ENCINO—The glimmer of Japanese lanterns, blare of patriotic music, and aroma of gourmet sushi filled the night sky at Ferrahian Armenian School on May 31 as community members gathered for a fundraiser dinner in support of the AYF’s “With Our Soldiers” campaign.
Dubbed “Sushi for Shushi”, the event drew attention to the 20th anniversary of Shushi’s momentous liberation and sought to raise money for the men and women who made it a reality.
“The liberation of Shushi is a proud moment for all Armenians and we wanted to do something special to mark its 20th anniversary,” said Tro Krikorian, a lead organizer with the campaign. “We decided to host a delicious sushi dinner dedicated to helping the brave men and women who fought for Artsakh’s freedom.”
Professional guest chefs were on hand to offer an unlimited variety of sushi rolls and nigiri. As attendees took trips to the all-you-can-eat buffet, images of the freedom fighters involved in Artsakh’s liberation could be seen projected against the wall, along with melodies celebrating their victory.
The proceeds raised from the event will go toward the treatment of a broad cross-section of veterans of the Artsakh war still dealing with combat injuries. The initiative is part of the AYF’s 2012 Azadamardik campaign.
In addition to the money raised at the door, various attendees offered donations throughout the evening. The South Valley “Rosdom” ARF, in particular, made a generous donation which will help cover the cost of eye care for certain veterans in Armenia who suffered such injuries in the war.
“These men and woman who fought resiliently to ensure that Artsakh remains free are now fighting for their livelihood and health,” said Caspar Jivalagian, another one of the organizers of the initiative. “By supporting the With Our Soldiers campaign, Diaspora Armenians can become more familiar with the realities of veterans in the homeland and do their part to assist them.”
For more information about With Our Soldiers and further efforts to aid veterans of the Artsakh war, visit www.WithOurSoldiers.com.
