GLENDALE—The Regional Executive of the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA (ARS) honored Nevart Mooradian, a long-time member of the ARS Javakhk Fund Committee, on March 22, at the Armenian Society of Los Angeles center in Glendale, California.
Opening remarks were made by Haigoush Kohler, ARS Javakhk Fund Committee Chairperson, welcoming the almost 200 attendees at the event dedicated to Javakhk, including Rev. Fr. Ardag Demirjian representing Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian; Avedik Izmirlian, representing the ARF CC Representative, and members of sister organizations and news media, including John Kossakian, Principal of Ferrahian High School; Apo Boghigian, Editor of Asbarez Newspaper; Dr. Armine Hacopian and Alice Petrossian, Armenian Educational Foundation members.
Rev. Fr. Demirjian, the parish priest of St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Glendale, blessed the dinner and conveyed the greetings from the Prelate for resilience and success for the ARS members to continue their God-pleasing charitable work.
During the summer of 2013, the ARS Javakhk Fund had allocated funding for 50 campers to attend the 11-day ARS Javakhk day camps in Akhalkalak and Akhaltskha, a program initiated by the ARS of Eastern USA with volunteers from the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF). The ARS of Western USA funded the renovations, furniture and equipment, in addition to annual operational expenses for the Akhalkalak and Akhaltskha Youth Centers in Javakhk.
Two camp directors, Patil Aslanian and Vergine Touloumian, made a joint presentation, explaining their challenges and accomplishments in Javakhk, the program details and notable stories from the campers. They pointed out how the Youth Centers in Javakhk are not as well equipped as those in the States, while the camp participants did not care for others’ fancier facilities.
Haigoush Kohler praised the young presenters for their continued efforts to link the Diaspora with Javakhk, and invited ARS Regional Executive chairperson, Lena Bozoyan, and the honoree, Nevart Mooradian, for the presentation of the plaque from the Regional Executive in honor of Mooradian’s moral and financial assistance to the ARS Javakhk Fund. Mooradian also chairs the ARS Ani Chapter Executive, which is based in Montebello. Ashod Mooradian had a surprise for his mother, Nevart. He handed over a commendation from the City of Montebello Mayor Pro Tem, Jack Hadjinian. Mrs. Mooradian thanked the ARS Regional Executive and the Javakhk Fund Committee for the honors.
ARS Regional Executive’s remarks were made by chairperson Lena Bozoyan, who was visibly moved by the recent surprise attack on Kessab, Syria, which resulted in depopulating Armenians from their ancestral homes in Kessab under mortar fire and attacks by armed forces. Earlier in the day, she had attended the Ararat-Eskijian Genocide Conference in Mission Hills. The historical parallels were too apparent; it was a time to regroup and decide on how to assist the victims.
Bozoyan was hopeful regarding positive developments in Javakhk, with a tour company, Javakhk Tours, in place to assist tourists to tour Javakhk, along with Armenia and Artsakh; and recent comments by Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who pledged to develop all the regions equally, during his February visit to Washington DC. She praised the ARS Javakhk Fund Committee members and staff for their diligent work, during the past 13 years, to give hope to the Armenians in the region; praised the representatives of the young generation for continuing the ARS work in Javakhk; the ANCA for putting political pressures in DC for the economic development of the region; and the sponsors and event attendees for their continued support.
Through the generosity of donors, over $30,000 was raised for ARS Javakhk programs.
