Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
3111 Los Feliz Avenue, #206, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Contact person: Dr. Frieda Jordan
Phone: (323) 663-3609
Email:[email protected]
ABMDR annual gala and fundraiser celebrates milestones, honors
supporters and volunteers
Los Angeles, July 17, 2009 – At its annual gala, `Match for Life
2009,’ the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) marked several
milestones, including the opening of its Stem Cell Harvesting Center
in Yerevan in April, and recognized several supporters and volunteers
for their outstanding service to the organization.
Among the evening’s honorees were VivaCell general manager Ralph
Yirikian, who was named ABMDR Man of the Year; and Volunteers of the
Year Steve Artinian, VP of advertising at Closet World and chairperson
of Homenetmen Western U.S.; Susanna Avagyan, a registered nurse at
Glendale Memorial Hospital; and Taleen Khatchadourian, executive
director and franchisee of Sylvan Learning Center of Studio
City/Sherman Oaks. In addition, The Comedy Store, of Los Angeles, was
honored as the ABMDR’s Business of the Year.
`Match for Life 2009′ also raised funds for the ABMDR’s ongoing
activities and a slew of planned projects. While the Stem Cell
Harvesting Center continues to grow and the ABMDR organizes bone
marrow donor recruitment drives throughout the United States and
Armenia, the next overarching objective is to establish a stem cell
transplantation center in Armenia.
`Given the fact that 60% of our stem cell donors are from Armenia, the
opening of the Stem Cell Harvesting Center in the country was of vital
importance,’ said Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of the ABMDR Board of
Directors. `Now that this has been achieved, thanks to both grassroots
and major-benefactor support, much of our focus is on launching a
dedicated transplantation center, which would give thousands of
patients access to affordable, life-saving stem cell transplants.’
More than 500 supporters, including several guests of honor, attended
the ABMDR banquet. The roster of dignitaries comprised Los Angeles
mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Burbank vice-mayor Anja Reinke; Glendale
mayor Frank Quintero and City Council members Ara Najarian and Laura
Friedman; Armenian deputy consul general Mesrob Shaboyan; Rev. Dajad
Yardemian of the Western Diocese; Morre Dean, president and CEO of
Glendale Adventist Hospital; and Bob Quarfoot, senior vice-president
of business development at Glendale Memorial Hospital.
As the cocktail hour began at 6:00 p.m., a great many attendees kicked
off the fundraising effort by purchasing glasses of champagne with
unlimited refills and a chance of winning a diamond necklace, which
was donated by Design by Naz. Guests also bid on a variety of
silent-auction items.
After the doors to the banquet room were opened at 7:00 p.m., the
evening’s masters of ceremonies, Lara Yeretsian of the ABMDR Board of
Directors and Sam Tripoli of the Board of Advisors, welcomed the
attendees and invited Mayor Villaraigosa to the podium. In his
touching address, the mayor reflected on his close relationship with
the Armenian community and expressed high praise for the ABMDR’s
life-saving work and mission.
Villaraigosa’s comments were followed by Banquet Committee chair Naz
Atikian’s welcoming remarks, after which Father Yardemian performed
the invocation. As guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner and fine wines,
images of the ABMDR’s activities in the past year were projected on
two giant screens, accompanied by music.
Next the attendees heard testimonials about the work of the ABMDR by
two leukemia survivors: Alique Topalian, whose diagnosis ten years ago
served as the impetus for the establishment of the ABMDR; and Richard
Boyajian, a nurse practitioner at Boston’s Dana Farber Cancer
Institute, who has survived the illness thanks to a stem cell
transplant. Living proofs of the procedure’s effectiveness, both
Topalian and Boyajian encouraged the guests to become bone marrow
donors and support the ABMDR cause. `Being at the ABMDR gala, in a
room filled with Armenians whose sole purpose for being there was to
save the lives of other Armenians in need was an emotionally moving
experience for me, as a 12.5-year survivor of leukemia,’ Boyajian
later said. `Too often in our daily lives we forget what is truly
important but at that moment in time we remembered.’
