InternationalCOAF raises $1.25 million for rural Armenia in New York gala
Published: Wednesday October 29, 2008
From left: Ambassador Evans, Nicholas Kristof and Garo Armen. COAF
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New York - The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), which held its 2008 Save a Generation Awards Dinner on Friday, October 24, announced that it had raised $1.25 million for its programs focused on children in rural Armenia, bringing the total raised over its five-year existence to over $9 million. Speaking at the dinner, held at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, was New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.
"The successes of COAF are evident in the faces of our children," said Dr. Garo Armen, who envisioned, initiated, organized and brought COAF to fruition. The program began with rebuilding the complete infrastructure in a single village, Karakert; it has now been expanded to provide assistance to nine villages. COAF implements an array of projects in education, health care, and social and economic development, as well as cultural programs in Armenia.
A unique celebration
On Friday evening, as more than 350 attendees entered the massive, marble-columned building for the sumptuous affair, there was a definite air of excitement and celebration, coupled with the steely determination to continue and expand this project for the future.
During the reception, guests were greeted by rotating strobe lights, a sequin-covered mime dancer on an elevated platform, agile acrobats from Cirque du Soleil, palm readers, and over 40 valuable auction items on display.
Guests of honor attending the gala event included John Evans, former U.S. ambassador to Armenia; Ambassador Armen Martirosyan, Armenia's permanent representative to the United Nations; Carnegie Corporation of New York president Vartan Gregorian; Khalil Barrage, George Pagoumian, Daniel Sahakian, Henry Sahakian, and Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Andrea Martin.
Clerical dignitaries included Catholic Exarchate Bishop Manuel Batakian, Prelacy Vicar General Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, and Dean of Saint Vartan Cathedral Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian. The presence of several representatives of Armenian-American organizations was acknowledged by COAF President Antranig Sarkissian.
The villages have changed
As the guests took their seats at flower-bedecked tables, a costumed Ms. Martin, the evening's Mistress of Ceremonies, took center stage, belting out a rollicking rendition of the popular "Come-on-a-my-House." A warm welcome from Armenia was voiced by COAF Head of Programs in Armenia Ovsanna Yeghoyan.
"Much has changed in our villages," Ms. Yeghoyan said. "The biggest achievements are the people and the children who open their eyes, and look into their future. The bright light of hope is reflected in their eyes. Before COAF came, school was a scary place for the children. Now they are happy, they compete in competitions, and win awards. Thank you from every child in our villages."
The 2008 Save a Generation Benefactor Award was presented to longtime philanthropists Larry Feinberg, his wife Cindy and their 12-year-old daughter Samantha, who have supported COAF since its inception and had visited the COAF-supported villages last summer. On her 11th birthday, Samantha asked her friends and family to donate to COAF in lieu of the presents she would have received. "Before I went to Armenia, I saw it in black and white," Samantha said. "But when we visited the sites where COAF works, I saw lots of colors." A three-minute trailer for COAF's upcoming documentary, titled A Bloom in the Desert, highlighted many impressive accomplishments of the organization.
Giving voice to the voiceless
Amb. Evans, in his introduction of keynote speaker Nicholas Kristof, noted that the journalist was of Armenian background. Mr. Kristof's family name was Hachikian. When the family emigrated from Armenia to Poland centuries ago, they took on the name Krzysztofowicz (the Polish translation of Hachikian). Coming to America, the journalist's father shortened the name to Kristof.
The two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist has always championed the causes of suffering peoples, especially the victims of the ongoing genocide in Darfur. An early opponent of the Iraq war, Mr. Kristof has also focused attention on global poverty, health, gender issues and climate change.
"He is no detached observer. He has given voice to the voiceless," Amb. Evans said.
Mr. Kristof, who was awarded COAF's 2008 Save a Generation Humanitarian Award, paid tribute to the accomplishments of COAF. He said that this worthy organization is part of an effort to "crack the code in underdeveloped countries with its health, education and grassroots programs."
Referring to President Bush's decision to end the distinguished Foreign Service career of Mr. Evans after the ambassador acknowledged the Armenian Genocide, Mr. Kristof declared to a lengthy ovation, "If we cannot use the word ‘Armenian Genocide', then we cannot talk about any genocide."
Mr. Kristof, who said he has seen "the absolute worst of humanity," asked why anyone should care about a distant place. He answered by saying that it would make a difference in people's lives; it would connect to a cause larger than oneself; and a person would gain a new perspective on himself or herself. Relating the story of a young American woman who went to Darfur to help, he said, "She never broke down on seeing the horrors while there. But when she came home and saw her grandmother put seeds in a bird feeder during winter, she wept uncontrollably. To see a simple action of mercy caused her to break down. How fortunate we are to live in this free country."
