Casino Night raises support for life-saving mission of ABMDR

Event hosted by Michael and Amy Boyadjian

Los Angeles, October 9, 2013 – More than 200 supporters attended the third annual Casino Night of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR), held on the evening of September 27. The highly anticipated event was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Amy Boyadjian at their home in Glendale, California.

After being greeted by the hosts and ABMDR representatives, guests enjoyed delectable appetizers and an open bar across the sprawling, beautifully decorated terrace, where a profusion of flowers and candles set the evening’s tone.

Following a sumptuous dinner, Michael and Amy Boyadjian formally welcomed the attendees and thanked them for their enthusiastic support of the ABDMR cause. “We firmly believe in the humanitarian mission of this wonderful organization, which helps save the lives of so many across the globe,” said Amy Boyadjian, a member of the ABMDR Board of Directors and the 2013 ABMDR Woman of the Year. Subsequently she invited Dr. Frieda Jordan, president of ABMDR, to deliver remarks.

“I’d like to thank Michael and Amy Boyadjian for their gracious hospitality and generous support,” Dr. Jordan said, and went on to convey her gratitude to the guests for making the Casino Night one of ABMDR’s most successful fundraising events year after year.

Dr. Jordan also spoke about some of the organization’s recent achievements. “Our lab in Yerevan has just completed a new harvest of bone marrow stem cells from a donor and sent them to a transplantation center in Germany, where one of our patients will undergo a life-saving transplant,” she said.

“At this very moment,” Dr. Jordan continued, “we have among us a donor who has been identified as a match for a patient in Portugal, and she is ready to donate her stem cells to make possible that patient’s transplant.”

Subsequently, as Dr. Jordan wished good luck to players, they were invited to take their seats at the casino-style tables, which featured a variety of games including poker, roulette, and black jack. The high level of excitement was complemented by the gourmet offerings of a cigar and cognac bar. Guests also had the opportunity to purchase lottery tickets in support of ABMDR.

Elsewhere on the terrace, a dance floor set up for the occasion filled up with revelers who danced into the night to lively music provided by a DJ.

At the conclusion of the event, lottery winners were announced and presented with great gifts.

About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999, ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians worldwide survive life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date, the registry has recruited over 24,000 donors in 18 countries across four continents, identified 2,135 patients, and facilitated 17 bone marrow transplants.

For more information, call (323) 663-3609 or visit abmdr.am.

Casino Night hosts Michael and Amy Boyadjian.

Guests had a great time while supporting ABMDR’s life-saving mission.

A scene from the event, which drew over 200 supporters.

[PHOTO CREDIT]

All photos courtesy of the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry.