It was a night to remember when friends and supporters of the Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP) got together on November 23, 2024 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach for AECP’s Annual Gala. The evening is an opportunity for guests to enjoy themselves with friends and family over dinner and drinks while raising money for a cause they believe in: eliminating preventable blindness in Armenia and making quality eye care accessible to every child and adult in the country. This has been AECP’s mission in Armenia since it was founded in 1992 by Dr. Roger Ohanesian, dedicating over 30 years of service in the country toward this goal since that time.
New Clinic Funded by Gala Proceeds!
Guests raise their bid paddles to pledge donations for a new eye clinic in Kotayk.
The goal for this year’s gala was to raise enough funds for AECP to be able to open a new eye clinic in the Kotayk province of Armenia, a region in the country that currently has no eye care facility despite the more than 250,000 residents living there. Recognizing the immense need, guests enthusiastically raised their bid paddles and exceeded the goal, allowing AECP to develop the much-needed clinic! The energy in the air was electric, and there was a huge celebration when the goal was met!
The generosity in the room was electrifying!
The upcoming clinic in Kotayk will be AECP’s fifth Diagnostic Eye Clinic in Armenia since the nonprofit’s campaign to fund the eye exam clinics began in 2022. The other four clinics include 1) the Jirair S. and Elizabeth Hovnanian Diagnostic Eye Clinic located in Martuni and sponsored by the Jirair S. and Elizabeth Hovnanian Family Foundation; 2) the Don H. and Vardi Vanitzian Diagnostic Eye Clinic located in Armavir and sponsored by the Vanitzian family; 3) the Talin Regional Diagnostic Eye Clinic located in Talin and sponsored by Latter-day Saint Charities and 4) the John and Tanya Hovanesian Diagnostic Eye Clinic located in Ararat and sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. John and Tanya Hovanesian.
Two Foundations Honored
Left to right: AECP Vice President Dr. John Hovanesian, AECP Founder and President Dr. Roger Ohanesian, Mr. Haig Hovnanian and Ms. Janeen Hovnanian.
While raising money to continue its sight-saving initiatives, AECP also had the privilege to honor two notable foundations that have been extraordinarily supportive of the organization’s efforts in Armenia: World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) and the Jirair S. and Elizabeth Hovnanian Family Foundation.
World Diabetes Foundation was highlighted at AECP’s Gala as its Corporate Honoree of the Year due to its years-long partnership with the foundation in developing a diabetes program in Armenia that focuses on reducing the rate of blindness and vision impairment caused by diabetes and diabetes-related eye disease. AECP Country Director Dr. Nune Yeghiazaryan, who works closely with WDF in Armenia, delivered touching remarks about the foundation and its impact in the country at AECP’s event.
Guests applaud the many accomplishments highlighted at the event.
The Jirair S. and Elizabeth Hovnanian Family Foundation was highlighted as AECP’s Family Honoree of the Year. The family foundation, based in New Jersey, has been supporting AECP for many years with several of its initiatives. One of the more recent contributions was the foundation’s sponsorship of the Jirair S. and Elizabeth Hovnanian Diagnostic Eye Clinic in Martuni, the first Diagnostic Eye Clinic fully funded and able to be developed in Armenia. AECP was honored to welcome the grandchildren of the late Jirair S. and Elizabeth Hovnanian, Mr. Haig Hovnanian and Ms. Janeen Hovnanian, to its event to represent their family’s foundation and the incredible work it has led to in Armenia.
And Much More Support for AECP!
The night isn’t complete without some dancing!
AECP would like to thank everyone who came to support the organization at its Annual Gala. The nonprofit would especially like to highlight its large event sponsors, who made it possible for AECP to host such a successful night. Our deepest gratitude goes out to AECP Champion Sponsor, the Nora Tertzag Hampar Charitable Trust as well as AECP Crusader Sponsors, the Armen and Gloria Hampar Family Foundation; Dr. and Mrs. John and Tanya Hovanesian; Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Elizabeth Aghajanian; Ms. Diane Barsam and Mr. Mark Derderian along with the many other event and table sponsors who contributed to the event.
Through the tremendous support from these foundations, organizations and individuals, AECP is able to continue to fulfill its lifelong mission for Armenia – a country where no individual is without access to quality eye care; where Armenian ophthalmologists are trained to diagnose and treat eye disease at the highest level; and where preventable causes of blindness are eliminated through an emphasis on prevention and early intervention.
Another successful Gala for AECP!
