Christopher and Aren Serve up Lemonade for the Armenian Cause

By Elizabeth S. Chouldjian

Who can resist it? A neighborhood lemonade stand on a hot afternoon, run by two young brothers with a purpose: to support Hai Tahd (the Armenian Cause) by raising funds for the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Telethon 2014.

Christopher and Aren came up with the idea while chatting with their parents, Kegham and Nanor Berajekelian, long time ANCA activists who consider ANCA Telethon 2014 the perfect opportunity to teach their little ones that you’re never too young (or too old) to help your homeland and honor your heritage. And so, Christopher and Aren are donating their time and energies to Hai Tahd through their lemonade stand, cupcake sales, and even a toy drive.

And they are not alone.

A scene from Christopher and Aren's lemonade stand for the Armenian Cause. — A scene from Christopher and Aren’s lemonade stand for the Armenian Cause.

Throughout the month of May, Armenian Americans across the U.S., individually or through local organizations, churches, and schools, are in unprecedented numbers spreading the word, volunteering, and fundraising for ANCA Telethon 2014—a six-hour salute to Armenian-American civic activism, to be broadcast June 1 from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight EST).

The ANC Florida team proudly displays the ANCA Telethon poster at the South Florida 99th Genocide Commemoration Walkathon.

John and Cynthia Andonian, Lara Yeretsian and Hratch Manuelian, Garo and Meline Lachinian, Garo and Taline Ghazarian, and Edwin Minassian have already opened their homes and invited friends and family to support the Armenian Cause, with many more planning events in the next few weeks.

The Krouzian Zekarian Vasbouragan (KZV) Armenian school in San Francisco is one of over a dozen Armenian Schools around the country supporting ANCA Telethon 2014 with all sorts of team-building activities.

Armenian churches have ANCA Telethon banners displayed proudly out front or prominently in their community centers and at local activities (including a genocide awareness walk in Florida).

And we’ll be reporting about all of their wonderful efforts in support of the Armenian Cause they hold so dear.

But for now, please take a moment to watch Christopher and Aren’s lemonade video. And if you are as moved as we were when we first watched it, please make an online donation to support their “virtual lemonade stand” by clicking on the YouTube video link. All donations go directly to the ANCA Endowment Fund and help Christopher and Aren reach—and hopefully beat—their fundraising goal for ANCA Telethon 2014. (Warning: The video is addictive!)

The link to the video is available at http://youtu.be/30-Xwmpt3cw. And, if you would like to set up your own team fundraising page in support of ANCA Telethon 2014, visit www.gifttool.com/athon/SignUpStartTeam and follow the simple instructions. Questions? Just drop us a line at (855) 208-2622 or e-mail telethon@anca.org.

Elizabeth Chouldjian is the communications director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) based in Washington, D.C.