Armenia Fund’s Telethon 1997 was held on Thanksgiving Day November 27, 1997. The live 11.5 hour Telethon generated over $2.6 million dollars in pledges. The broadcast featured a live satellite link from Armenia with his Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos of All Armenians, and Armenia’s Prime Minister Robert Kocharian. It also included a one-hour segment which was delivered via satellite to France where several hundred French Armenians and French local officials had gathered in support. Among many guests, the delegation supporting the telethon included Bishop Barkev Martirossian, Prelate of Artsakh Diocese, Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baibourtian, Republic of Armenia; Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States, Rouben Shugarian, and United Nations Permanent Mission Representative Movses Abelian.
The $2.6 million in pledges included a one million dollar pledge by Mr. Kirk Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation.
Several hundred volunteers devoted at least a portion of their holiday to answering telephone lines which were connected to the toll free 800 number. The stage was designed to represent a construction theme with a tractor, trenches, telephone poles and infrastructure repair equipment. The broadcast originated from studios in Glendale, California and was shown locally on KSCI-TV Channel 18 and delivered to cable stations serving over six million households all over the United States by the International Channel.
The program was sprinkled throughout the day with messages and appeals by former Senator Bob Dole, former Governor George Deukmejian, California Attorney General Dan Lungren, U.S. Congressmen Jim Rogan, Brad Sherman and Patrick Kennedy.
Six hosts took turns introducing reports from Armenia, interviewing guests and volunteers, receiving pledges and delivering the “National Giving” campaign message. Salpy Haroutunian-Ghazarian, Eileen Tanielian and Artur Baghtamian returned this year to their hosting duties and they were joined by Parsegh Kartalian, Osheen Keshishian, Anna Grigorian and Azniv Ketenchian.
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698
