On November 22, 2024, the Ararat Lodge of the Knights of Vartan hosted a comedy night fundraiser with over 150 guests from all over the Massachusetts community in the Knights of Columbus Hall in Lexington, MA. The event was a fundraiser for the refugees who survived the Armenian genocide in the Republic of Artsakh during September 2023.
Five well-known local comedians participated to provide laughter and entertainment for the crowd. When asked to help, Master of Ceremonies Johnny Pizzi immediately said yes: “We will make this a great success for you and your people!” Comedians from the Boston area, Mike Duggan, Kenny Rogerson, Jason Merrill and Steve Sweeney, also performed and kept the attendees laughing the entire night. Magician and comedian Pizzi added to the entertainment by performing his dazzling magic tricks with the audience throughout the performance.
Prior to the comedians, Dro Kanayan presented about the Knights of Vartan and their Economic Sustainability Project, which purchases tools and equipment so that Artsakh refugees can find employment in the Republic of Armenia, a country with a shared language and culture. The event raised an additional $12,000 on a stormy night, bringing the total raised for the program by members of the Ararat Lodge to $25,000.
The audience watched a newly-released video on the 2023 mass deportations of Armenians from Artsakh and highlighted the indomitable spirit of the Armenian people who have survived genocides by Turkey and other Turkic countries over the centuries. “We hope other Armenian communities embrace this initiative and support Knights of Vartan Economic Sustainability Program to provide hope and a better future for the Artsakh refugees,” said Kanayan.
Since October 2023, the Knights of Vartan has provided over $160,000 in humanitarian assistance to Artsakh refugees. By December 2023, the emphasis shifted from direct humanitarian and welfare aid to economic development, and in January 2024, the Economic Sustainability Program (ESP) was launched. It aims to provide economic assistance to Artsakh refugees and other permanent residents in the Republic of Armenia to create jobs, develop and support trade skills, increase opportunities for employment and contribute to socio-economic development.
Since January 2024, the Knights of Vartan has provided over $90,000 in economic assistance, which has helped 30 refugee families, including over 40 children. These families are now sustaining themselves by finding jobs or starting small family businesses and integrating in the Armenian communities where they reside.
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