Orran raises over $130,000 to help families in need

by Vincent Lima

Published: Friday August 21, 2009

Yerevan - Friends attending a banquet at the Yerevan Marriott Hotel pledged more than $130,000 to support Orran's charitable activities in Armenia. The organization had only hoped to raise $42,000 at the event, held August 14.

Founder and Board chairperson Armine K. Hovannisian recounted a recent visit to three of the families in crisis supported by Orran. She said she wanted to disbelieve the extent of their poverty, going so far as to open cupboards and the fridge – which in one case had long been out of service. But, alas, things were as bad as her staff had reported.

Major benefactor and Board member Krikor Krikorian, who is based in London, said donations had dropped over the last year, and asked for additional support.

Much of the money raised came from an auction conducted by Jonathan Stark, CEO of Cascade Capital Holdings. On auction were flowers that represented flowerbeds and trees that would be planted at Orran's centers in Yerevan and Vanadzor. The auction raised $64,000, with notable contributions by Mr. Krikorian and Garo Armen, Ph.D., founder of the Children of Armenia Fund, who was present at the banquet.

Vivacell-MTS, one of Armenia's mobile-phone operators, represented by Ralph Yirikian, matched the amount, raising the total to $128,000.

A champagne raffle and admission tickets added to the total.

Ms. Hovannisian also read the names of friends of Orran who had renewed their major support on the eve of the banquet. They included Gerard and Cleo Cafesjian of Naples, Fla., and Vahagn Hovnanian of Yerevan.

Among the dignitaries present were Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch of the United States – who made a personal pledge of support – and the ambassadors of Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Also present was the U.S. deputy chief of mission Joseph Pennington, who had donated $5,000 the previous year along with his wife Amberin Zaman. At the time he served as chargé d'affaires at the U.S. embassy.