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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
AGBU Chapter and Young Professionals in Plovdiv Raise over $5,000 for Programs in Armenia
The AGBU Plovdiv Chapter celebrated its 103rd anniversary with a charity gala, “Children and Youth – Our Future,” to raise funds for the participation of Bulgarian-Armenian children and youth at AGBU and Diaspora Ministry summer programs in Armenia. The AGBU Plovdiv Young Professionals played a pivotal role in organizing the successful evening – which raised more than $5,000, including proceeds from an auction – at the city’s exclusive Viennese Pavilion.
The gala was attended by over 220 guests from five different cities in Bulgaria, including Armenian Ambassador to Bulgaria Arsen Shoyan, Vicar General of the Armenian Diocese in Bulgaria Archimandrite Abgar Hovakimian, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Plovdiv Ehiazar Uzunyan, former mayors Garabed Tomasyan and Spas Garnevski, AGBU Plovdiv chapter chair Roupen Chavoushian, as well as a number of prominent city council members and politicians.
The gala guests enjoyed a full-on program with the participation of the AGBU Vocal and Instrumental Band Erebouni, the Armenian Dance Group Nayiri and the Bulgarian Dance Ensemble Rachenitsa. They also watched video presentations on programs targeted by the fundraising efforts, including AGBU’s Discover Armenia, Yerevan Summer Internship Program, Antranik Scout Camp, as well as the Diaspora Ministry’s Ari Tun program.
The highlight of the evening was the auction entitled “For the Children by the Children.” All the items up for auction came from Armenia, including a duduk, a mother-of-pearl khachkar and four works of art made by the youth at AGBU’s Children’s Centers in Armenia, which became the object of a heated bidding war.
The AGBU Plovdiv Chapter intends this step to be the first one of consistent efforts in the future to raise funds for the participation of youth from Bulgaria in summer programs in Armenia. The Chapter and its young members are convinced that the path to Armenia will inspire the next generations, instilling in them a sense of belonging like no other experience could.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
From: Baghdasarian