PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Building 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel:? +(3741) 56 01 06? ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
October 30, 2014, Yerevan
Hayastan Foundation Toronto celebrates its 22nd anniversary and undertakes
new projects in Artsakh
On the occasion of its 22nd anniversary, Hayastan Foundation Toronto, the
local affiliate of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund had its annual fund raising
banquet on Sunday, October 26, at AGBU Alex Manougian Hall. Over 300
supporters of the fund as well as dignitaries attended the fund raising. The
function was under the auspices of H.E. Armen Yeganian, the Ambassador of
the Republic of Armenia to Canada.
The evening started with the national anthems of Canada, Armenia and
Artsakh, performed by soprano Armenia Sarkissian, with piano accompaniment
by Lena Nahas-Yozgalian. After the opening remarks by Tenny Nigoghossian,
the M.C. of the evening, Ambassador Yeganian started the proceedings with a
succinct presentation of current activities and events involving Canada and
Armenia. Migirdic Migirdicyan, the chair of the local chapter of the fund
gave a detailed report of the most recent project of the fund which was the
new “Life Centre” for the village of Nor Maragha, in Artsakh. The village
“Life Centre” is a 2-storey facility, with a full basement, which has a
floor functioning as a medical/maternity clinic, another one as a library, a
computer centre, an auditorium and the mayor’s office, all under one roof.
This was the 2nd of such facility, and the 44th project overall for Toronto.
After presenting the details of the upcoming 45th project, which will be a
brand new kindergarten for the village of Ivanyan, in Artsakh, Migirdicyan
presented the guest of honour and the keynote speaker Mr. Karen Mirzoyan,
the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh. The minister gave a
detailed status of the current affairs in Artsakh and then he emphasized the
vital importance of the numerous humanitarian infrastructural projects that
the Fund has been realizing over the last 22 years, throughout Artsakh and
thanked the audience for their participation and generosity.
As part of the cultural program soprano Sona Hovsepyan sang two beautiful
songs with piano accompaniment by Taline Kelebozian.
Finally the fund-raising of the evening was kicked off by Houri Najarian,
the vice-chair of the local chapter. $146,000 was raised from the floor and
it was announced that through a bequest the Fund has just received a major
sum, bringing the total to a record $550,000. The fund-raising will
continue, and it is hoped that until the upcoming annual Telethon, on
November 27, the number will grow further. Closing the program Migirdicyan
informed the audience that with the total funds, in addition to the Ivanyan
Kindergarten, Toronto will also build a 3rd “Life Centre” (village to be
determined) and will renovate the school for the Shosh village, as well as
procuring an ambulance for the Nor Maragha “Life Centre”.