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    Categories: 2018

Asbarez: $11,109,633 Raised During Armenia Fund Telethon

The final tally of $11,109,633 projected on a screen during the annual Armenia Fund telethon

$2.5 million Anonymous Donation Announced

The annual Thanksgiving Day Armenia Fund Telethon raised $11,109,633, with the organization continuing to accept online and telephone pledges.

Armenia Fund had announced earlier this year that fund from the telethon would be allocated to infrastructure improvement and energy-related projects in Artsakh.

During the 12-hour program, which was broadcast internationally, a $2.5 million anonymous donation was announced. Businessmen and long-time Armenia Fund supporters Antranig Baghdassarian and Albert Boyajian each donated $1 million.

Last year, one of the major capital projects, the Vartenis-Mardakert Highway was inaugurated creating a second route connecting Armenia and Artsakh. The project was completely funded by Armenia Fund and monies raised through past telethons.

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stopped by the Hayastan All-Armenia Fund headquarters in Yerevan on Friday morning and addressed a live appeal to telethon viewers encouraging them to support the fund’s activities.

He then announced two separate donations—a one million drams ($2064) from the Prime Minister’s Funds and personal one for 500,000 drams ($1032).

Emil Lazarian: “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS