AGBU First-Ever Global Run/Walk Goes the Distance to Support Camp Nairi

NEW YORK — AGBU concluded its inaugural Global Run/Walk, held in 22 cities to raise funds for AGBU Camp Nairi, a free therapeutic sleepaway camp in Armenia for children traumatized by war, displacement, and uncertainty. Each year, AGBU reaches 1,000 children and mothers through this program.

More than 1,500 participants and 2,500 donors raised over $500,000, reaching AGBU’s ambitious goal to help sustain and expand its capacity to meet the special needs of these vulnerable campers and their families.

The worldwide event began in Yerevan on Sunday, September 13, with 200 participants. The remaining 21 cities held their runs and walks on Sunday, September 20: Barcelona, Beirut, Boston, Brussels, Geneva, Greater Los Angeles Area, London, Melbourne, Moscow, New York, Nice, Northern California, Paris, Philadelphia, São Paulo, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Valence, and Zurich.

Beirut drew the largest turnout, with Yerevan, Greater Los Angeles, and Toronto also seeing strong participation. Several routes passed well-known local landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House, Griffith Park in Los Angeles, the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, and the zoo in Zurich. Local communities also built events around the run, including a Los Angeles Special Event Committee (LASEC) fundraising concert the night before, a post-Run luncheon at the Center in Melbourne and post-event brunches in several other cities.

A Global Movement, Led Locally

AGBU’s Global Run/Walk reached well beyond AGBU’s established community. Armenians and non-Armenians ran together in Tokyo and Shanghai, where the Global Run/Walk was the first event of its kind for the small local Armenian community. In cities without an official AGBU presence, individual runners joined on their own, including in Tbilisi. Special guests included His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland, and adventurer, mountaineer and former alumnus of AGBU Yervant Demirjian School alumnus Ara Khatchadourian, in Los Angeles.

Star Violinist Astrid Poghosyan from Shanghai remarked: “AGBU has been part of almost my entire adult life, and while we have organized a concert here before, this was our first event of this kind. Our Armenian community in Shanghai is small, and we are still finding the best way to bring everyone together, Armenians and friends of Armenia alike. It was a meaningful first step and a strong beginning for more events to come.”

The event attracted participants of all ages. Sixteen were 12 years old or younger. Such a wide reach was made possible by 46 AGBU entities worldwide, including Chapters, Young Professionals groups, AGBU schools, and regional offices. Fifty scouts from AGBU AYA Armenia took part in Yerevan, and AGBU AYA Beirut helped drive that city’s strong turnout. In Greater Los Angeles, participating groups included AGBU ASBEDS, the AGBU LA Choir, AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, AGBU Orange County Saturday School, the AGBU Pasadena Glendale Chapter, AGBU Pasadena Glendale Scouts, and the AGBU PG Young Ladies Committee.

Leadership and Recognition

The Global Run/Walk was spearheaded by AGBU Central Board Member Vartkess Knadjian of Switzerland. His lifelong connection to running inspired the initiative. Knadjian grew up in Ethiopia, where running is deeply woven into the culture. In 1997, he ran the Antwerp Marathon and raised more than $50,000 for AGBU Soup Kitchens.

When reflecting on the success of the AGBU Global Run/Walk, Knadjian noted: “Beyond fundraising, the Run provided a wonderful opportunity to bring people of all ages together, strengthen their connection to AGBU, and engage diverse communities around a shared purpose. It was particularly inspiring to see cities like Tokyo and Shanghai participate. I look forward to seeing an event like this grow year after year, supporting our youth programs while fostering a sense of unity and belonging across our global community.”

AGBU Central Board Member Ani Manoukian served as an ad-hoc ambassador for the event, bringing exceptional energy, encouragement, and outreach from the AGBU Global headquarters in New York.  “As AGBU marks 120 years, the first Global Run/Walk proved that our community’s commitment is as strong as ever,” she said. “Seeing people unite across 22 cities worldwide, all for the children of Camp Nairi, was deeply moving. Every step taken and every donation made will help them find safety, healing, and hope.”

As for the runners and walkers, donors, city hosts, organizers and volunteers on the ground, the personal satisfaction was clearly evident, not only for raising funds for a cause but lifting spirits and confidence, proving that, by working together, anything can be accomplished. Lead sponsor Unibank and other generous corporate sponsors helped give AGBU the momentum to reach the finish line.

About AGBU Camp Nairi

Established in 2021 in response to the trauma of the 2020 Artsakh war, AGBU Camp Nairi, located in Armenia’s Hankavan region, combines recreational activities with therapeutic sessions led by licensed psychologists. Since 2024, it has also offered weekend family retreats with art and music therapy for children and mothers. The Global Run/Walk will help Camp Nairi grow, with proceeds directed to recreational programming, mental health care, and expanded capacity.

“We set out to create a run that every AGBU community could make its own, and we hoped people would join us. We could not have imagined thousands of people taking steps together across the globe, all raising funds through one shared initiative for the same children. That is what true global AGBU unity looks like.” shared Karen Papazian, AGBU Director of Development and Outreach.