For Immediate Release
October 15, 2005

ARMENIA FUND USA HOSTS “AUTUMN HARVEST CELEBRATION” IN CONNECTICUT

To Benefit the Drinking Water Rehabilitation Program in Stepanakert

NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund USA, East Coast Affiliate of Hayastan Himnadram, held an “Autumn Harvest Celebration” in Cos Cob, Connecticut. Hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Colin and Nectar Munro in their home, the dinner and cocktails evening was organized to benefit the Drinking Water Rehabilitation Program in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh. Many distinguished guests enjoyed the gracious hospitability of Mr. and Mrs. Munro, and it was a great opportunity for Armenia Fund USA, its contributors and friends to share their vision of helping bring fresh water to the people of Stepanakert. The event was also informative and guests were presented a summary of the Drinking Water Rehabilitation Project and progress of the project thus far in Stepanakert. The Chairman of Armenia Fund USA, Mr. Kevork Toroyan, shared with guests the future undertakings and projects of the organization. He talked about the Agricultural Initiative – one of the major components of the Regional Development Program that will be implemented in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia Fund USA wants to extend its gratitude to all those who gave and made the evening a success with more than $17,00 raised in support of the Water Rehabilitation Project in Stepanakert. And the Fund wants to especially thank the committee and volunteers to whom the evening’s success is due largely to their extraordinary gift of time and talents. Our gratitude to Mrs. Artemis Nazerian, Mrs. Hilda Melconian, Mrs. Linda Chirinian, Mrs. Nectar Munro and Mrs. Lena Kalayjian. Their commitment and involvement were a great help towards Armenia Fund USA’s efforts to organize the event.

Drinking water, being one of the essential pillars of a healthy society, conditions the well being and proper functioning of every society. Much of the current water distribution system in Stepanakert is antiquated and has been severely damaged because of lack of proper government supervision during post-Soviet years. The focus of the Project will provide a long term and self sustaining solution to the scarcity of drinking water and water sanitation that plagues the inhabitants of these regions in Armenia and Karabakh.

Thus, three of the most important objectives of the project include: 1) rehabilitation of the water distribution system bringing it up to modern standards; 2) the provision of residents of Stepanakert with adequate and sanitary water supplies and 3) easing the burden of schoolchildren and the elderly by redeeming the time they spend daily collecting water.

About $90,000 was raised through various regional events in Boston, Detroit and Chicago by Armenia Fund USA in 2004. The on-going project requires an additional $200,000 to insure uninterrupted progress of the implementation process.

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