Camp Haiastan to Kick Off Tribute Weekend with Gala at Gillette Stadium

Gala Sponsored by Alex and Ani, Rafaelian Family

FRANKLIN, Mass.—Camp Haiastan will host a Tribute Weekend on Sat., July 26 and Sun. 27, which will be highlighted by a Tribute Gala event on Saturday evening to honor the camp’s past and present summer directors, and a Road Dedication Ceremony on Sunday afternoon to honor past director Bob Avakian.

The Tribute Gala event will be a dinner and dance held at the Gillette Stadium Putnam Club in Foxboro. Tickets are $125 for adults and $50 for children age 16 and under, and must be purchased by July 11 (details are available on the camp’s website at www.camphaiastan.org/events). Tables of 8 may be reserved when ordering tickets. Also available for purchase are digital ads to honor our past summer directors. Admission to the dance only ($50 after 9:30 p.m.) will be available for purchase at the door.

The Tribute Gala is being sponsored by Alex and Ani and the Rafaelian family, who are donating special commemorative Camp Haiastan bracelets and necklaces. The jewelry will be sold exclusively by Camp Haiastan, with 100 percent of all sales donated to the camp.

A silent auction will also take place at the Tribute Gala with items donated from the New England Patriots, Bose, Michael Aram, and others. Musical entertainment will be provided by John Berberian (oud), Leon Janikian (clarinet), Michael Gostanian (vocal), Ara Dinkjian (guitar), Stepan Megerdichian (bass guitar), and Jay Baronian (dumbeg and vocal).

On the same night as the Tribute Gala is the New England Revolution soccer game against the Columbus Crew. Admission to the Tribute Gala will allow access to the Putnam Club stadium viewing area to watch the game, which starts at 7:30 p.m. The Tribute Gala will have dedicated free parking just for Putnam Club West visitors.

Founded in 1951, Camp Haiastan is celebrating its 64th year as the first Armenian camp in America. “The camp has had 32 summer directors and we have invited them all to this event, including the families of those that have left us,” noted David Hamparian, the camp’s executive director, who was also a summer director in 1990. “We are looking forward to having the largest gathering of Camp Haiastan summer directors ever assembled.”

Camp Haiastan has reserved hotel rooms with special Tribute Gala rates at two nearby hotels. The hotel nearest to Gillette Stadium is the Renaissance Hotel at Patriot Place with a room rate of $163 per night. Although the camp’s block of rooms is nearing capacity, the Renaissance Hotel will likely have rooms available at slightly higher rates. Camp Haiastan has also reserved rooms at the Hampton Inn in Franklin at $119 per night. This is the closest hotel to the camp. For more details, visit the “Events” section on the camp’s website.

On Sun., July 27, the day after the Tribute Gala, Camp Haiastan will be dedicating the main road that runs through the camp to Robert (Bob) Avakian, past executive director/summer director. “Bob has done so much for Camp Haiastan throughout its 64-year history that this recognition is well deserved. I am pleased we will be honoring him with the dedication of Bob Avakian Way,” noted John Mangassarian, chairman of the road dedication event. The dedication will take place at 2:30 p.m. in Camp Haiastan’s Tzamhour Hall. The event is free and open to the public, and will take place during the AYF Picnic.

Mark your calendars and make your reservations today to join the many friends of Camp Haiastan for these two historic events. For additional details regarding the Tribute Weekend, visit www.camphaiastan.org/events or e-mail gala-info@camphaiastan.org.