This year’s annual "Hai Tad Evening," hosted by the San Francisco Bay Area ANC will feature special guests US Senator Barbara Boxer and California Courier publisher Harut Sassounian–two individuals who have made an impact on Hai Tad–the Armenian Cause. The event will take place on March 2nd at Treasure Island on the San Francisco Bay.
The Honorable Barbara Boxer has been a United States Senator since 1993–following her ten years of service in the House of Representatives–representing Marin County. In addition to being a forceful advocate for families–consumers and the environment–Senator Boxer has long been a strong supporter of issues important to Armenian-Americans.
She has traveled to Armenia–co-sponsored legislation dealing with aid to Armenia–was a key player in establishing the ban on aid to Azerbaijan until it lifts its blockade of Armenia–and has consistently supported US recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Harut Sassounian is the publisher of the weekly newspaper–California Courier–the oldest independent English-language Armenian newspaper in the United States. His editorial columns on Armenian current events are reprinted in scores of newspapers in the United States–Armenia and many other countries. Sassounian is also the Founder and President of the United Armenian Fund–a coalition of the seven largest Armenian-American charitable organizations. Since the earthquake in 1988–the UAF has sent more than $330 million of humanitarian assistance to Armenia. In addition–Sassounian serves as Vice Chairman of the Lincy Foundation which funds over $170 million of infrastructure-related projects in Armenia. As a lifelong activist for Hai Tad–Sassounian will provide his personal perspectives on the key issues of the Armenian Cause in today’s political arena.
In addition to these special guests–the SF Bay Area ANC will report on its activities over the past year–from pursuing ongoing projects–to dealing with the consequences of unexpected events on the world stage. Armenian Genocide recognition–maintenance of the ban on aid to Azerbaijan–securing US aid to Armenia–remain some of its primary goals–although methods changed in response to the changing political landscape. The ANC will update its community on results of its meetings with a record number of elected officials in all levels of government–as well as its Genocide Curriculum Project which is taking shape in public school classrooms across the Bay Area. It will also take the opportunity to publicly recognize local individuals who have made Hai Tad a priority in their lives and work.