Washington, DC – On Sunday May 31, 2009, Armenian Americans across the United States will be watching the ANCA telethon – a six hour television program celebrating Armenian American civic participation and showcasing the growing strength of the ANCA grassroots network nationwide. Themed “One Nation ~ One Future~ One Cause”, the ANCA Telethon will be broadcast nationally on a variety of cable and digital channels and showcased online at anca.org/telethon from 6:00pm to 12 midnight EST (3:00pm to 9:00pm Pacific).

ANCA Telethon 2009 follows the highly successful May, 2006 inaugural broadcast, which raised over $3 million in support of the civic and educational efforts of the ANCA Endowment Fund. The 2006 telethon touched a common emotion and desire in people to support the Armenian Cause in communities across the U.S., regardless of organizational affiliations or politics. Countless organizations, volunteers, churches, community leaders, ANC local chapters, performing artists, Members of Congress and state legislators from across the nation participated in the Telethon contributing to its enormous success. The Telethon featured several documentaries that highlighted the various ANCA programs and numerous results the ANCA has achieved over the years largely through its volunteer and grassroots network.

“The 2006 Telethon was one of the ANCA’s most ambitious endeavors to date, pulling together every part of our grassroots network, and the results demonstrated the overwhelming support for our mission to unite the community behind the Armenian Cause – Hai Tahd,” said Ken Hachikian, National President of the ANCA Endowment Fund. “This year, we look forward to working with all organizations and activists, once again, to spotlight the unprecedented level of Armenian American civic participation across the U.S. and to build our capacity to expand “Hai Tahd” successes in the future.”

The 2009 Telethon will help the ANCA further strengthen itself as an invaluable Armenian American civic institution – building on its proven track record by developing a powerful financial foundation for the future. The Telethon will benefit the ANCA Endowment which supports Armenian American grassroots civic participation by ensuring that our community has the tools to effectively educate the American public and governments on the federal, state and local levels about the challenges and opportunities facing Armenia, Nagorno Karabagh, and the Diaspora.