set by our well-off benefactors. Thanks to those traditions we have preserved our culture and education, churches and orphanages; we have protected our country and people despite lack of statehood. These traditions we must reestablish and develop further”, pointed out the President.

Hrant Tokhatyan, the master of ceremony, was announcing the pledges. Samvel Karapetyan, Sergey Hambardzumyan, Gagik Tsarukyan, Seiran Karapetyan, Genadi Stepanyan, Ashot Khachaturyan, Mikhail Baghdasarov, Samvel Alexanyan, Barsegh Beglaryan, Tigran Arzakantsyan, Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine, “Mikael Vardanyan” Foundation, “Eduardo Eurnekian” Group, ArmRusGasProm, Karabakh Telecom were among the major donors of the event. Names and amounts of the donors will be also announced at the Telethon and published in media.

“We are grateful to all those, who have not been indifferent to life of Artsakh people and taken part in all our accomplishments. Our compatriots have not only shared our success, they supported us in overcoming our problems. I am thankful to the President of Armenia for this initiative, the idea of which is unity of our people”, said President of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakyan. In his appeal the Catholicos of All Armenians encouraged those present to bring their contribution to the Hayastan Fund’s projects.

“On behalf of Hayastan All Armenian Fund I would like to thank all those who contributed to the Fund’s projects today. I ensure that each cent donated will be used to solve crucial problems in our country”, said Hayastan Fund’s Acting Executive Director Ara Vardanyan in his Thank-you speech.

Telethon will be broadcast from Los Angeles on November 27. Major sponsor of Telethon 2008 is Vivacell-MTS. Ardshininvestbank, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank and Haypost CJSC also sponsor the telethon.

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.