Orange supports European Phonethon

PanARMENIAN.Net - As every year since 2000, this year Orange supported the yearly European Phonethon, organized by the Hayastan All Armenian Fund in France, being the official partner and sponsor of Phonethon 2010, the company’s press office reported.

As in previous years, France Telecom Orange donated logistical resources to the latest Phonethon, including the use of its offices and onsite telecommunications equipment in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, and Montpellier. In addition, the company provided the Phonethon free telephone connections for the duration of the event.

For four 12-hour days, some 650 volunteers phoned Armenian households and businesses throughout Europe, calling on them to help our compatriots in the far-flung rural communities of Armenia and Artsakh. By the conclusion of the Phonethon, over 11,200 supporters made pledges, surpassing last year’s results by almost ten percent.

Among the celebrities and community leaders making appeals for donations were French film star Gérard Depardieu and French-Armenian musician Andre Manoukian, who was appointed godfather of Phonethon 2010. With the support of Orange, 55,000 voice messages have been sent out with Manoukian’s message.

The annual event, which was realized with the participation of the fund’s French, German, Swiss, Dutch, and Greek affiliates, resulted in almost 1.3 million euros in pledges. Proceeds from the Phonethon will be used to build or restore water pipelines and networks in Artsakh’s Togh, Hartashen, Ukhtadzor, Aknaghbyur, and Sargsashen villages. The raised funds will also benefit various development projects in Armenia’s Tavush Region.

The Phonethon’s closing ceremony was attended, among others, by Vigen Chitechyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to France, and Mireille Le Van, chairperson of the Orange Foundation. After expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the Phonethon’s partners and volunteers, Bedros Terzian, chairman of the fund’s French affiliate, announced the breakdown of pledges made during the fundraiser, as follows: 1.1 million euros from France, 70,000 from Germany, 18,000 from Switzerland, 46,000 from Greece, and 21,000 from the Netherlands.