Community activists—old and young alike—gathered on Thursday at Phoenicia Restaurant in Glendale for surprise 80th birthday party for long-time community activist, leader and advocate of Hai-Tahd, Manas Boujikian.

The Homenetmen Western US Regional Executive announced that Mr. & Mrs. Gagik and Madine Gevorkian have been named the Honorary Presidents of the 37th Annual Navasartian Games.

At the conclusion of the six-hour ANCA Endowment Fund Telethon on Sunday, May 20, $2.2 million was raised from donations large and small from a wide cross-section of the community, demonstrating and bolstering the grassroots power and capability of Armenian-Americans.

Kim Kardashian is rallying support for the ANCA Telethon as part of her ongoing commitment to secure international recognition of the Armenian Genocide as an important step toward ending the cycle of genocide overall, reported the ANCA Endowment Fund.

In recognition of Maro Kechichian’s service to the organization, the Regional Executive has named her as the 2012 Exemplary Homenetmen Member.

Homenetmen’s 28th Annual Interscholastic Competition—KAHAM Games—came to an end on Saturday, May 12 at Birmingham High School, where local Armenian school athletes, principals, teachers, and parents gathered for the closing ceremony, which had been postponed from March 18th due to inclement weather.

After condemning the fire bomb attack at a local club last week, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member and chairman of the party’s parliamentary bloc Vahan Hovannesian said that the “ARF has no phobias,” referring to the attack, which was motivated by homophobia.

The Rhode Island House passed a resolution today calling on the U.S. President and Congress to recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The resolution also encouraged the republic’s “continued efforts to develop as a free and independent nation,” and praised Artsakh’s “constructive involvement with the international community and its efforts to reach a lasting solution to the existing regional problems.”

We’re Armenians, and we stand together, as proud sons and daughters of our ancient tribe, in believing in and building a bright and brilliant future for ourselves and all of humanity.

The U.S. House panel responsible for foreign aid this week adopted a number of provisions promoting U.S. interests and American values in the Caucasus, proposing sharply increasing aid to Nagorno Karabakh from $2 to $5 million and rejecting the Obama Administration’s proposed $7.2 million cut in aid to Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

Two days after the parliamentary elections in Armenia, a homemade car bomb was used to vandalize DIY, a bar in Yerevan frequented by non-traditionalist thinkers in Armenia and a safe-haven for the often-persecuted LGBT community in Armenia.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Shant Student Association on Wednesday issued a statement condemning a recent hate crime in Yerevan that has sparked controversy.

A series of events officially kicked off the much-anticipated 37th Annual Homenetmen Navasartian Games on Saturday, May 12.

As he suppresses his urge for that drop of water in fear of being noticed by the enemy, he is searching within himself for assurance that his fight is not in vain. He believes that fighting for what is just and protecting what belongs to the Armenian people is not only his responsibility but his duty.