HARRY T. MANGURIAN, JR. FOUNDATION WILL MATCH DONATIONS RECEIVED
WATERTOWN–Armenia Tree Project is proud to announce that Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. has agreed to match donations made in support of the organization between September 15 and December 31, 2007.
"The goal of this campaign is one million dollars ($1,000,000). If we raise $500,000 by December 31, then Mr. Mangurian will give $500,000 from his foundation," explains Executive Director Jeff Masarjian. "Our programs stir people’s passions and energy, and we are thrilled that this wonderful offer will allow us to increase our planting of new trees. We need everyone’s help to meet the challenge."
A second generation Armenian-American, Mr. Mangurian became familiar with ATP only last year and in a very short period of time began supporting the organization’s effort to expand the number of donors contributing to ATP. He helped to create a unique mail appeal with photographs of ATP’s work and a 20 dram Armenian coin–symbolizing ATP’s program to purchase tree seedlings grown by families in the Getik River Valley. A record number of new donors responded to that appeal at an introductory level.
"We still have a long way to go to reach our 2007 tree planting objectives," states Masarjian. "This spring, ATP planted the first 20,000 trees at the new Hrant Dink Memorial Forest near our Mirak Family Reforestation Nursery in northern Armenia. Our goal is to plant the remaining 33,000 trees this fall to create a lasting tribute to this noble Armenian who was killed this past January in a tragic criminal act."
In addition to this memorial project, ATP will plant another 350,000 trees this fall at dozens of urban and rural sites around the country. Since 1994, ATP has planted and restored more than 1.5 million trees and created hundreds of jobs for impoverished Armenia’s in tree-regeneration programs. The organization’s three tiered initiatives are tree planting, community development to reduce poverty and promote self-sufficiency, and environmental education to protect Armenia’s precious natural resources.
Some of the impacts of deforestation include degraded farmland, depleted water supplies, climate change, loss of wildlife habitat, and poor air quality. ATP is working on an increasingly larger scale to reverse the tragic loss of forests in Armenia, which went from covering 25 percent of the land at the turn of the 20th century to less than eight percent today.
"Our success depends on your generosity and belief in our work, so we hope you, too, are inspired by these ideas to build more support and expand our ability to plant trees and create employment," concludes Masarjian. "The success of Mr. Mangurian’s challenge is so vitally important because we need to reverse the tide of deforestation. Your support will help us to meet the challenge and secure a sustainable Armenia for the future."
To help ATP meet Harry’s Challenge this year, check your mailbox for our latest mailing, or visit ATP online at www.ArmeniaTree.org.
