This edition of ArmeniaNow marks the fifth anniversary of the founding of the HyeSanta charity campaign.

In 2003, we first challenged our readers to extend much-needed help to unfortunate families like many here whom ArmeniaNow journalists encounter in the course of our routine reporting. Your immediate response justified our belief that this online journal could serve as a bridge to compassionate readers who may never set foot in Armenia, but whose hearts are always here.

Beyond the immediate gesture of offering relief, we also wanted to establish a tradition in Armenia that had not been a feature of the media community here. Through HyeSanta we wanted to teach advocacy journalism in Armenia – to demonstrate that the powerful tool of information can be an instrument for the good of social welfare.

Additionally, ArmeniaNow wanted to demonstrate to our sponsors that their charity to us reached beyond our self-serving needs and that our aim was to turn “donations” into “investments”. We exist due to the generosity of the Armenian General Benevolent Union who, since 2003, has funded ArmeniaNow as part of its multi-faceted program of philanthropy in Armenia. For the past two years, the Armenian Assembly of America has also supported us. Though HyeSanta was independently created by ArmeniaNow, we hope these respected institutions who have helped ArmeniaNow will also feel satisfaction in that their belief in us is repaid in help to others through this charity effort.