KeghartThe Hayastan Foundation Toronto dinner, on Oct. 30, netted slightly more than $760,000. The sum included major donations made throughout the year. Close to 300 donors attended the Toronto Armenian Centre gathering dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the Hayastan Foundation, Toronto.
The program started with a moment of silence in memory of individuals who lost their lives in the past two years in the Homeland. The remembrance was followed by the national anthems of Canada, Armenia and Artsakh, performed by soprano Athena Babayan with piano accompaniment by Talin Artinian-Kelebozian.
MCs Tenny Nighoghossian and Maryem Mesrop began their remarks by highlighting the 30th anniversary of the foundation. Their remarks were followed by the address of Her Excellency Anahit Harutyunyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Canada. She stressed the key role the foundation has played in Armenia and Artsakh since the independence of both republics. Her speech was followed by cutting of the 30th Anniversary cake and lighting 30 candles for the past 30 years and a large candle symbolizing the future.
Hayastan Foundation Toronto committee members with keynote speaker Serouj Kradjian
Sevag Haroutunian, Toros Maydosian, Nver Ghazaryan, and Levon Karagulian sang Horovel and My Artsakh while Athena Babayan sang Groong.
Ambassador Harutyunyan, Armen and Berjouhi Nalbandian (the largest donor to Hayastan Foundation Toronto) cut the 30th anniversary cake and lit the candle.
Following dinner, wine imported from Armenia, was served, Foundation Chair Migirdic Migirdicyan gave a detailed report about the organization’s most-recent projects. He said the projects made the organization’s past year highly productive, bringing the number of projects to 147. These included the brand-new Varsenig and Krikor Nalbandian Medical Centre in Nalbandian village, 34 new houses for the Ivanyan village, 12 new ambulances, complete renovation of Nork Seniors’ residences, and the building of a kindergarten in Vartenis.
Keynote speaker was Grammy-nominated and internationally-renowned pianist and composer Serouj Kradjian. He re-emphasized the importance of the foundation and the role it has played in the “lives of our sisters and brothers in Armenia and Artsakh.”
Keynote speaker Serouj Kradjian
In his closing remarks, Migirdicyan thanked the donors and pointed out the funds raised during the banquet and throughout the year will enable the foundation to build several more medical centres in the Syunik, Tavoush and Kegharkunik regions as well as a children’s playground for the village of Ivanyan.
The fundraising will continue for the rest of the year.
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Hayastan Foundation Toronto Inc. is a Canadian charitable organization established in 1993 to facilitate humanitarian assistance and infrastructure development in Armenia and in Artsakh.
Hayastan Foundation Toronto Inc., 100 Northdale Road, Toronto, ON, M2L 2M1
Keghart
Keghart
