YPGNY Kicks off New Year with Record Attendance at Silent Auction in Manhattan, Raises $15,000 for AGBU Childrenls Centers in Armenia

On January 24, 2009, 250 Armenian Americans from New York to San Francisco gathered in a private loft overlooking midtown Manhattan for an evening hosted by AGBU's Young Professionals of Greater New York (YPGNY). The evening included a silent auction and social reception and raised $15,000 to benefit AGBU's Children's Centers in Armenia.

"It was so inspiring to see such community support at the auction for the Children's Centers," said Aline Markarian, YPGNY Co-Chair. "Even during this time of economic trouble in the world, we were still able to bring in more guests than ever before for an unforgettable evening of success which helps our motherland."

Loft 11 in midtown Manhattan sparkled with the sights and sounds of friends, old and new, enjoying an evening of socializing and networking. Since 2000, YPGNY has hosted an Armenian Christmas reception as an enjoyable and unique way to raise funds.

Silent auction items included restaurant gift certificates at New York city hotspots Cipriani, Ilili, Asia de Cuba and Dos Caminos, roundtrip airfare from New York to Los Angeles, an HP mini notebook laptop computer, a Louis Vuitton silk scarf, sports and Broadway show tickets, items from designer Michael Aram's Coral Reef and Africana collections, several pieces of fine jewelry and art works created by students at the AGBU Children's Centers in Armenia. Additional raffle prizes, including more restaurant gift certificates, tableware and a personal oil painting studio portrait, were also offered to guests eager to donate to the cause.

Catering for the evening's festivities was provided by local food emporiums, including Anahid Catering, Arek Mediterranean Groceries, Babylon Mediterranean Restaurant and Olympia Foods of All Nations. Wine and spirits were very generously donated from a number of venues, including Clovis Point Winery and Manhattan Beer Distribution. DJ Joe Kasparian donated his time and equipment to provide music throughout the evening. A number of individuals and community supporters contributed their time and services to the Armenian Christmas event, as well.

"We owe special thanks to all of our generous donors and to Onnig Djinguezian, from the AGBU New York office, who year after year has donated a great deal of his time and contacts to orchestrate the evening's donations and preparations," added Danny Abajian, YPGNY Co-Chair.

At the end of the evening, Kim Yacoubian, AGBU's Young Professionals liaison, presented the YPGNY chapter with a very special award on behalf of the AGBU Central Board of Directors for 10 years of outstanding service to the local Armenian community. The presentation was the first time the Central Board had officially acknowledged the invaluable contribution of a Young Professional committee.

"AGBU was compelled to recognize YPGNY for one simple reason alone," Yacoubian said during the Armenian Christmas event. "From the day it began, until this very night, this group embraces and personifies the true spirit and meaning of the word 'service.'"

Since 1999, YPGNY has raised over $93,000 for AGBU programs worldwide, the most of any Young Professional committee, which was accomplished through a mix of traditional fundraisers and novel initiatives. Co-chairs Danny Abajian and Aline Markarian accepted the award for the entire YPGNY community past, present and future.

"Being honored for our work in the AGBU family and community only made a special evening even more special for us," said YPGNY member Tamar Nahabedian. "It is an amazing feeling not only to see everyone enjoying themselves at this event, but to know that we will make a difference at the Children's Centers for yet another year."

In addition to the evening's donations, YPGNY also organized their annual holiday card fundraiser called "HALO" or "Helping Armenia's Little Ones." HALO allows people to make a small donation in someone else's name as a gift; each recipient of the charity donation receives a card indicating that a gift has been made in their name.

AGBU YPGNY is part of a growing network of YP Groups and supporters around the world who are committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and humanitarian programs. For more information on YPGNY, email ypgny@agbuyp.org.