Children of Armenia Fund Annual Gala Raises $2.4 Million for Expansion into Rural Armenia

NEW YORK – December 15, 2014 – The eleventh annual Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) Holiday Gala took place at Cipriani 42nd Street on December 12, 2014, in New York City. Over 450 guests attended the gala fundraiser, including honorary chairs Victor Garber, Susan Kendall Newman and Tony Shafrazi. Special guests included Michael Aram, Donald Baechler Eric Bogosian, Peter M. Brant, Patricia Field, Henry Hay, Peter Marino, and Stephanie Seymour.

This year’s honorees were longtime COAF supporter Ara Arslanian, who was given the Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic work, and Alexis Ohanian, who received the Save the Generation Award as a pioneering internet entrepreneur and activist. Both awards were presented by COAF Executive Board member Michael Aram. For the eighth year in a row, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Andrea Martin entertained guests throughout the evening as Master of Ceremonies.

The evening featured exclusive performances by renowned soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian and “The Voice” finalist Will Champlin. As a special highlight, child musicians from Armenia delivered spectacular performances, including on traditional Armenian folk instruments.

The program featured highlights of COAF’s recent accomplishments, as well the organization’s ambitious plans to expand into new village communities throughout Armenia. The $2.4 million raised this year will go toward a state-of-the-art smart center to be built in Armenia which will act as a hub to surrounding villages. Funds will also be allocated to infrastructure improvements and projects in COAF-supported villages.

For more information, please visit www.coafkids.org or call 212-994-8234.

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The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) is a non-profit, non-governmental 501(c)(3) organization. COAF uses community-led approaches to reduce rural poverty, with a particular focus on children. Since the inception of its programs in 2004, COAF has funded and implemented education, healthcare, community and economic development programs serving more than 28,000 people in rural villages of Armenia. The methods COAF uses in Armenia can be replicated in other communities where children are most vulnerable. These programs create and sustain opportunities for growth and progress. To learn more, please visit www.coafkids.org and am.coafkids.org.