Hayastan Foundation Toronto celebrates its 22ND anniversary and undertakes new projects in Artsakh

Hayastan Foundation Toronto celebrates its 22ND anniversary and undertakes new projects in Artsakh –

Toronto – On the occasion of its 22^nd anniversary, Hayastan Foundation Toronto, the local affiliate of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund had its annual fund raising banquet on Sunday, October 26, at AGBU Alex Manougian Hall. Over 300 supporters of the fund as well as dignitaries attended the fund raising. The function was under the auspices of H.E. Armen Yeganian, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Canada.

 The evening started with the national anthems of Canada, Armenia and Artsakh, performed by soprano Armenia Sarkissian, with piano accompaniment by Lena Nahas-Yozgalian. After the opening remarks by Tenny Nigoghossian, the M.C. of the evening, Ambassador Yeganian started the proceedings with a succinct presentation of current activities and events involving Canada and Armenia. Migirdic Migirdicyan, the chair of the local chapter of the fund gave a detailed report of the most recent project of the fund which was the new “Life Centre” for the village of Nor Maragha, in Artsakh. The village “Life Centre” is a 2-storey facility, with a full basement, which has a floor functioning as a medical/maternity clinic, another one as a library, a computer centre, an auditorium and the mayor’s office, all under one roof. This was the 2^nd of such facility, and the 44^th project overall for Toronto. After presenting the details of the upcoming 45^th project, which will be a brand new kindergarten for the village of Ivanyan, in Artsakh, Migirdicyan presented the guest of honour and the keynote speaker Mr. Karen Mirzoyan, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh. The minister gave a detailed status of the current affairs in Artsakh and then he emphasized the vital importance of the numerous humanitarian infrastructural projects that the Fund has been realizing over the last 22 years, throughout Artsakh and thanked the audience for their participation and generosity.

As part of the cultural program soprano Sona Hovsepyan sang two beautiful songs with piano accompaniment by Taline Kelebozian.

 Finally the fund-raising of the evening was kicked off by Houri Najarian, the vice-chair of the local chapter. $146,000 was raised from the floor and it was announced that through a bequest the Fund has just received a major sum, bringing the total to a record $550,000. The fund-raising will continue, and it is hoped that until the upcoming annual Telethon, on November 27, the number will grow further. Closing the program Migirdicyan informed the audience that with the total funds, in addition to the Ivanyan Kindergarten, Toronto will also build a 3^rd “Life Centre” (village to be determined) and will renovate the school for the Shosh village, as well as procuring an ambulance for the Nor Maragha “Life Centre”.