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Couple hosts fundraiser for kids' vaccinations
A Christmas party Saturday yielded donations instead of gifts to help
children in Armenia
Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader
January 10, 2005
By Darleene Barrientos
Amid a dark, rainy Saturday evening, Roobik and Carmen Ovanesian's
glowing home was a beacon, beckoning to neighbors and friends to come in
and donate money to help every child in Armenia get vaccinated.
About two hundred people made their way in the door to drop off a check
Saturday, raising nearly $8,000. The party was a fundraising event for
the Millennium Armenian Children's Vaccine Fund, part of the Ani and
Narod Memorial Foundation.
The event was deliberately scheduled Saturday, as part of Armenian
Christmas celebrations. Armenian Christmas, or the Day of Epiphany, is
celebrated Jan. 6.
Organizers hoped to raise $20,000, to close out the $1.5 million
campaign goal. More than 400 guests were invited, and were asked to make
a tax-deductible donation to the fund in lieu of a Christmas gift. The
amount raised over the weekend will be matched by UNICEF.
"We would l ove for the last $20,000 to be raised tonight," Project
Coordinator Eliza Karagezian said. "But whatever comes in, we are
grateful for it."
Roobik and Carmen Ovanesian offered to host the event after Carmen saw a
brochure detailing the campaign and its goals.
"It is very important, it's a very good cause," Ovanesian said.
"Vaccinations are a simple thing, but children die from smallpox and
polio all the time."
Armenia might be far from Glendale, but its important that any child in
every country be vaccinated, Glendale Community College trustee Armine
Hacopian said
"Every child that's vaccinated makes it a safer world," she said.
"Children are not restricted to one country."
The celebration attracted several Armenian and Armenian American leaders
from Glendale and beyond. Mayor Bob Yousefian and Glendale Police Chief
Randy Adams both attended, along with several candidates for the City
Council, City Clerk, the Glendale Unified School District board and
Glendale Community College trustee board.
Burbank Unified School District board Vice President and Burbank
attorney Paul Krekorian and Downey City Councilman Kirk Cartozian also
attended the foundation fundraiser.
A Christmas party Saturday yielded donations instead of gifts to help
children in Armenia
Glendale News-Press and Burbank Leader
January 10, 2005
By Darleene Barrientos
Amid a dark, rainy Saturday evening, Roobik and Carmen Ovanesian's
glowing home was a beacon, beckoning to neighbors and friends to come in
and donate money to help every child in Armenia get vaccinated.
About two hundred people made their way in the door to drop off a check
Saturday, raising nearly $8,000. The party was a fundraising event for
the Millennium Armenian Children's Vaccine Fund, part of the Ani and
Narod Memorial Foundation.
The event was deliberately scheduled Saturday, as part of Armenian
Christmas celebrations. Armenian Christmas, or the Day of Epiphany, is
celebrated Jan. 6.
Organizers hoped to raise $20,000, to close out the $1.5 million
campaign goal. More than 400 guests were invited, and were asked to make
a tax-deductible donation to the fund in lieu of a Christmas gift. The
amount raised over the weekend will be matched by UNICEF.
"We would l ove for the last $20,000 to be raised tonight," Project
Coordinator Eliza Karagezian said. "But whatever comes in, we are
grateful for it."
Roobik and Carmen Ovanesian offered to host the event after Carmen saw a
brochure detailing the campaign and its goals.
"It is very important, it's a very good cause," Ovanesian said.
"Vaccinations are a simple thing, but children die from smallpox and
polio all the time."
Armenia might be far from Glendale, but its important that any child in
every country be vaccinated, Glendale Community College trustee Armine
Hacopian said
"Every child that's vaccinated makes it a safer world," she said.
"Children are not restricted to one country."
The celebration attracted several Armenian and Armenian American leaders
from Glendale and beyond. Mayor Bob Yousefian and Glendale Police Chief
Randy Adams both attended, along with several candidates for the City
Council, City Clerk, the Glendale Unified School District board and
Glendale Community College trustee board.
Burbank Unified School District board Vice President and Burbank
attorney Paul Krekorian and Downey City Councilman Kirk Cartozian also
attended the foundation fundraiser.