Kirk Kerkoryan

Kirk Kerkoryan was born on 6 June in 1917 in Fresno, California, USA. His family, the Grigorians, immigrated to the US from the Western Armenian city of Kharberd. He participated in World War II. Kerkoryan was engaged in hotel, motion picture and auto industries. He was the president of the Tracinda Corporation. In the aftermath of the Spitak earthquake and during the Armenian blockade and economic crisis, he donated more than $20 million to the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. He made the first major donation of $14 million in 1993 by tripling the $7 million collected by the Diaspora for the Winter 1993-1994 fuel and heating programme. In 1996, he doubled the amount collected during the Los Angeles Telethon for the construction of the Goris-Stepanakert highway, donating about $4 million. Since 2001, his Lincy Foundation has donated $200 million for the implementation of projects related to reconstruction of roads, restoration of cultural institutions, restoration of disaster zone. National Hero of Armenia (27.05.2004). He was awarded the highest Hayrenik Order of the Republic of Armenia.