Los Angeles, November 4, 2019 – Armenia Fund’s 22nd annual International Thanksgiving Day Telethon will take place on November 28, from 10 am to 8 pm PST. It will be broadcast live from Yerevan and Los Angeles, as well as live streamed for audiences across the globe.
Telethon 2019 will carry the slogan “To My Beloved Armenia.” Proceeds from the pan-national event will benefit the installation of solar-power systems in towns and villages in Armenia and Artsakh, and the construction of drinking-water and irrigation networks in both republics.
“With the implementation of our flagship programs this year, vitally-important irrigation water will become available to farmers throughout the Homeland, while the quality of life of rural communities, especially in border regions, will be greatly improved through access to clean potable water,” said Maria Mehranian, president of Armenia Fund. “As importantly,” she continued, “Armenia and Artsakh will come one step closer to energy independence, by being provided with cutting-edge technologies to harness the power of the sun.”
This year, for the first time in the history of the Thanksgiving Day Telethon, the initial four hours of the event will air live from Yerevan, through the H1 Armenian Public Television studio. This segment of the Telethon will be presented and hosted by the new leadership of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, which is the implementing partner of the Los-Angeles-based Armenia Fund. Subsequently, starting at 2 pm PST, the Telethon will continue to be broadcast live and live streamed from Los Angeles.
Specific projects made possible through Telethon 2019 will comprise the installation of solar-energy systems including solar panels, heaters, and substations; the construction of potable-water pipelines and distribution networks; and the drilling of deep-water wells and construction of advanced drip-irrigation systems.
The planned agricultural and green-energy projects, which also include substantial training and education components, are expected to create hundreds of new jobs and lead to good incomes for residents throughout Armenia and Artsakh. These outcomes, in turn, are expected to give beneficiaries a strong incentive to continue to live and work in their native towns and villages.
Telethon 2019 will feature appearances by elected officials, community leaders, celebrities, and groups representing schools, organizations, and churches. In addition, the event will showcase performances by renowned musicians, as well as newly-released project documentaries and reports.
The Telethon will also air live in San Francisco, Fresno, and Las Vegas, in addition to being live streamed on Armeniafund.org. For a complete list of satellite and cable channels that will carry Telethon 2019, please see the 2019 Telethon TV Broadcast Guide on Armeniafund.org.
