Hayastan Foundation Toronto Inc - All-Armenian Fund

Hayastan Foundation Toronto Inc is a branch of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund

Armenia Fund Toronto will build two Village Life Centres - over $315,000 raised

PRESS RELEASE - Hayastan Foundation Toronto Inc - All-Armenian Fund Armenia Fund Toronto 20th Anniversary Banquet a big success

ARMENIA FUND TORONTO WILL BUILD TWO “VILLAGE LIFE CENTRE”S - OVER $315,000 RAISED

Toronto, June 25, 2012 - On Sunday, June 24, Mr. Vahe Jazmadarian, the General Controller and the Chairman of the Audit Committee of "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund Board, as the key-note speaker at the annual banquet of Armenia Fund Toronto, kicked off the fundraising for the construction of two “Village Life Centre”s, in Artsakh.

The MC of the evening was Tenny Nighogossian, who conducted the proceedings in front of a capacity audience, in a very charming and professional manner.

The entire program was dedicated to the 20th Anniversaries of the liberation of Shushi as well as of the Armenia Fund. In his remarks, H.E. Armen Yeganian, the Ambassador of Armenia, in Canada, emphasized the key role that Armenia Fund had played during its 20 years of work, both in Armenia and Artsakh, in general, and Toronto Chapter’s projects during the same period, in particular.

Migirdic Migirdicyan, the Chairman of Toronto Chapter, started his presentation with major good-news stories from Artsakh and Armenia, including the growing birthrate in Artsakh as well as the Tumo Centre and Fruitful-Armenia, in Armenia. Then continued his presentation with the five different projects that were realized by the Toronto Chapter over the last 12 months.

1. In May, the main project of Toronto, the Education and Cultural Centre of Shushi was opened.
2. Some four-hundred students from the four of the schools built by Toronto had received made-to-measure uniforms, which were prepared by an anonymous benefactor.
3. A brand new school-mini-bus was donated to the Shosh school in Artsakh, to transport the students from the neighbouring village of Mkhitarashen, who until then were walking the 2.5 kilometre distance twice daily, facing the elements and wild-life. Mr. Berc Luleciyan, the donor of this mini-bus was honoured by the Armenia Fund’s “Benefactor” medal.
4. The Sourp Krikor Loussavoritch Hospital’s, Kidney and Dialysis floor, in Yerevan, was completely renovated.
5. The two floors of Nork Old-Age home, in Yerevan, was completely renovated. Mr. Harutyun Yesayan, the donor of both the hospital and the old-age home was honoured by the Armenia Fund’s “Benefactor” medal.

Vahe Jazmadarian, the key-note speaker of the banquet, who had come specifically for this event from Cannes, France, gave a very eloquent and all encompassing speech about All-Armenia Fund’s work over the last 20 years. Mr. Jazmadarian, being the general Controller and the chair of the Audit Committee of the Board, emphasized the absolute transparency of the Fund’s finances as well as of the projects, by having two separate audits one for the finances and the other for the physical aspects of the projects during the many phases of the construction. Mr. Jazmadarian ended his presentation with the formidable statistics of the very large number of projects realized over the 20 years by the Fund’s chapters worldwide, which was welcomed by a standing ovation of the audience.

The fund raising drive, which included the lighting of the 20th Anniversary candles, the donation of the Toronto students and the auctioning of a tuxedo by a world-famous tailor, was run by Giro Chahinian, in a very energetic manner.

The banquet ended at a very high note with $135,000 raised from all the activities of the day, plus a single donation of $180,000, a total of $315,000 was raised, towards two “Village Life Centre”s, in Artsakh. One of those centres will be in the village of Drakhtig, in Artsakh, which will be financed by a single anonymous donor. These centres will include a medical and maternity room, a computer centre, a library, a small auditorium and the mayor’s office.

Hayastan Foundation Toronto Inc. All-Armenian Fund is a non-profit organization established in 1993 with the aim of facilitating humanitarian assistance and infrastructure development in Armenia and in Artsakh. Amongst over forty projects realized, the Toronto chapter of the Fund has built five brand new schools, renovated two, brought water to 12 villages and cities, including the water ring-network for the city of Stepanakert, built natural gas networks for four villages and for the Kantsasar monastery, as well as completed and participated in several other projects of the Armenia Fund.