On September 20, TUMO Foundation held its first-ever gala at Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles. The sold-out event celebrated 15 years of TUMO and raised over $17 million to sustain and scale its free technology and design education programs across Armenia.

The evening was co-chaired by Anush Yemenidjian, Rachel Lebaredian, Ruzan Kuzoyan, and Katherine Mahdessian, whose dedication helped bring the TUMO community together to celebrate 15 years of impact and support the work ahead.

Beyond the stage, creative partner People of Ar brought TUMO students’ work into the heart of the celebration through a striking, immersive visual installation. The imagery was captivating in its own right, but the story behind it made the installation especially meaningful.

Drawing on student sketches and models from TUMO’s 3D scanning program, the installation featured work through which TUMOians have digitally preserved Armenian monasteries and cultural landmarks in territories that have fallen outside Armenian control following recent wars. Woven into the setting at Vibiana, their work offered a moving example of how young people are using technology to preserve a connection to their heritage.

Sopranos Isabel Bayrakdarian and Armine Vardanyan captivated the audience with powerful, deeply moving performances throughout the evening, accompanied by the People of Ar Resident Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Mikael Avetisyan. As emcee, Kristina Ayanian of Nasdaq brought tremendous warmth and energy to the stage, skillfully guiding guests through an evening that celebrated TUMO’s remarkable 15-year journey and the ambitious vision for its future.

Among those gathered were Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, film producer Katherine Sarafian, film producer and actor Michael Goorjian, podcaster and media personality Sona Movsesian, film producer Patrick Malkassian, and MMA fighter Arman Tsarukyan, alongside longtime supporters and friends of TUMO. The occasion brought together people whose connections to both Armenia and TUMO has taken many forms, united by an interest in what its young people can accomplish.

The anniversary film, in conjunction with the reflections offered by founders Sam and Sylva Simonian, returned the focus to Yerevan, where TUMO opened its first center in 2011. The idea was to give teenagers the freedom to discover their talents, with the tools and guidance to pursue them. More than 100,000 teens have since passed through TUMO, carrying that experience into careers and pursuits of their own.

Chief Executive Officer Marie Lou Papazian reflected on the impact of a TUMO education, from helping students discover their passions to equipping them with skills for future careers. But she emphasized that its most profound impact goes beyond either: “The real magic happens when our students discover, often to their own surprise, the incredible capabilities they had within them all along.”

Her remarks set the tone for the rest of the event, highlighting that behind every milestone in TUMO’s journey are young minds discovering just how much they can achieve.

Alex Yemenidjian, a longtime TUMO champion and former Chairman and CEO of MGM, then took the stage to present the evening’s three honorees: Vahe Kuzoyan and Ara Mahdessian, co-founders of ServiceTitan, and Rev Lebaredian, NVIDIA’s vice president of Physical AI Simulation. The recognition connected their achievements in technology to their commitment to Armenia and its young people.

For Vahe and Ara, the story of ServiceTitan began with their fathers’ work in the trades and an understanding of the problems technology could help solve. That personal starting point grew into a company serving an entire industry. Rev’s career has helped shape technologies that are changing how the world is created and simulated, alongside his commitment to Armenia’s emerging AI ecosystem, including his significant role in helping launch Firebird.

Guests then heard directly from two TUMO alumni, whose journeys showed what an investment in young people can make possible. Meri Grigoryan, co-founder and chief communications officer of Bleenk AI, and Hovsep Mardoyan, founder and CEO of Salute AI, both began their paths as TUMO students. Today, Meri is helping build an Armenian AI startup, while Hovsep is developing sign-language translation technology for Deaf and hearing communities.

The evening’s live auction brought together six one-of-a-kind experiences that celebrated Armenian excellence. Guests had the opportunity to learn from some of the very best in their fields, including tennis legend Andre Agassi, chess grandmaster Levon Aronian, and UFC star Arman Tsarukyan. Our honorees also generously offered exclusive experiences, including a private lunch with ServiceTitan co-founders Ara Mahdessian and Vahe Kuzoyan, and a lunch and tour of NVIDIA headquarters with Rev Lebaredian. Rounding out the auction was a rare stay at the exclusive MGM Mansion in Las Vegas, an experience that cannot normally be purchased, paired with a round of golf at Shadow Creek. Led by auctioneer Aileen Agopian, the live auction raised an incredible $251,000 in support of TUMO’s expansion across Armenia.

The celebration of Armenian excellence continued with a special online auction featuring a truly unique piece of Armenian history: a one-of-a-kind bottle of ARARAT brandy created to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. Crafted from spirits dating back to 1991, the year Armenia regained its independence, the bottle was generously donated through TUMO’s partnership with the Yerevan Brandy Company.

The evening came to a memorable close with a special performance by Serj Tankian, accompanied by pianist Erwin Khachikian. Serj captivated the audience with a rendition of his song “Gate 21,” followed by a heartfelt interpretation of Chris de Burgh’s “I’m Counting on You.”

His appearance bridged past and present. Serj helped establish TUMO’s music program and performed at the opening of the Yerevan center 15 years ago. His return on the occasion of this anniversary connected the celebration at Vibiana to our earliest days, bringing a longtime friendship with TUMO back to the stage.

The over $17 million raised will help sustain TUMO’s centers and Boxes, and bring free learning opportunities to more communities across Armenia. Our next goal is to reach 60,000 teenagers each week through a network of 14 centers and more than 80 TUMO Boxes.

TUMO’s inaugural gala marked a major milestone with all the warmth and elegance the occasion deserved. Its real legacy, however, will unfold in Armenia, as more young people walk through TUMO’s doors and realize their full creative potential.

Join the TUMO 15th Anniversary Campaign and be part of our next chapter through the following link: armenia.tumo.org/donation.