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ANC News: Near East Foundation To Receive Prestigious ANCA-WR"Freedo

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  • ANC News: Near East Foundation To Receive Prestigious ANCA-WR"Freedo

    Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
    104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
    Glendale, California 91206
    Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
    [email protected]
    (http://www.anca.org)


    PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE

    For Immediate Release: Friday, September 17, 2004

    Contact: Armen Carapetian 818.500.1918

    NEAR EAST FOUNDATION TO RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS ANCA-WR "FREEDOM AWARD" AT
    ANNUAL BANQUET IN OCTOBER

    Los Angeles, CA â^À^Ó On Thursday September 16, donors, supporters
    and friends of the Armenian National Committee of America â^À^Ó
    Western Region (ANCA-WR) gathered at the Cicada Restaurant in Downtown
    Los Angeles for the ANCA-WRâ^À^Ùs traditional Banquet Kickoff
    Party and to hear this yearâ^À^Ùs list of honorees. The Banquet
    Kickoff Party has become an annual tradition and a prelude to
    the organizationâ^À^Ùs gala event â^À^Ó the Annual Banquet,
    which will take place on October 24, 2004 at the Ritz-Carlton
    Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California. ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi
    Hamparian announced that this yearâ^À^Ùs recipient of the
    organizationâ^À^Ùs most prestigious award, the ANCA-WR Freedom
    Award is the Near East Foundation.

    The Near East Foundation was the first nationwide, large scale,
    international assistance organization in the United States, founded in
    1915 to rescue desperate and dying refugees of the Armenian Genocide.
    The private American philanthropic organization was founded in New
    York City under the name of the Near East Relief. It was created
    in response to Ambassador Henry Morgenthauâ^À^Ùs urgent cable
    to the U.S. Secretary of State on September 3 stating that the
    â^À^Ü destruction of the Armenian race in Turkey is progressing
    rapidlyâ^À^Ý and urging that a committee be formed â^À^Üto
    raise funds and provide means to save some of the Armenians.â^À^Ý
    Within two weeks a group of civic, business, and religious leaders
    had formed such a committee. What NEF did at the turn of the century
    and how it was done affected the shape of Trumanâ^À^Ùs post-World
    War II recovery programs, the United Nations Development Program and
    the Kennedy administrationâ^À^Ùs founding of USAID.

    â^À^ÜThe Near East Relief gave again and again to the Armenian
    people, demonstrating unparalleled humanity and great sacrifice
    to save those suffering. Generations of Armenians are alive today
    because of the hard work that the Near East Foundation did to rescue
    orphans and survivors,â^À^Ý stated Chairman Raffi Hamparian.

    â^À^ÜThe Near East Foundation is humbled and greatly honored by
    the recognition of the Armenian National Committee of Americaâ^À^Ùs
    Western Region with its Freedom Award. There is no more meaningful
    acknowledgment than that which comes from those to whom we are most
    closely connected historically,â^À^Ý said NEF President Dr. Ryan
    LaHurd upon receiving news of the award.

    In addition to the Near East Foundation, the recipients of the
    Man of the Year and the Legacy Awards were announced as well.
    One of the stateâ^À^Ùs highest ranking Armenian-American State
    legislators, Senator Charles Poochigian (R-Fresno) has been chosen
    to receive the honor of Man of the Year. During his tenure in the
    State Senate, Senator Poochigian has led the way on numerous pieces
    of legislation that directly affect Armenian Americans living in
    the State of California. Recently, Governor Schwarzenegger signed
    into law a bill authored by Senator Poochigian, Senate Bill 1689,
    which will exempt Armenian Genocide life insurance settlements from
    state taxation related to income.

    The ANCA-WR has also announced this yearâ^À^Ùs Legacy Award
    recipient, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA). Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
    has been a leading advocate and supporter of the organizationâ^À^Ùs
    newly launched ANCA Capital Gateway Program which mentors young
    Armenians who want to work in government. The program provides recent
    college graduates with housing and job bank resources to help place
    individuals in positions on Capitol Hill and other government bodies
    in the nationâ^À^Ùs capitol.

    â^À^ÜEveryone is excited about this yearâ^À^Ùs banquet and
    all the honorees. Our committee has worked very hard to make
    this a fantastic event worthy of the ANCA name.â^À^Ý commented
    Banquet Committee Chairwoman Aida Dimejian. â^À^ÜWe are honoring
    two great Armenian-American public officials and have another
    rising star, Councilman Frank Zerunyan, serving as the Master of
    Ceremonies.â^À^Ý

    Banquet annually draws over 750 individuals, including a long list of
    dignitaries. The event is attended by prominent Members of Congress,
    State Legislators, and a vast number of Armenian American political
    activists. The ANCA-WR Annual Banquet is the largest event of its
    kind that brings Armenian Americans together with a large number of
    federal, state and local public officials.

    For more information on this yearâ^À^Ùs Annual Banquet, or to
    reserve a table, call the ANCA-WR offices at (818) 500 â^À^Ó 1918.

    The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest
    and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
    organization. Working coordination with a network of offices,
    chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
    organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns
    of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
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