The broadcast brought together the global Aurora community in outstanding show of solidarity
October 20, 2020 – Yerevan, Armenia – On October 19, 2020 at 7 pm local time the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative’s event of the year, honoring the Aurora Humanitarians and the Initiative’s 5th anniversary, took place in New York City.
The organizers noted that when they had begun planning the event, nobody could have imagined that a war would be unleashed against Nagorno-Karabakh, but they had decided not to cancel or postpone the plans as it is in times of adversity that the voice of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity should be heard the loudest.
The event, focused on the philosophy of Gratitude in Action, was broadcast live from The New York Public Library and featured Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Co-Founder, member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee and President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Vartan Gregorian, as well as the evening’s hosts, well-known American journalists Judy Woodruff (PBS) and David Ignatius (The Washington Post).
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At the same time the rest of the participants, including Aurora Co-Founders Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan, Chair and members of the esteemed Aurora Prize Selection Committee, Aurora Laureates and famous representatives of cultural establishment like George Clooney, Yo-Yo Ma and Wynton Marsalis, as well as more than 500 invitees, joined the event remotely. However, from the very first minutes of the event and throughout its course (for 1h 40m) the risk of disruption remained high due to series of cyber attacks and an influx of thousands of bots trying to block the broadcast and spreading fake URLs of the broadcast and ultranationalist anti-Armenian slurs in the social media.
Several substantial grants, presented by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative in 2020, were announced during the “Gratitude in Action” event, including $1 million to 2020 Aurora Prize Laureates Fartuun Adan and Ilwad Elman who help women and children in Somalia; $1 million from the Co-Founders personally to Hayastan All Armenian Fund to cover urgent humanitarian needs in Nagorno-Karabakh; $1 million to support the children affected by war; $100,000 to the Elmhurst Hospital in Queens help in its struggle against the virus, and $20,000 the Committee to Protect Journalists.
It should be noted as well that this year, the global Aurora Humanitarian Initiative has also transferred $200,000 to support those affected by the blast in Beirut, $140,000 to the Mother of Mercy Hospital in Nuba Mountains, Sudan, and $120,000 to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia to help it fight against the pandemic of COVID-19.
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative was founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors. The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity is awarded annually to modern-day heroes who put themselves at risk to save others. You can watch the full-length version of the “Gratitude in Action” event by following this link.
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About the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, is transforming this experience into a global movement based on the universal concept of Gratitude in Action. By addressing real, on-the-ground challenges, the Initiative provides a second chance to those who need it the most. We believe that even in the darkest times, a brighter future is in the hands of those who are committed to giving others help and hope, and Aurora welcomes all who embrace this philosophy.
This eight-year commitment (2015 to 2023, in remembrance of the eight years of the Armenian Genocide 1915-1923) aims to promote global projects and support people who tackle the needs of the most helpless and destitute and do so at great risk. This is achieved through the Initiative’s various programs: Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, Aurora Dialogues, Aurora Grants, Aurora Community, Aurora Index, 100 LIVES Initiative and #AraratChallenge.
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is the vision of philanthropists Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan who have been joined by thousands of supporters and partners. Our Chair, Dr. Tom Catena, draws on his experience is a surgeon, veteran, humanitarian and the 2017 Aurora Prize laureate to spread the message of Gratitude in Action to a global audience.
The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is represented by three organizations – the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Foundation, Inc. (New York, USA), the 100 Lives Foundation (Geneva, Switzerland) and the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Charitable Foundation (Yerevan, Armenia).
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