September 26, 2005

ARMENIA FUND USA’S FUNDRAISING TELETHON, A THANKSGIVING TRADITION

NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund USA, East Coast Affiliate of Hayastan Himnadram, is pleased to announce the date of Telethon 2005, an annual event that has turned into a tradition for the Armenia Fund and all of its international affiliates as well as among the Armenian community across the United States. On Thanksgiving Day, the 24th of November 2005, the Armenians worldwide will be able to follow and directly contribute through the annual telethon in order to raise funds for Rebirth of Artsakh, a three-year, three-phase major Regional Development Program for Karabakh. For many Armenians in the United States, Thanksgiving Day would not be complete without the opportunity to join Armenians around the world in participating in this uplifting and exciting event right from their living rooms!

Since 1996, when the Telethon event was first organized, it has moved many; including major donors and contributors who have supported the Fund and made most of its projects come into reality. Millions of dollars have been raised, and thousands of lives have been changed. And now this year, we have the chance to once again share from our “bounty” on Thanksgiving in order to improve the people’s lives and create a brighter future for Armenia and Karabakh.

The Regional Development Program will entail the building of schools, housing, clinics, drinking water, schemes, access roads and an agricultural initiative for three major regions of Karabakh, starting with the Mardakert region. Armenia Fund USA will spearhead the Agricultural Initiative component of the Regional Development Program, a strategic initiative aimed at providing long term sustainable economic development for the region. This year’s Telethon will raise funds for the Agricultural Initiative for the Mardakert region requiring $2.5 million funding serving the region’s 20,000 population. The funding will go towards establishing six Agricultural Development Associations (ADA’s) in the Mardakert region for creating economic hubs for converting groups of subsistence farmers into production units for field crops, swine and cattle production.

Armenia Fund USA welcomes the opportunity the annual Telethon provides as a great way of communicating to our donors – past and present- about differences they have made as we share the success stories made possible by their generosity.

More than this, the name of every donor, regardless of the size of the contribution, will be displayed on the screen. Telethon 2005 will also report the results of the Fund’s Phonathon that is scheduled to take place the week before Thanksgiving Day.

Nagorno-Karabakh, a war-torn region that has gone through hardships of conflict, political secession and economic collapse, is in urgent need of a multifaceted economic recovery program. Agricultural infrastructure support is a critical point to begin. This is why Armenia Fund USA invites our donors to join us by supporting this major fundraising campaign in order to reach out to men, women and children of all ages and help them reclaim the land that has taken the lives of so many of their young people to liberate. Telethon 2005 will be another way of delivering the Fund’s message to the world - every dollar raised during the event will go towards healing the wounds of the proud and determined people of Karabakh. Join us in this joyous event and help make a difference!

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was the first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 19 international affiliates and serves constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all Armenian constituents.

Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 19 international affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and Karabakh, and having helped build 138 miles of roads, 100 miles of waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential buildings and 15 healthcare institutions.

Armenia Fund USA’s Mission is the development of strategic socio-economic infrastructure in Armenia and Karabakh, focusing on major projects such as major highways, schools, drinking water to communities and humanitarian programs in education, training and medical facilities. The Fund has adopted a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.

To learn more about Armenia Fund USA, please visit our website at
www.ArmeniaFundUSA.org or call us at 212-689-5307.

Armenia Fund USA
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 301
New York, NY 10038