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AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.agbu.org
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, October 26, 2009
AGBU Central Board Meets in Los Angeles; Tenth Annual SCDC Gala Honors
Vatche & Tamar Manoukian, Who Donate $11 Million to Pasadena Center &
High School
In a singular act of kindness, longtime AGBU benefactors Vatche and
Tamar Manoukian have donated $11 million to the AGBU Pasadena High
School and Center in Southern California. The gift was announced by AGBU
President Berge Setrakian during the Saturday, October 17, 2009 gala of
the AGBU Southern California District Committee (SCDC) at the Sheraton
Universal in Studio City, California, which welcomed close to 500
people. The elegant affair was attended by AGBU President Berge
Setrakian and his wife Vera, U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff, Chairman and
CEO of Occidental Petroleum Corporation Ray Irani, AGBU Central Board
Members, including Carol Aslanian, Aris Atamian, Yervant Demirjian, Sam
Simonian, Berge Papazian, Sinan Sinanian and Hon. Judge Dickran
Tevrizian, Yervant Zorian, SCDC Chair Berge Shahbazian, and members of
the SCDC board.
This annual event celebrates the continuing success of SCDC's activities
in Southern California, and honors those who have made a substantial
impact on the region's large Armenian-American community. This year's
honorees, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian of London, England, are longtime
benefactors of the global Armenian community, and the AGBU Center and
High School in Pasadena will be renamed in their honor.
The AGBU Pasadena Complex is the center of the organization's activities
in the region. In addition to the three-year-old AGBU High School
Pasadena, which has over 120 students and athletic facilities that host
hundreds of youths every weekend, the AGBU Pasadena Center is home to
the organization's many cultural and educational programs, including the
Ardavazt Theater Company, Generation Next Mentorship Program, Hye Geen,
Sardarabad Dance Ensemble, and the Young Professionals of Los Angeles.
Meeting with Local Armenians
On Friday, October 16, 2009, members of the AGBU Central Board arrived
in Los Angeles. In the morning, the group, accompanied by SCDC Chair
Shahbazian and SCDC members, traveled to the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian
School in Canoga Park, California, which offers K-12 instruction to over
800 students. During their visit, they toured classrooms and the new
Artemis Nazarian Pre-School facilities, familiarized themselves with the
high school's cutting-edge robotics program and joined the School's
Parent-Teacher Organization for a specially prepared luncheon.
In the afternoon, AGBU Central Board and SCDC members paid a courtesy
visit to Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the of the Armenian
Church of North America (Western Diocese), and Joseph Kanimian, chairman
of the Diocesan Council of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of
North America. They toured the new cathedral, which is expected to be
completed in June 2010, and dedicated by His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians, in September. The building will house a
small museum and classrooms for Sunday school instruction.
That evening, Central Board and SCDC leaders met with local AGBU chapter
and committee chairs to discuss the organization's recent statement of
support for the Protocols for the Process of Normalization of Relations
between Armenia and Turkey, which were officially signed on October 10,
2009, in Zurich, Switzerland.
Setrakian addressed the gathering about the issue at hand, stressing
AGBU's unwavering support for Armenia and the Armenian diaspora. "We
fully share the concerns of all Armenians, but today we are part of the
community of nations and we can't participate as partisans. Armenia
needs to work with international and regional bodies that look at the
region as a whole," Setrakian said. "We need to be united and
acknowledge that this is only the beginning of a long and arduous
process. By working together we can ensure that any hurdles that Turkey
will try to produce on the road to normalization are dealt with from a
position of strength."
He answered many questions from the AGBU membership about the protocols
and spoke about Armenia's capability to hold its own on the
international stage. "Armenia is being treated as an equal partner of
Turkey in this agreement and Armenian representatives can always walk
away if they don't think the process is being fair to Armenia's needs or
our nation's rightful demands," Setrakian said. "We should not shy away
from diplomacy, because it is crucial to sustain Armenia's security and
meet its economic needs."
