Armenia Fund (full name Hayastan All Armenian Fund, Armenian: Հայաստան համահայկական հիմնադրամ) was established in 1994 in Los Angeles, California. Armenia Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-governmental, non-political corporation, headquartered in Yerevan. Serving as the United States' Western Region affiliate of the "Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund along with its nineteen subsidiaries around the world, Armenia Fund, Inc. has issued over $120 million of electricity development guarantee and humanitarian revenue for Armenia. Lately, the government of Armenia has been contributing to the fund since the fund has been receiving less support and not being able to meet its initial goals.[1]
Armenia Fund attempts to rebuild Armenia's economy and assist in the well-being of life in the region. Additionally, the organization attempts to rebuild major infrastructures damaged in Karabakh during the first Nagorno-Karabakh War.[2] The Fund has adopted a policy to go "Beyond Bricks and Mortar" to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.[3]
"Hayastan" All-Armenian Fund, Armenia Fund USA Inc.'s parent organization, through its affiliate organizations has presence in 16 countries around the world: United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, and Australia.[4]
Some of the most famous donors and supporters of Armenia Fund include Kirk Kerkorian,[7] the Kardashians,[8] Serj Tankian of System of a Down and Cher.[9] In 2020, due to the Nagorno-Karabakh(Artsakh) war, Kim Kardashian donated $1 Million.[10] System of a Down released two new songs after 15 years, donating all the proceeds to Armenia Fund.[11] As of December 2020, they had raised nearly $1 Million as a result.[12]
In 2007, the fund provided funding for the construction of a windsurfing center named "Kaputak Sevan" near the lake Sevan. Then the resort was "coincidentally" owned by Bella Kocharyan, former president Robert Kocharyan's wife.[13] [14]
See also: Ara Vardanyan (administrator). In 2018, executive director of the fund Ara Vardanyan was arrested by National Security Service of Armenia. He was accused on embezzlement and misuse of money. Vardayan admitted that he has been using a Himnadram credit card for online gambling.[15] Later, in 2019, a new episode of embezzlement has been revealed by the National Security Service of Armenia and the charges brought against Vardanyan have been modified.[16] According to the new charges, Vardanyan is charged with embezzlement and abuse of powers by an official of a non-profit organization. Vardanyan, who had been detained within the scope of the case, has been released on bail.[17] [18]
Ara K. Manoogian, a human rights activist alleged that vast and sophisticated money-laundering network of the Himnadram has long called Armenia, one of the world's largest tax evaders with an annual black market worth about $300 million, and Karabakh, a legal gray area where international inspection has been impossible for decades, safe havens. The sixteen branches of the Himnadram are tax-exempt because they are a part of a nonprofit organization. Some Armenian oligarchs have used this tax-exempt status extensively. One such case was exposed by investigative journalists.
Beginning in 1997, an annual telethon was set up and televised across the globe. The annual telethon takes place on Thanksgiving Day on various Armenian TV channels worldwide. On October 10, 2020, a special edition telethon took place to collect funds due to the 2020 war that broke out between Azerbaijan and Artsakh.
| Telethon No. | Year | Raised | Phoneathon | Main Goal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1997 | $2,600,000 [19] | rebuilding Karabakh's infrastructure | ||
| 2nd | 1998 | $2,100,000 [20] | 55-kilometer Segment of Goris-Stepanakert Highway | ||
| 3rd | 1999 | $5,006,196[21] | to construct the 169-km north–south "Backbone" Highway in Karabakh | ||
| 4th | 2000 | $2,482,567 | continued construction of the North-South Highway in Karabakh, Armenia, as well as the construction of four schools in the country's earthquake zone | ||
| cancelled | 2001 | $0 [22] | Armenia Fund and its 19 worldwide affiliates cancelled the 2001 Telethon in solidarity with their American brothers and sisters over the tragic events of September 11, 2001 | ||
| 5th | 2002 | $5,000,000[23] | $650,000 | continued construction of the North-South Highway in Karabakh | |
| 6th | 2003 | $6,000,000[24] | to build north–south "Backbone" Highway in Karabakh | ||
| 7th | 2004 | $11,400,000[25] | to complete the north–south "Backbone" Highway in Karabakh | ||
| 8th | 2005 | $7,770,000 | revitalizing war torn region of Mardakert (Karabakh) - including renovation of a regional hospital, construction of a water pipeline network, agricultural development, and the construction of new local school. | ||
| 9th | 2006 | $13,700,000 | revitalizing war torn region of Hadrut (Karabakh) - including reconstruction of a regional hospital, a series of new schools, new water pipelines and distribution networks, as well a comprehensive regional agricultural development program | ||
| 10th | 2007 | $15,275,000[26] | revitalizing Armenia's rural villages in Tavush Region (part of Village Development Program) | ||
| 11th | 2008 | $35,000,000[27] | core infrastructure projects in remote areas of Armenia and Karabakh (Martuni, Mardakert, Hadrut) | ||
| 12th | 2009 | $15,875,043[28] | $1,800,000 | development of war-ravaged town of Shushi | |
| 13th | 2010 | $20,862,733[29] | €1,300,000 | development of modern drinking and irrigation water systems in Karabakh's 200 villages | |
| 14th | 2011 | $31,000,000[30] | €1,350,000 | vital water and rural development projects in Armenia | |
| 15th | 2012 | $21,400,000[31] | €1,425,000[32] | "community centers – multi-purpose structures housing a health care center, a library, a modern computer room with internet access, an auditorium for trainings, town hall meetings and cultural events, as well as a village administration and accounting office." | |
| 16th | 2013 | $22,661,372 | €1,460,000[33] | Vartenis to Martakert Highway which will connect the northern regions of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh | |
| 17th | 2014 | $12,399,550[34] | €1,370,000[35] | Vartenis to Martakert Highway which will connect the northern regions of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh | |
| 18th | 2015 | $10,378,465 | Construct single-family homes for families in Nagorno Karabakh who have five or more children and lack adequate housing. | ||
| 19th | 2016 | $15,428,777[36] | €1,340,000[37] | Rebuilding of war-ravaged communities in Nagorno Karabakh, emergency and disaster preparedness for Nagorno Karabakh, and the construction of homes for Nagorno Karabakh families with multiple children. | |
| 20th | 2017 | $12,505,456 | support of agricultural-development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh | ||
| 21st | 2018 | $11,109,633 | variety of large-scale development projects, including introduction of latest field irrigation and solar power technologies to Armenia's and Artsakh's economically depressed areas | ||
| 22nd | 2019 | $9,856,100 | fresh infrastructure projects in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and Armenia | ||
| Special Edition | October 10, 2020 | $30 Million[38] | For humanitarian needs of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) due to the recent 2020 war | ||
| 23rd | 2020 | $22.9 Million[39] | Provided a critical lifeline to Armenians who have been left homeless and destitute by Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) aggressions. | ||
| 24th | 2021 | $12 Million[40] | For Humanitarian, Civilian and Infrastructural Relief | ||
| 25th (Anniversary) | 2022 | $64,820,000 | Helping displaced families across Armenia and Artsakh; To mobilize the worldwide Armenian community, calling for continued support of the ongoing recovery of the homeland while reporting on projects and programs that were implemented in the course of the past 12 months. |