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YPGNY Kicks off New Year with Record Attendance at Silent Auction

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  • YPGNY Kicks off New Year with Record Attendance at Silent Auction

    AGBU Press Office
    55 East 59th Street
    New York, NY 10022-1112
    Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
    Fax: 212.319.6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: www.agbu.org

    PRESS RELEASE

    Monday, March 16, 2009

    YPGNY Kicks off New Year with Record Attendance at Silent Auction in
    Manhattan, Raises $15,000 for AGBU Children's Centers in Armenia

    On January 24, 2009, 250 Armenian Americans from New York to San
    Francisco gathered in a private loft overlooking midtown Manhattan for
    an evening hosted by AGBU's Young Professionals of Greater New York
    (YPGNY). The evening included a silent auction and social reception and
    raised $15,000 to benefit AGBU's Children's Centers in Armenia.

    "It was so inspiring to see such community support at the auction for
    the Children's Centers," said Aline Markarian, YPGNY Co-Chair. "Even
    during this time of economic trouble in the world, we were still able to
    bring in more guests than ever before for an unforgettable evening of
    success which helps our motherland."

    Loft 11 in midtown Manhattan sparkled with the sights and sounds of
    friends, old and new, enjoying an evening of socializing and networking.
    Since 2000, YPGNY has hosted an Armenian Christmas reception as an
    enjoyable and unique way to raise funds.

    Silent auction items included restaurant gift certificates at New York
    city hotspots Cipriani, Ilili, Asia de Cuba and Dos Caminos, roundtrip
    airfare from New York to Los Angeles, an HP mini notebook laptop
    computer, a Louis Vuitton silk scarf, sports and Broadway show tickets,
    items from designer Michael Aram's Coral Reef and Africana collections,
    several pieces of fine jewelry and art works created by students at the
    AGBU Children's Centers in Armenia. Additional raffle prizes, including
    more restaurant gift certificates, tableware and a personal oil painting
    studio portrait, were also offered to guests eager to donate to the
    cause.

    Catering for the evening's festivities was provided by local food
    emporiums, including Anahid Catering, Arek Mediterranean Groceries,
    Babylon Mediterranean Restaurant and Olympia Foods of All Nations. Wine
    and spirits were very generously donated from a number of venues,
    including Clovis Point Winery and Manhattan Beer Distribution. DJ Joe
    Kasparian donated his time and equipment to provide music throughout the
    evening. A number of individuals and community supporters contributed
    their time and services to the Armenian Christmas event, as well.

    "We owe special thanks to all of our generous donors and to Onnig
    Djinguezian, from the AGBU New York office, who year after year has
    donated a great deal of his time and contacts to orchestrate the
    evening's donations and preparations," added Danny Abajian, YPGNY
    Co-Chair.

    At the end of the evening, Kim Yacoubian, AGBU's Young Professionals
    liaison, presented the YPGNY chapter with a very special award on behalf
    of the AGBU Central Board of Directors for 10 years of outstanding
    service to the local Armenian community. The presentation was the first
    time the Central Board had officially acknowledged the invaluable
    contribution of a Young Professional committee.

    "AGBU was compelled to recognize YPGNY for one simple reason alone,"
    Yacoubian said during the Armenian Christmas event. "From the day it
    began, until this very night, this group embraces and personifies the
    true spirit and meaning of the word 'service.'"

    Since 1999, YPGNY has raised over $93,000 for AGBU programs worldwide,
    the most of any Young Professional committee, which was accomplished
    through a mix of traditional fundraisers and novel initiatives.
    Co-chairs Danny Abajian and Aline Markarian accepted the award for the
    entire YPGNY community past, present and future.

    "Being honored for our work in the AGBU family and community only made a
    special evening even more special for us," said YPGNY member Tamar
    Nahabedian. "It is an amazing feeling not only to see everyone enjoying
    themselves at this event, but to know that we will make a difference at
    the Children's Centers for yet another year."

    In addition to the evening's donations, YPGNY also organized their
    annual holiday card fundraiser called "HALO" or "Helping Armenia's
    Little Ones." HALO allows people to make a small donation in someone
    else's name as a gift; each recipient of the charity donation receives a
    card indicating that a gift has been made in their name.

    AGBU YPGNY is part of a growing network of YP Groups and supporters
    around the world who are committed to preserving and promoting the
    Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and
    humanitarian programs. For more information on YPGNY, email
    [email protected].

    For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit
    www.agbu.org.
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