After the meeting, participants adjourned to the Bardez restaurant in
the Pasadena Center Complex, and continued their discussion about issues
of interest to local Armenian Americans.
A Most Generous Gift to AGBU
Saturday night's Gala at Sheraton Universal was the pinnacle of a
weekend that included a meeting of the AGBU Central Board on Saturday
morning and smaller meetings with community leaders who are working to
improve the quality of life for local Armenian Americans.
The elegant event featuring a cocktail reception followed by a formal
dinner, which honored national benefactors Vatche and Tamar Manoukian
for their dedication to Armenians and their continuing generosity.
The event was emceed by Vahe Charkutian and featured speeches by SCDC
Special Events Committee Chair Hermine Janoyan, SCDC Chair Shahbazian,
AGBU President Setrakian, remarks by guest of honor Vatche Manoukian and
words by Archbishop Derderian, who relayed the blessing of His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
During his speech, the AGBU President lauded the Manoukians for their
strong dedication to the values that form the cornerstone of the
Armenian community. "Vatche and Tamar, both of whom were born into
families with strong Armenian values, have achieved a dream life with a
warm family of their own, financial success and unsparing philanthropy,
all the while perpetuating and promoting the Armenian values which were
inculcated in them by their parents." He announced their $11 million
donation and extended his gratitude on behalf of AGBU to the couple and
the impact their charity will have on the lives of future generations of
Armenians.
His Holiness Karekin II's message outlined the long history of
philanthropy that the Manoukians have bestowed on the Armenian
community, "Vatche and Tamar Manoukian's names are cherished in the
diaspora as well as in the hearts of all Armenians in the Motherland.
The lives of our future generations should be positively affected by the
generosity of our benefactors, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian."
In honor of the Manoukians, the AGBU Pasadena Center will be renamed the
Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Center and the AGBU High School Pasadena will
also bear their names.
In addition to the Manoukians' donation, the SCDC Gala raised $400,000,
including a gift of $160,000 from the Turpanjian Family Education
Foundation of California.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.agbu.org
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, October 26, 2009
AGBU Central Board Meets in Los Angeles; Tenth Annual SCDC Gala Honors
Vatche & Tamar Manoukian, Who Donate $11 Million to Pasadena Center &
High School
In a singular act of kindness, longtime AGBU benefactors Vatche and
Tamar Manoukian have donated $11 million to the AGBU Pasadena High
School and Center in Southern California. The gift was announced by AGBU
President Berge Setrakian during the Saturday, October 17, 2009 gala of
the AGBU Southern California District Committee (SCDC) at the Sheraton
Universal in Studio City, California, which welcomed close to 500
people. The elegant affair was attended by AGBU President Berge
Setrakian and his wife Vera, U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff, Chairman and
CEO of Occidental Petroleum Corporation Ray Irani, AGBU Central Board
Members, including Carol Aslanian, Aris Atamian, Yervant Demirjian, Sam
Simonian, Berge Papazian, Sinan Sinanian and Hon. Judge Dickran
Tevrizian, Yervant Zorian, SCDC Chair Berge Shahbazian, and members of
the SCDC board.
This annual event celebrates the continuing success of SCDC's activities
in Southern California, and honors those who have made a substantial
impact on the region's large Armenian-American community. This year's
honorees, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian of London, England, are longtime
benefactors of the global Armenian community, and the AGBU Center and
High School in Pasadena will be renamed in their honor.
The AGBU Pasadena Complex is the center of the organization's activities
in the region. In addition to the three-year-old AGBU High School
Pasadena, which has over 120 students and athletic facilities that host
hundreds of youths every weekend, the AGBU Pasadena Center is home to
the organization's many cultural and educational programs, including the
Ardavazt Theater Company, Generation Next Mentorship Program, Hye Geen,
Sardarabad Dance Ensemble, and the Young Professionals of Los Angeles.
