ARS Eastern USA Centennial Fund Committee Raises $34,000 with Silent, Live Auction in Michigan
The ARS Eastern USA’s Centennial Endowment Fund Committee recently kicked off its fundraising efforts with a successful live and silent auction. Over $34,000 was raised to benefit the ARS, Inc.’s Centennial Endowment Fund. The event was held on Sunday, October 22, 2006 at the Armenian Community Center, Dearborn.
The fund was established by the 2005 68th Triennial ARS International Convention to provide a steady income resource to fund the Society’s programs in the Diaspora and in Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk.
Hosted by Detroit’s five sister ARS chapters – Maro, Shakeh, Sybille, Tzolig, and Zabel – the live and silent auction was enhanced by local Detroit celebrity guest auctioneer, Val Clark, a reporter for WXYZ-TV, metropolitan Detroit’s ABC affiliate.
Lending their moral and financial support to the auction were Honorary Auction Chairpersons Mr. and Mrs. Edgar and Sara Hagopian; Guests of Honor Mr. and Mrs. Zohrab and Naomi Tazian, and Master of Ceremonies Armen Topouzian.
Topouzian opened the event with a heartfelt thanks to the ARS’s local Detroit, regional Eastern United States, and international ARS, Inc. entities, which bring the Society’s mission to life in their respective jurisdictions. Topouzian urged the crowd to bid generously at the auction and donate otherwise to the Centennial Endowment Fund for the betterment of Armenians worldwide, and particularly, those living in Armenia and Artsakh.
Topouzian – a long-time ARS benefactor who is deeply involved in supporting the ARS’s Soseh Kindergarten program in Artsakh, further committed himself to the ARS mission by promising a $2,000 annual donation to the ARS Centennial Endowment Fund until the Society’s centennial year, 2010.
Edgar Hagopian also addressed the crowd, thanking the ARS for honoring him and his wife by selecting them as honorary Auction chairpersons. He, too, promised an annual $2,000 donation to the ARS Centennial Endowment Fund until the Society’s 2010 centennial anniversary
In addition to the numerous local live and silent auction donors, many area businesses provided food, beverages, sweets, and flowers to enhance the afternoon auction. Background music was provided as a gift by musician Ara Topouzian, who has never hesitated to donate his time to the ARS.
The Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, Inc. Board of Regional Directors would like to express its deepest appreciation to the ARS EUSA Chapters for their generous donations to the ARS Centennial Fundraising Auction
The ARS, Inc. is the oldest and largest Armenian women’s organization. Established in 1910 in New York City, this international organization with regional and local entities will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010. To make a donation to the ARS Centennial Endowment Fund in care of the ARS Eastern USA, send your check to ARS Eastern USA Centennial Endowment Fund Committee, Suite 200, 80 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, MA 02472. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
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