From August 3 to 6, Beirut will be host to AGBU FOCUS, a world-class event that brings together young Armenian professionals from around the world for a weekend of culture, nightlife and connectivity in a city known for its elegance, sophistication and rich culture.
This year, AGBU FOCUS is raising funds for the AGBU Scholarship Program, a direct investment in the future of Armenian leaders and change-makers. As tuition and living costs increase, the expense of a university education becomes a greater financial burden. The AGBU Scholarship Program provides much-needed financial assistance to bright, promising Armenian students who may not otherwise be able to afford a university education. Over more than a century, AGBU has helped tens of thousands of university students pursue higher education at some of the world’s top ranked universities, including Columbia, Harvard, Lebanese International University, London School of Economics, McGill, MIT, Stanford, University of Bonn and Yale.
“I am very proud to serve as the chair of AGBU Young Professionals of Beirut and the AGBU FOCUS 2017 Organizing Committee and have the opportunity to welcome hundreds of my peers to Beirut in August. As the great-granddaughter of a life-long supporter of AGBU schools and educational programs, I am honored to carry on his legacy through this important fundraising campaign. FOCUS offers us a platform to promote AGBU’s vision and global impact all while raising money for the AGBU Scholarship Program to help AGBU ensure that students from all socio-economic backgrounds have access to a university education,” said AGBU FOCUS 2017 chair Natacha Keuchguerian.
The series of events will begin on Wednesday, August 2 with a special full-day Tour and Taste that takes out-of-towners and locals alike on an excursion to the Jeita Grottoes, the ancient city of Byblos and many more sites. Perspectives marks the official kick-off of AGBU FOCUS on Thursday, August 3 with an engaging panel discussion and networking reception for guests to share viewpoints on a hot topic. The excitement continues on Friday, August 4 where guests will participate in an interactive conference with emerging leaders with a focus on advancing the Global Armenian Nation and then later enjoy Club Night at B 018, a former underground bunker transformed into an open-air club. Saturday, August 5 features FOCUS on Art at the Sursock Museum with an afternoon of art, including paintings by the famous Lebanese Armenian painter Paul Guiragossian, then a formal Gala in the evening at The Legend with dinner and dancing on the banks of the ancient Lycus River. Brunch on Sunday brings the memorable weekend to close, giving YPs the perfect opportunity to bid farewell to their new friends.
Since premiering in New York City in 2001, AGBU FOCUS has distinguished itself as a unique networking experience for Armenian young professionals (YPs) from around the world. What began as a signature anniversary celebration is now a sensational tradition, offering YPs an opportunity to connect with hundreds of international peers while highlighting the direct and positive impact of AGBU’s programs on generations of Armenians. Over the past 16 years, AGBU FOCUS has united over 3,000 YPs in seven different cities: New York City (2001, 2007), Montreal (2003), Miami (2005), Chicago (2009), Paris (2011), San Francisco (2013) and Toronto (2015).
Tickets to AGBU FOCUS 2017 are on sale now. After selling out blocked rooms at the Four Seasons Beirut, accommodations are now available at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel in the heart of the city. For more information about the weekend’s events and to register, purchase tickets or book hotel rooms, please visit www.agbufocus.org.
For more information, please contact AGBU Special Events Manager Gloria Sanders at [email protected] and be sure to like the AGBU FOCUS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/agbufocus and invite your network of Armenian YPs to do the same.
To support the FOCUS Campaign for Scholarships, please visit https://agbufocus.org/#ourCausePage.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world’s largest non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 500,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit www.agbu.org.