Water is Life Hayastan All-Armenian Funds’ Telethon launched in Los Angeles

PanARMENIAN.Net - Raising funds for drinking water and irrigation projects in Artsakh, Armenia Fund’s “Water is Life” International Thanksgiving Day Telethon was launched.

The Telethon will air live from Hollywood today, November 25 from 8am to 8pm PST coast-to-coast and around the world. Airing for 12 hours, Telethon 2010 will reach every continent, entering Armenian homes through satellite, cable and the internet.

The Telethon will bring together Armenians from all walks of life regardless of their political or religious views and affiliations around one purpose: to bring life to Artsakh villages by giving them round-the-clock access to clean drinking and irrigation water.

The shortage of water is a serious problem in Artsakh affecting more than 70,000 people living in 200 villages. On average, each family spends 40% of their daily lives carrying water from a source 2-5 miles away. That water is not always clean - 88% of all diseases are related to tainted drinking water.

Today, more than 100,000 acres of agricultural lands are dry due to the lack of irrigation water and people in the villages are unable to grow crops and have incomes. Water is a serious economic engine and the driving force behind agriculture. Armenia Fund’s pilot projects in the Tavush region of Armenia have proven that every $1 invested in improved water access yields an average of $12 in economic returns.

The General Sponsor of Telethon 2010 is VivaCell MTS and the Los Angeles Major Partner is Karoun Dairies USA.

Official Sponsors of Telethon 2010 Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501 tax-exempt corporation established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Since 1991, Armenia Fund has rendered more than $200 million in development aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund.