SAN FRANCISCO—The Armenian National Committee – San Francisco Bay Area (ANC-SF) is pleased to announce that TV commentator, columnist, and publisher of the California Courier Harut Sassounian will be the keynote speaker at the 2012 Hye Tad Evening.
Sassounian is the publisher of the The California Courier newspaper. His weekly political commentaries, translated into half a dozen languages, are reprinted in publications around the world and posted on countless websites, including the Huffington Post. As President of the United Armenian Fund, a coalition of the six largest Armenian-American organizations, he managed the procurement and delivery of over $600 million of humanitarian aid to Armenia during the past 22 years.
As Senior Vice President of Kirk Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation, Sassounian administered $240 million for infrastructure projects in Armenia. From 1978 to 1988, he served as a human rights delegate at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and played a leading role in the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.N. Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1985.
Sassounian has authored several volumes in English and Arabic regarding genocide and international affairs. He is decorated by the President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic Churches, and is the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
“It is an honor to welcome Harut Sassounian as our keynote speaker this year,” stated Armen Carapetian, Chairman of ANC-SF. “We look forward to hearing Harut’s insights on the recent developments in France and other aspects of the fight for Armenian Genocide recognition and justice.”
A landmark event for the San Francisco Armenian-American community, the annual Hye Tad Evening brings together hundreds of individuals who support the ANC’s efforts to advance the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues. Past keynote speakers have included former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, former Foreign Minister of Armenia Raffi Hovanissian, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Hrant Dink, and Regip Zarakolu.
This year’s Hye Tad Evening will take place on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 6:30 pm at Saroyan Hall, 825 Brotherhood Way in San Francisco. Tickets are $125 for adults and $75 for students. Interested parties may purchase tickets by emailing mail@ancsf.org or calling (415) 387-3433.
