LOS ANGELES–The Armenian National Committee to aid Homeless Armenia’s was established in 1974. Its mission is to provide financial and moral support to Armenia’s immigrating to the United States.
Thus far–ANCHA has assisted 65,000 Armenia’s immigran’s from Bulgaria–Romania–Iraq–Egypt and Armenia. ANCHA has functioned under the direction of George Mardigian–and then Souren Saroyan–Esq.
The current Executive Body consists of Chairperson Doris Saroyan-Rodrigo; Vice-Chairperson Medi Mardirossian; Secretary-Treasurer Louise Mardirossian-Kalandjian; and Mary Koubatian and Victor Mardirossian. Walter Karabian serves as ANCHA’s legal advisor.
The Executive Body has decided to utilize the ANCHA endowment to provide financial assistance to Armenian schools and organizations–in addition to immigran’s.
In 1996–ANCHA donated $300,000 to Armenian schools and organizations only in the United States.
In November and December of 1997–ANCHA made additional contributions. A list of the recipients of funds follows:
$60,000 Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School (Encino) $60,000 Mesrobian Armenian School (Pico Rivera) $60,000 Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School (Hollywood) $60,000 Arshag Dickranian School (Hollywood) $60,000 Fresno Community School $60,000 Krouzian-Zakarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School (San Francisco) $25,000 St. Krikor Hovsepian School (Pasadena) $25,000 Mekhitarian Fathers School (La Crescenta) $50,000 Ferrahian Armenian School for Jemaran of Beirut $15,000 Armenian Relief Society San Francisco Chapter $15,000 Armenian Relief Society Los Angeles Chapter $20,000 Armenian Film Foundation $10,000 Armenian Library and Museum of America (Boston)
ANCHA has recently devised the following new programs to be implemented in the near future: a. to establish a permanent scholarship fund with the name ANCHA–to assist all Armenian students in good academic standing. b. to financially assist all Armenian social service organizations who work with Armenian refugees.
ANCHA will continue efforts to lighten the burden of all Armenian organizations.
I understand that this is an old article, but for anyone using this article for information on ANCHA, I need to point out that it misrepresents some historical facts regarding its beginnings. It was not established in 1974, but in the late 1940s. George Mardikian (this is how he spelled his name) and Souren co-founded it together to help the WWII Armenian DPs. I cannot speak to its current status.