The Ruben Tonoyan Foundation

10/20/2026

The countdown is on! Just three days until the Second Annual RTF Gala! ♥️♠️

We're looking forward to bringing everyone together this Friday, October 23, for an evening celebrating Ruben, reconnecting with friends, and supporting some meaningful causes.

Here's a look at what's planned:

🥂 7:15–8:15 PM | Cocktail Hour & Silent Auction�Grab a drink, catch up with familiar faces, meet some new ones, and explore our silent auction featuring goods, services, and experiences generously donated by our supporters.

🍽️ 8:15–9:00 PM | Dinner�Time to settle in, enjoy dinner, and share some good conversation.

❤️ 9:00–9:30 PM | RTF & Our Partners�Hear the latest from RTF, watch a special video from Horizon Asia, and learn more about SOAR's mission and impact.

🎶 9:30–11:30 PM | Music & Celebration�We'll close out the evening with music, dancing, drinks, and plenty of time together.

And a special thank-you to some of the amazing people supporting this year's Gala!

Here's a sneak peek at some of the people and organizations supporting this year's Gala, along with a few of the experiences they've generously donated to our silent auction:

🎧 Pinkloud will be DJing the Gala and has also generously donated a one-on-one music production lesson.

🍕 CG Pizza has donated a Friday Night Pizza Party for up to 50 guests!

🎸 Seb Isaac, lead guitarist of HARE, has donated a one-on-one guitar lesson.

These are just a few of the many items and experiences available in our silent auction, with plenty more to discover on Friday! We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has generously contributed and helped bring this year's Gala together.

A few final details: Silent auction bidding will close at approximately 9:45 PM, with winners notified around 10:00 PM.

We can't wait to see everyone on Friday! ♥️

🎟️ Event details & RSVP: https://partiful.com/e/Zk7D0mrcaIZkzeIOz2mt?focus=guests

10/18/2026

✨ Introducing Tamar Purut, Board Member & Co-Event Chair

To Tamar, Ruben and Arthur were the brothers she always wished she had. When she thinks of Ruben, she remembers his inquisitive spirit, his endless curiosity, and his ability to make every moment memorable.

“I have loads of joyful memories to look back on with Ruben. He was always the life of the party.

I always laugh when I recall a trip we had taken to Mexico, and Ruben wasted zero time to befriend the locals and become an overnight celebrity.

Also how Ruben never missed an opportunity to remind her that he was the “cool” brother of the family 😂

Not too long before his passing, I felt like we were going through so many similar life experiences and bonded for hours over dinner just talking about it all.

We were comforted by the fact that we both had each other to turn to, no questions asked.”

Their bond was built on years of friendship, shared experiences, and knowing they could always count on each other.

“I miss you and love you, brosef. Until we meet again.”

💜 In memory of Ruben, always.

—

After losing Ruben in 2020, RTF was created to honor the way Ruben loved, supported, and impacted the people around him. Every member of our board carries a personal connection to that mission.

10/16/2026

A Closer Look at Your Impact at the 2026 RTF Gala 🫶

One of the initiatives your attendance at this year’s RTF Gala will help support is Vanisa’s journey toward higher education 📚

Vanisa is a young woman from the Semai, one of Malaysia’s Indigenous Orang Asli communities. With the support of our partner Horizon Asia Education Association, she’s working toward completing her GED and pursuing her goal of attending university.

Horizon Asia expands access to free education and opportunity for underserved people across Southeast Asia. As shared in our Gala announcement, 10% of net proceeds will help fund Vanisa’s advanced English classes, educational materials, and student visa expenses as she continues preparing for her GED.

The video above shares Vanisa’s story in her own words, including the challenges she’s faced, her experience with Horizon Asia, and what access to education means for her future 🌱

We’re proud to partner with Horizon Asia to help make this opportunity possible!

Learn more & RSVP: https://partiful.com/e/Zk7D0mrcaIZkzeIOz2mt

10/07/2026

✨ Introducing Kevin Keelan, President & Co-Marketing Chair

When Kevin thinks of Ruben, he remembers the highs & lows, and how Ruben was always there for both. Always with that signature Rubix smirk, always ready to say the exact words he needed to hear.

“I still think of him first whenever I get excited and want to share news, whether it’s in business, love, life, a new fantasy show, or a clever historical meme.

I think of his endless support, his mischief, and his way of thinking.

When I think of Ruben, I think of legacy. Of what he inspired, and what he will continue to.”

Ruben’s influence carries into much of what Kevin does today, from his entrepreneurial drive and instinct to think bigger, to the causes he gives his time and skills to.

RTF is a chance to carry that forward, building something ambitious, useful, and worthy of Ruben’s name.

🖤 In memory of Ruben, always.

—

After losing Ruben in 2020, RTF was created to honor the way Ruben loved, supported, and impacted the people around him. Every member of our board carries a personal connection to that mission.

