November 27 will see the start in Los Angeles of a traditional telethon action organized by All-Armenian Fund Hayastan, appearing this Thanksgiving Day for the 11th time.

Telethon-2008, facilitated by cable, satellite and internet connections, will be broadcast worldwide to summon the collective strength of Armenians, be they in Armenia or its large world-scattered Diaspora, to help with rebuilding efforts in their common home.

(The telethon can also be followed on the Hayastan Fund’s website http://www.armeniafund.org).

According to the Fund, the money donated and pledged during this year’s telethon will be aimed at “basic infrastructure rehabilitation to make considerable change in the life of people” in villages of Armenia and Karabakh.

“By switching on TV, you can become a participant in the fulfillment of our common dream. On November 27, you will have an opportunity to make your contribution to improving a little the lives of the people in Armenia and Artsakh,” the Fund said in its message.

According to preliminary results, the All-European Phone-a-Ton-2008 action launched last week by the Hayastan Fund ahead of the main, a total pledge of 1.2 million euros (or about $1.5 million has been announced).

“Despite the global financial crisis, the index of this year exceeded by about 80,000 euros that of last year,” the Fund’s press release says.

“The Fund uses different means and instruments to organize the annual fundraising,” says the Fund’s acting Executive Director Ara Vardanyan. “Those include phone-a-tons, radio-a-tons, or fundraising dinners, and eventually the telethon proves a success especially because we are constantly committed to our mission, which is to unite Armenians worldwide around the paramount goal of rebuilding the homeland.”

Last November, the Fund raised a record-high amount of about $15.3 million.