Community Education And Development Programs Get $2.6 Million Boost

COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS GET $2.6 MILLION BOOST FROM ANCA ENDOWMENT FUND TELETHON

ity-education-and-development-programs-get-strong- boost-from-26-million-raised-at-anca-endowment-fun d-telethon/
Jun 5, 2009

LITTLE ARMENIA – In a strong show of grassroots participation that
reinforced the power of national community participation, $2.6 million
was raised during the May 31st six-hour nationally televised ANCA
Endowment Fund Telethon.

"Once again, our community has demonstrated its enduring faith and
commitment to the ANCA Endowment Fund’s efforts to expand Armenian
American civic participation and youth development programs,"
said ANCA Endowment Fund President Ken Hachikian. "Each donation –
large and small – will also play a pivotal role in educating elected
officials, and the media – locally and nationally – about pressing
Armenian American concerns facing our community."

Bolstered by a matching donation of $150,000 by Kirk Kerkorian’s
Lincy Foundation, the telethon attracted a broad cross-section of
the community and the final results proved the commitment of the
Armenian-American community to the advancement the Armenian Cause.

Thousands of Armenian-Americans took part in the fund-raising effort,
with hundreds more volunteering their time, services and other
resources to ensure the telethon was a success.

"This telethon was more than a 6-hour broadcast," said Telethon
Outreach Coordinator Pattyl Aposhian Kasparian. "The outcome reflects
the importance of bringing together the entire community around the
work of the Armenian Cause and truly reflects our grassroots power. We
thank each and every donor."

The program, aired nationally on Horizon Armenian Television and
the Armenian Russian Television Network (ARTN) and local television
stations acros the country, featured segments highlighting the ANCA
Endowment Fund’s achievements and activities in Genocide education,
youth empowerment, advocacy training, the advancement of an enduring
relationship between the United States and Armenia and the promotion
of public awareness of the circumstances surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh.

The telethon, which was filmed live in the Horizon studios,
also featured appearances by Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, leader of the Armenian Catholic Community Father Antoine
Saroyan, Rev. Joe Matossian of the Armenian Evangelical Church, Los
Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, ANCA Endowment Fund President Ken
Hachikian, Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director
Aram Hamparian, as well as major donors and sponsors.

Video messages were provided by Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, California State Assemblyman Paul Krikorian, San Francisco
Mayor and California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom, as well as
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and California State Assemblyman Kevin de Leon.

The 2009 Telethon Committee, which has been planning and executing
the project for the past several months, had produced a well-executed
program hosted by 11 community and media leaders from throughout the
United States, all of whom emphasized the importance of the ANCA
Endowment Fund to the advancement of Armenian- American community
aspirations.

Hosts Karine Birazian, Paul Chaderjian, Alina Dorian, Saro Haroun,
Silva Harapetian, Ari Killian, Roxanne Makasdjian, Steve Mesrobian,
Anahid Oshagan, Aram Sarafian and Manoug Seraidarian adeptly navigated
the audience through the six-hour broadcasts, which was intertwined
with information and education segments, live in-studio appearances,
and pleas from community leaders.

"Organizing a 6 hour live broadcast which is to air throughout the
country is complicated but we were fortunate to have a number of
professionals and volunteers who were up to the task," said ANCA
Endowment Telethon Chairman Leonard Manoukian. "They each brought
to bear their special skills, talents and experience, but most
importantly, they brought with them the passion which sets Hai Tahd
apart from other causes."

Another highlight of the telethon was the participation of community
organizations, churches and schools, which had activated their
membership and raised funds that were presented on behalf of the
respective groups.

The funds raised during the telethon will be allocated to furthering
the mission of the ANCA Endowment Fund to educate and empower the
community toward advancing issues of concern to Armenian-Americans.

http://www.asbarez.com/2009/06/05/commun