Meeting with Local Armenians
On Friday, October 16, 2009, members of the AGBU Central Board arrived
in Los Angeles. In the morning, the group, accompanied by SCDC Chair
Shahbazian and SCDC members, traveled to the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian
School in Canoga Park, California, which offers K-12 instruction to over
800 students. During their visit, they toured classrooms and the new
Artemis Nazarian Pre-School facilities, familiarized themselves with the
high school's cutting-edge robotics program and joined the School's
Parent-Teacher Organization for a specially prepared luncheon.
In the afternoon, AGBU Central Board and SCDC members paid a courtesy
visit to Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the of the Armenian
Church of North America (Western Diocese), and Joseph Kanimian, chairman
of the Diocesan Council of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of
North America. They toured the new cathedral, which is expected to be
completed in June 2010, and dedicated by His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians, in September. The building will house a
small museum and classrooms for Sunday school instruction.
That evening, Central Board and SCDC leaders met with local AGBU chapter
and committee chairs to discuss the organization's recent statement of
support for the Protocols for the Process of Normalization of Relations
between Armenia and Turkey, which were officially signed on October 10,
2009, in Zurich, Switzerland.
Setrakian addressed the gathering about the issue at hand, stressing
AGBU's unwavering support for Armenia and the Armenian diaspora. "We
fully share the concerns of all Armenians, but today we are part of the
community of nations and we can't participate as partisans. Armenia
needs to work with international and regional bodies that look at the
region as a whole," Setrakian said. "We need to be united and
acknowledge that this is only the beginning of a long and arduous
process. By working together we can ensure that any hurdles that Turkey
will try to produce on the road to normalization are dealt with from a
position of strength."
He answered many questions from the AGBU membership about the protocols
and spoke about Armenia's capability to hold its own on the
international stage. "Armenia is being treated as an equal partner of
Turkey in this agreement and Armenian representatives can always walk
away if they don't think the process is being fair to Armenia's needs or
our nation's rightful demands," Setrakian said. "We should not shy away
from diplomacy, because it is crucial to sustain Armenia's security and
meet its economic needs."
After the meeting, participants adjourned to the Bardez restaurant in
the Pasadena Center Complex, and continued their discussion about issues
of interest to local Armenian Americans.
A Most Generous Gift to AGBU
Saturday night's Gala at Sheraton Universal was the pinnacle of a
weekend that included a meeting of the AGBU Central Board on Saturday
morning and smaller meetings with community leaders who are working to
improve the quality of life for local Armenian Americans.
The elegant event featuring a cocktail reception followed by a formal
dinner, which honored national benefactors Vatche and Tamar Manoukian
for their dedication to Armenians and their continuing generosity.
The event was emceed by Vahe Charkutian and featured speeches by SCDC
Special Events Committee Chair Hermine Janoyan, SCDC Chair Shahbazian,
AGBU President Setrakian, remarks by guest of honor Vatche Manoukian and
words by Archbishop Derderian, who relayed the blessing of His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
During his speech, the AGBU President lauded the Manoukians for their
strong dedication to the values that form the cornerstone of the
Armenian community. "Vatche and Tamar, both of whom were born into
families with strong Armenian values, have achieved a dream life with a
warm family of their own, financial success and unsparing philanthropy,
all the while perpetuating and promoting the Armenian values which were
inculcated in them by their parents." He announced their $11 million
donation and extended his gratitude on behalf of AGBU to the couple and
the impact their charity will have on the lives of future generations of
Armenians.
His Holiness Karekin II's message outlined the long history of
philanthropy that the Manoukians have bestowed on the Armenian
community, "Vatche and Tamar Manoukian's names are cherished in the
diaspora as well as in the hearts of all Armenians in the Motherland.
The lives of our future generations should be positively affected by the
generosity of our benefactors, Vatche and Tamar Manoukian."
In honor of the Manoukians, the AGBU Pasadena Center will be renamed the
Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Center and the AGBU High School Pasadena will
also bear their names.
In addition to the Manoukians' donation, the SCDC Gala raised $400,000,
including a gift of $160,000 from the Turpanjian Family Education
Foundation of California.
Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.