November 5, 2012

Loyal to its mission of readjusting priorities according to need, AGBU has been helping and supporting the Armenian community in Syria since the militarized conflict began. On August 3rd, the AGBU Central Board announced that it would be setting aside a $1 million Emergency Fund for Humanitarian Assistance to the Armenian Community in Syria. On October 20th, at the farewell dinner for the General Assembly in Yerevan, delegates, guests and members, inspired by all that they had seen and learned during the week, donated and pledged $250,000 toward the AGBU Syria Emergency Relief Fund.

To contribute to AGBU’s relief efforts, the AGBU Toronto Chapter started a fundraising drive, and to date we have raised over $25,000 which includes the proceeds of the September 14th theatrical performance of the AGBU Vahram Papazian troupe from Sydney, Australia and the Benefit Luncheon on October 28th.

Our brothers and sisters in Syria are in distress and they need our help. Anyone can still donate 24/7 online by visiting the site here or calling +1-855-AID-AGBU (243-2428) weekdays from 9am–5pm EST or through the AGBU Toronto Chapter by calling 416-431-2428.

We urge you to watch the video Dove of Peace, Return to Aleppo.

Here is the list of donations collected at the AGBU Toronto:
BERGE PAPAZIAN $5,000
AGBU TORONTO/BENEFIT LUNCHEON/OCTOBER 28TH 4,349
JACK SABOUNJI 3,000
AGBU TORONTO /COMEDY NIGHT/ SEPT. 14TH 3,000
JOE YALKEZIAN 2,500
AGBU TORONTO YPS 1,010
ISA BASMAJIAN 1,000
Andre Nazarian $1,000
LEVON MERMER 500
ANONYMOUS 500
GARABET GHARIBIAN 500
LA FONDATION ARAXIE & HAGOP KESTEKIAN 500
SHAVARSH MENJOLIAN 400
ARAXIE ALTOUNIAN 200
LOUIS FRANKIAN 200
KNAR BASMADJIAN 200
VAHE MAKDESSIAN 200
HAGOP ALTOUNIAN 200
SOUREN AGEMIAN 150
ASHKHEN SHISHMANIAN 120
MIKE AFARIAN 100
ALICE GULESSERIAN 100
HASMIK KURDIAN 100
MURAT PARNAKOGLU 100
VERGINIE SHEMAVONIAN 100
MIHRAN YEGAVIAN 100
ROBERT SEMERDJIAN 100
ZOHRAB KAZANDJIAN 100
LEVON CAMGOZLU 100
ARSHAVIR TELLIYAN 100
RITA CHEMILIAN 100
LUCY BUCHKAZANIAN 100
HAMPAR DAVIDIAN 100
LORA GARABEDIAN 100
NYREE NALBANDIAN 100
ZVART VARTANIAN 100
DR. DIKRAN ABRAHAMIAN 77
JIRAIR TUTUNJIAN 78
GADARINE MENESHIAN 50
ROBERT A.D. SEMERDJIAN 50
HACIK VIRAS ZULFUKAROGLU 50
TALAR SHAHSUVAROGLU 50
GREG SEMERDJIAN 50
JOANNE SETA SEMERDJIAN 50
STEPHAN EKMEKJIAN 50
ADOM KNADJIAN 50
JOHN AYIK 50
VAZKEN TERZIAN 50
KEVORK BODURYAN 50
ARDA KEUROGHLIAN 50
SETA ASLANIAN 30
GRACE STRANG 25
SURPUHI EVRAN 25
FRANCE KANDAHARIAN 25
HILDA ADAMIAN 25
RUTHEANN RYMER 20
YERANOUHI KAZANDJIAN 20
VARSENIG ANDONIAN 20
ARSHALOUISE KANDAHARIAN 15