$100,000 Fund for Battered Women, $50,000 Pledge for ARS Social Services, and $100,000 in Donations Netted at Gala Event
GLENDALE—The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA announced $250,000 in funding commitments at three events in Glendale during the weekend of April 5 through 7, 2013 – its annual Gala on Friday, appreciation reception for members on Saturday and the ARS Day public commemoration on Sunday.
Lena Bozoyan, ARS Regional Executive Chairperson, announced at the Gala that Antranig Baghdassarian of Karoun Dairies decided to establish an ARS endowment fund in the amount of $100,000, for battered women in honor of Seta Baghdassarian, his wife, who left her mark on the ARS in Lebanon, and particularly at the Araxi Boulghourjian Socio-Medical Centre in Beirut, where she volunteered since the medical center was established in 1981. Antranig Baghdassarian, who has been a long-time supporter of the ARS of Western USA, was honored with the ARS Legacy Award.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian, the first ever Armenian elected to the City of Los Angeles Council (District 2), announced at the Gala that his office has identified county grant funding in the amount of $50,000 to fund an ARS Social Services office in North Hollywood. He stated, “”Upon our meeting with the ARS of Western USA Executive Board, we took their suggestions to open a social service center in North Hollywood very seriously and identified county grant funding”. Krekorian, in whose district the social services office would be, has a long legislative record for taking care of peoples’ basic needs.
Gala attendees also got a glimpse of the redesigned ARS-WUSA website, which is now accessible from multiple platforms and browsers (www.arswestusa.org).
Additionally, $100,000 was raised during the Gala program from over 550 supporters and donors mostly from Southern California, as well as from the Fresno and Oakland areas, for ARS programs. Bozoyan praised the ARS volunteers and staff for their hard work throughout the year, and acknowledged the volunteers of the Gala committee, headed by ARS-WUSA General Manager Jasik Jarahian.
The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, established in 1984 and with regional headquarters in Glendale, has 27 chapters and more than 1,500 members in five western states. The ARS-WUSA operates a Social Services Division and Child, Youth, and Family Guidance Center, and funds numerous youth programs, scholarships, and relief efforts. For further information, please visit www.arswestusa.org or call 818 500 1343.
This was a weekend to remember in Glendale, CA. The Gala was elegantly done, the presentations to long-time members the next day at A.R.S. Regional headquarters was joyous, and the A.R.S. Day commemoration on Sunday was downright inspirational. Kudos to our ungerouhis for all their hard work and preparation. These funds will provide sorely needed aid for our organization’s very important projects. As a member of Oakland’s “Erepouni” Chapter, I was proud to be present.
I would like to congradulate ARS-WUSA for being recognzed for their contributions and recieving the much needed funding to continue to provide their services to all those who seek help.