The evening’s program continued with the screening of a video which
highlighted the ABMDR’s latest activities, including stem cell
recruitment drives and the opening of the Stem Cell Harvesting
Center. As Banquet Committee member Nectar Kalajian took the stage,
she described her family’s journey in search of a matching bone marrow
donor for her cousin Aram. She was joined by Carlo, a young father
from Pasadena, California, struck with leukemia, who is soon to
undergo his own life-saving bone marrow transplant.
Both Kalajian and Carlo thanked the ABMDR for its vital support,
emphasized the ongoing need for stem cell donors, and urged the
attendees to `be an angel, save a life.’ At this, the hall was
suddenly filled with little girls dressed as angels, who floated
through the tables and collected donation pledges. Subsequently the
pledges were announced and for each contribution a symbolic angel was
placed on the `Angel Tree’ (or `Tree of Hope’) at the podium.
Following a brief set of performances by the Element band, Mark
Geragos, chair of the ABMDR Board of Directors, recounted the
beginnings and evolution of the registry. As he outlined nine years of
groundbreaking achievements, the chairman underscored the registry’s
importance to Armenians throughout the world.
Also delivering remarks were Dr. Frieda Jordan and Dr. Sevak Avagyan,
executive director of the ABMDR in Armenia. Before she spoke of the
registry’s future plans, Dr. Jordan thanked all supporters for making
the dream of having a Stem Cell Harvesting Center a reality in record
time. On his part, Dr. Avagyan stated that the Armenian- American
community not only started and sustained the ABMDR for many years, but
inspired the public in Armenia to join forces for the creation of the
Stem Cell Harvesting Center, as a one-of-a-kind institution that
serves the global Armenian community. `In Armenia today, the high
level of support for the ABMDR’s work is tremendously heartwarming,’
Dr. Avagyan said in a later statement. `As the Armenian public and
government alike have embraced the registry’s life-saving mission, we
have great hopes that we’ll be able to open a stem cell transplant
center under the auspices of the Health Ministry.’
After a brief video massage from Dr. Bella Kocharyan, honorary chair
of the ABMDR, awards were presented to the evening’s honorees. ABMDR
Man of the Year Ralph Yirikian, who was unable to attend the event,
relayed his appreciation through a video message which encouraged all
Armenian individuals and corporations to support the registry’s
work. Commenting on the far-reaching benefits of the Stem Cell
Harvesting Center, Yirikian said, `We will realize the importance of
this project in a couple of years… We can save the lives of cancer
patients=80¦ And by being a center of excellence which is unique to
the region, with its own bone marrow donor registry, this facility
will significantly improve Armenia’s overall health profile.’
`The ABMDR has had a wonderfully productive year,’ Taleen
Khatchadourian said. `It is the combined effort of so many that has
made this endeavor such a success. I encourage everyone to take the
opportunity and devote some time to this worthy cause. The
satisfaction of contributing, if only just a little, is worth more
than anyone can imagine.’ Steve Artinian also praised the work of the
registry and stated, `Being recognized by the Armenian Bone Marrow
Registry as a Volunteer of the Year is a true honor.’
Susana Avagyan, the third Volunteer of the Year, said, `Assisting the
ABMDR has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. And
a big part of that fulfillment has to do with the knowledge that our
volunteer work – whether through stem cell donor recruitments or
follow-up health tests – helps save lives, especially those of young
people.’
The gala program concluded with the drawing of the winning raffle and
champagne tickets. But guests continued to enjoy themselves well into
the night, as they socialized and danced to the music of the DJ duo
Aram and Allen.
Major sponsors of `Match for Life 2009,’ which raised $100,000 for
various ABMDR projects, included the Foundation Laboratory; Mr. and
Mrs. Linda and Stepan Vartanian; Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Cyrus and Rita
Razmara; Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Arpenik Avagyan and Dr. Sokurenko Evgeni;
and the Greek Armenian Society.
About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999,
the ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians worldwide survive
life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching
donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date,
the registry has recruited over 15,000 donors across three continents,
identified 1,305 patients, found 1,033 potential matches, and
facilitated nine bone marrow transplants.
For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit abmdr.am.
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