Children of Armenia Fund Raises $1.25 Million From Its Annual Gala Evening

New York — October 30, 2008 — Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) is pleased to announce that it raised $1.25 million from the 2008 Save a Generation Awards Dinner, held Friday, October 24, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. The money raised will be directed at reversing the ongoing impoverished conditions affecting significant numbers of people in rural Armenia through COAF’s Model Cluster program.

“We are extremely grateful for the tremendous support and contributions from our donors especially in this very challenging economic environment,” said Garo H. Armen, PhD, founder and chairman of COAF. “This was a remarkable achievement and the monies raised will continue to impact almost 20,000 human beings in rural Armenia.”

COAF hosted more than 350 guests for the annual gala event. Nicholas D. Kristof, a columnist for The New York Times and a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner delivered the keynote address. Andrea Martin, whose feature films and theatre credits include My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Young Frankenstein, returned as Master of Ceremonies. The event also recognized the Feinberg family for their ongoing support on key educational and healthcare programs.

The COAF annual awards dinners have raised more than $9 million since 2004, placing funding emphasis on the Model Cluster project, the first such program ever to be undertaken. The project has been recognized by international aid agencies as an exemplary template of sustainable development throughout the world.

“As we continue to deliver on significant projects in the areas of health, education, social and economic development, we are encouraged by international organizations such as the World Bank, USAID and the United Nations Development Programme who continue to partner COAF’s innovative and sustainable initiatives,” said Armen.

About COAF

Founded in 2000, the Children of Armenia Fund is an independent, nonprofit, nongovernmental (501)(c)(3) organization. COAF seeks to reverse the impoverished conditions affecting significant numbers of Armenia’s children by revitalizing Armenia’s villages and implementing projects that provide immediate and sustainable benefits to children and youth.

CONTACTS: Samantha Wagar, (212) 994-8212; or e-mail info@coafkids.org