AGBU: Red Cross Thanks AGBU for $100,000 Katrina Donation

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x137
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: kyacoubian@agbu.org
Website: www.agbu.org

PRESS RELEASE

Friday, December 16, 2005

RED CROSS THANKS AGBU FOR $100,000 KATRINA DONATION

On December 13, 2005, American Red Cross Senior Major Gifts Officer
Barbara O'Reilly paid a personal visit to AGBU Central Office in New
York to thank the organization for its generous $100,000 donation in
support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Present for this special
meeting were AGBU Central Board Member Michael Ansour, AGBU Director
of Central Board Programs Anita Anserian and staff.

In quick response to the natural disaster in the American Gulf States,
the AGBU Central Board of Directors, through special relief
contributions, donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross. Over its
100 year history, AGBU has always responded to the plight of victims
impacted by war and natural disasters, and supports the Red Cross so
that it may continue its important work in helping the victims of
Hurricane Katrina.

It is worthy to note that the Red Cross has a long history of helping
Armenians around the world. In fact in 1896, American Red Cross
founder Clara Barton traveled to Constantinople on the organization's
first-ever international humanitarian effort to bring relief to
Armenian victims of Turkish oppression.

Established in 1906, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is
the world's largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in
New York City with an annual budget of $26 million, AGBU
(www.agbu.org) preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and
heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs,
annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 35 countries.