GLENDALE—More than 350 community leaders and activists joined the Armenian National Committee of Glendale on September 16 at its 2010 Annual Banquet as it celebrated its recent accomplishments and honored individuals and organizations that through their efforts have contributed to the City of Glendale.
The 2010 honorees included ANCG Leadership Award recipient Mr. Larry Zarian, Friend of ANC Glendale Award recipient Ms. Alissa Asmarian, Community Service Award recipient Glendale Healthy Kids, Youth Activist of the Year Award recipient Ms. Lyolya Hovhanissyan, and Organization of the Year recipient Glendale Youth Alliance.
Talar Malakian received the first Youth Activist Scholarship, established by the Glendale ANC to encourage the local youth to become more involved in the Glendale community. Appropriately, Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA, delivered the keynote address, while ANC Glendale Co-Chair, Leonard Manoukian served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. The event also featured a cocktail hour and silent auction as well as a DVD presentation highlighting the organization’s accomplishments in the past year.
During his acceptance speech in front a diverse crowd of supporters and activists, former Glendale Mayor, Larry Zarian noted, “I am honored to be receiving this award by the ANC especially as what this does is make me stronger and encourages me to go out there and continue to do more work,” while Alissa Asmarian stated “Thank you ANC. You’re a great organization and I do believe whatever you do, it is so instrumental for every Armenian-American in the City of Glendale and outside of Glendale.”
After receiving the community service award, immediate past President of Glendale Healthy Kids, Elizabeth Manaserian expressed “We deeply appreciate what ANC has done for us and for recognizing us. Thank you to all of you for being a part of the greater Glendale community and doing all the good work that you’re doing. We truly look forward to our collaboration in the future.”
“I want to thank ANC Glendale for numerous reasons, but one important one is for showing me the potential that I didn’t know I had, where I could go, what I could be. I now know that being involved is one of the best things you can do and that the most important thing in life is being the change that you hope to see, if not in the world then in your own community because it all starts at the community level,” stated Talar Malakian as she accepted her scholarship. “Thank you ANC for instilling those values in me, for pushing me to try harder and pushing me to be the best that I can be and not just me they have a group of interns and young adults that are being the best that they can be because of them and what they offer,” added Malakian.
During his keynote address, Hamparian discussed major initiatives taken by the ANCA including the collaborative efforts for the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, issues dealing with US AID to the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh, expanding the U.S.-Armenia relationship, recent developments regarding the flawed nomination of Mathew Bryza as U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan and the importance of a strong, centralized Armenian Diaspora.
Co-Chair of ANC Glendale, Sarkis Ourfalian concluded the night by praising the honorees for their outstanding leadership on issues concerning the Armenian-American community and emphasized the importance of a collective, collaborative community as he stated, “…Make a commitment and take a stand in making this city the city it should be: One where diversity is celebrated instead of shunned, and a city whose government and leadership mirror and reflect the component parts of its citizenry more accurately.” Ourfalian concluded his address with a quote from Dr. King, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
Officials in attendance included CA State Senator Carol Liu, Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, City Clerk Ardashes Kassakhian, city commissioners and staff, GUSD Board of Education members Greg Krikorian, Nayiri Nahabedian and Christine Walters, GCC Board of Trustees members Dr. Armine Hacopian, Dr. Vahe Peroomian, and Anita Quinonez Gabrielian. Also present were representatives and members of the Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian National Committee Western Region, Homenetmen Glendale “Ararat” Chapter, the Armenian Relief Society – Sepan Chapter, St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Glendale, Armenian American Chamber of Commerce, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center Glendale Community College Police Department, Davidian & Mariamian Educational Foundation, Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County, and many others.
Major sponsors of the event included Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Karoun Diaries, Armenian Relief Society – Sepan Chapter, Dr. Alber Karamanoukian, Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, Law Offices of Ourfalian and Ourfalian, AYF Glendale Roupen Chapter, Steven P. Wagg Chief of Police at GCC, Vahik and Meline Kazangian of the Legacy Builders General Construction and others.
The Armenian National Committee-Glendale Chapter advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s Armenian American community and promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.
© 2021 Asbarez | All Rights Reserved | Powered By MSDN Solutions Inc.