09/24/2026

An Update on the 2026 RTF Gala ♥️

The Ruben Tonoyan Foundation is happy to announce that through our partnership with the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief , 40% of net proceeds from this year’s RTF Gala will directly support an initiative for children with disabilities in Armenia ❤️‍🩹🇦🇲

Opened by SOAR in 2023, the Ada Keshishyants Center for Disabled Children in Vanadzor, Armenia provides specialized support for children with developmental, emotional, intellectual, physical, and psychological disabilities. The video offers a closer look inside the Center and the work already taking place there 💗

Our Gala contribution will help provide the equipment and furnishings needed for an Occupational Therapy Room, helping expand the services and support available to the children it serves.

It’s a meaningful step forward for RTF and exactly the kind of tangible, grassroots impact we want the Foundation to make.

Learn more & RSVP: https://partiful.com/e/Zk7D0mrcaIZkzeIOz2mt

09/10/2026

The Second Annual Ruben Tonoyan Foundation Gala ♥️♠️

We’re excited to bring our community together again for a special evening celebrating Ruben, the people he brought together, and the meaningful work his legacy continues to inspire.

Join us on Friday, October 23 at Biagio’s in Paramus, New Jersey for an evening of dinner, an open bar, entertainment, music, and plenty of time to reconnect with old friends and meet some new ones.

📅 Friday, October 23 | 7:00–11:00 PM
📍 Biagio’s Ristorante | Paramus, NJ
🎟️ Tickets: $150 per person
🥂 Dinner, Open Bar & Entertainment

This year also marks an important step forward for RTF. We’re proud to partner with SOAR New Jersey and Horizon Asia Education Association, with a portion of net Gala proceeds directly supporting specific initiatives at both organizations.

Learn more & RSVP: https://partiful.com/e/Zk7D0mrcaIZkzeIOz2mt

Join Us for the Second Annual Ruben Tonoyan Foundation Gala! We’re looking forward to bringing together friends, family, partners, and supporters for another special evening celebrating Ruben, the community around him, and the meaningful work his legacy continues to inspire. The evening will inclu...

08/31/2026

Save the date for the second annual Ruben Tonoyan Foundation Gala! 🎉

Join us on Friday, October 23 at Biagio’s Ristorante in Paramus, New Jersey, as we bring our community together for another special evening in honor of Ruben’s legacy and the continued work of the Foundation.

📅 Friday, October 23
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Biagio’s Ristorante | Paramus, New Jersey

More details, including ticket information, will be announced soon.

Save the date. We hope to see you there!

06/24/2026

✨ Meet: Karén Tonoyan, Board Member & Secretary

To Karén, Ruben was the little brother who changed his entire perspective on life; the one who made him a big brother and inspired him to always consider the example he was setting for others.

“Ruben was funny, introspective, and persuasive. But more than anything, I miss his presence - his advice, his feedback, his humor, and our inside jokes. He was the closest person to me, the one who could completely relate to family situations without me having to say a single word.

One of my favorite memories is teaching him how to build a computer, but honestly, there are just too many to count. From defending him from a bully on the playground in Ukraine, to scheming trades for good Pokémon cards in Brooklyn, to long night walks talking about life, politics, and business. He was the kid who had a midnight saltine cracker obsession, hoarded Halloween candy for months, and would finish school projects with me and dad at midnight the night before they were due.”

Through this work, he hopes to carry on the light that Ruben brought to the world and ensure a continued, positive impact on others, exactly as Ruben would have wanted.

💙 In memory of Ruben, always.

—

After losing Ruben in 2020, RTF was created to honor the way Ruben loved, supported, and impacted the people around him. Every member of our board carries a personal connection to that mission.

06/14/2026

Armenia has always held a special place in the hearts of the Tonoyan family, making this collaboration especially meaningful to the Ruben Tonoyan Foundation 🇦🇲♥️

As such, we are honored to announce a partnership with SOAR New Jersey, a chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief.

For nearly two decades, SOAR has provided humanitarian relief to orphaned Armenian children and adults with disabilities around the world. Through a global network of volunteers and in country partners, SOAR works to ensure these individuals have access to the educational, social, and developmental opportunities needed to thrive, while also supporting family empowerment, deinstitutionalization, and reunification efforts.

RTF and SOAR New Jersey are currently exploring ways to support orphaned children and orphanages in Armenia through future collaborative initiatives, with more details to be shared in the coming months.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside organizations that share our commitment to creating opportunity, strengthening communities, and helping future generations reach their full potential.

06/07/2026

One of the first initiatives from the Ruben Tonoyan Foundation’s new partnership with Horizon Asia Education Association is already underway 🌟

Our President & Co-Marketing Chair, Kevin Keelan, is working with Cherry, a student from Myanmar, through monthly one-on-one sessions focused on marketing, technology, and professional development.

Like many students Horizon Asia supports, Cherry did not grow up with the same access to technology and digital education that many of us take for granted. Today, she is building skills that can help create new opportunities for her future.

Together, they are exploring:

🔍 SEO and online visibility
🎨 Website creation and design
📈 Marketing fundamentals
💻 Digital literacy and technology tools

The photo above captures Cherry presenting her own Google Slides presentation on SEO research and explaining her findings during class, a reflection of the curiosity and initiative she brings to every session.

We are excited to support students like Cherry as they build confidence, develop new skills, and prepare for future educational and professional opportunities.

A special thank you to Horizon Asia for making connections like these possible 🧡