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PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
3111 Los Feliz Avenue, #206,
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Contact person: Dr. Frieda Jordan
Tel: 323-663-3609
Email: [email protected]
At ABMDR Gala, Armenian community celebrates life-saving mission
Annual event underscores health outreach to Armenians worldwide
Los Angeles, August 18, 2011 - The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor
Registry (ABMDR) held its annual banquet, Match for Life 2011, on the
evening of Sunday, July 31. The jubilant community event, which was
attended by more than 400 supporters, took place at the Glendale
Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Glendale, California.
Match for Life 2011 was an occasion for celebrating ABMDR's many
achievements during the past year and reaffirming worldwide support
of its life-saving mission.
As the registry continues to expand its work by recruiting potential
bone marrow stem cell donors, facilitating bone marrow transplants,
and conducting immunogenetics research, it receives vital support
from community benefactors as well as local healthcare organizations.
Among these organizations are Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health
Center, a lifetime supporter of ABMDR; and Glendale Adventist Medical
Center, the main corporate sponsor of this year's Gala.
In her opening remarks, Salpi Mankerian of ABMDR graciously
acknowledged the presence of dignitaries, community leaders, and
artists. They included Armenian Consul General Grigor Hovhannisyan,
Glendale Mayor Laura Friedman, Glendale City councilmember Ara
Najarian, former Glendale Mayor Larry Zarian, Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian of the Prelacy, Diocesan representative Archpriest
Hovsep Hagopian, Rev. Joseph Matossian of the Armenian Evangelical
Union of North America, Father Krikor Chahinian of St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, and popular singer Armenchik.
The evening's program kicked off with a video message from U.S.
Representative Adam Schiff, a longtime supporter. After commending
the registry for its continued accomplishments, Schiff addressed the
Board and volunteers of the organization and said, `Your unwavering
dedication is a testament to the abiding mission of ABMDR.'
Following the invocation by Archbishop Mardirossian, welcoming
remarks were delivered by Master of Ceremonies and ABMDR Board Chair
Mark Geragos. After thanking the attendees for their continued
support, Geragos acknowledged the sponsors of the event, including
Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital and
Health Center, Dr. Boris Baghdasarian, and Dr. Nubar Boghossian of
the Los Angeles Cancer Network, among others.
Geragos next introduced a short video announcement featuring Serj
Tankian, lead singer and songwriter of the acclaimed rock band System
of a Down. The video, which met with waves of applause, showed
Tankian appealing to Armenians to join the registry as potential stem
cell donors. Commenting on the effect of the video, Dr. Frieda
Jordan, president of ABMDR, later commented, `Serj Tankian's
impassioned appeal is certain to rally our youth around the
registry's cause. It will help strengthen the growing involvement of
the new generation in our activities.' The 30-second announcement
can be accessed through the ABMDR website (abmdr.am) and will soon be
posted on YouTube and elsewhere.
Equally heartening were the remarks of cancer survivors Alique
Topalian and Aleen Mankerian. Topalian, who was diagnosed with
leukemia when she was 4 and inspired the establishment of ABMDR,
reiterated her faith in the registry as an organization that brings
hope to thousands struck by life-threatening blood-related diseases.
On her part, Aleen Mankerian said, `ABMDR is one of the most
important aspects of my life.' As significantly, she added, `The
registry gives me a chance to connect with my Armenian heritage.'
Afterward guests were treated to the extraordinary artistry of the
evening's musical performers: Victor Espinola, Armen Movsessian, and
Alexander Zhiroff of the renowned world-music ensemble The Forbidden
Saints. Their energetic performances, featuring renditions of
Armenian and world-music classics, punctuated the remainder of the
Gala's program.
A highly anticipated highlight of the event came when Dr. Frieda
Jordan took the podium.
After conveying her profound gratitude to Board members, volunteers
such as Fimi Mekhitarian and Naz Atikian, sponsors, the evening's
honorees, and the registry's Yerevan staff for continuing to make
ABMDR a worldwide success, Dr. Jordan thanked the organization's
lifetime supporters, including Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health
Center, Ralph Yirikian and VivaCell, the Foundation Laboratory, Dr.
Carolann and George Najarian, and Sidon Travel, among others.
As she spoke of ABMDR's achievements in the past year, Dr. Jordan
emphasized outreach and educational programs which were facilitated
by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
Dr. Jordan thanked both archbishops for their exemplary leadership,
and added that ABMDR's most recent Walkathon has made such a positive
impact that the Armenian community of Fresno has invited the registry
to hold its first-ever walk event in Fresno, on October 15, 2011, a
week prior to the Los Angeles Walkathon.
Subsequently Dr. Jordan invited this year's honorees to the stage.
The Woman of the Year Award was bestowed on longtime Board member and
Outreach Officer Vergine Madelian, PhD; George Titizian, a major
supporter and a member of the registry's Board of Directors, received
the Man of the Year Award; the Volunteer of the Year awards were
conferred on Ani Azar, Dr. Evelyn Baghdasraian, and Sophik Zargarian;
and the Business of the Year Award was given to 4over, Inc.
Before each individual was invited to the stage and accepted his or
her award, the guests were shown a video message by the respective
honoree. `Our task might be daunting sometimes, but it's the most
rewarding cause I've ever been involved in,' Dr. Madelian said in
her
message. `It's an honor to serve this organization.'
On his turn, George Titizian said that since losing his wife to a
bone marrow disorder in 2008, it has been a privilege to keep her
spirit alive by supporting the work of ABMDR.
The bestowment of awards was followed by the announcement of lottery-
prize winners. As in previous years, the ABMDR lottery as well as the
silent auction, which was held throughout the evening in the foyer of
the ballroom, will benefit the registry's ongoing activities and
projects.
About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999,
ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians worldwide survive
life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching
donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date
the registry has recruited over 20,000 donors in 13 countries across
three continents, identified 2,023 patients, found 1,700 potential
matches, and facilitated 13 bone marrow transplants.
From: A. Papazian
Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
3111 Los Feliz Avenue, #206,
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Contact person: Dr. Frieda Jordan
Tel: 323-663-3609
Email: [email protected]
At ABMDR Gala, Armenian community celebrates life-saving mission
Annual event underscores health outreach to Armenians worldwide
Los Angeles, August 18, 2011 - The Armenian Bone Marrow Donor
Registry (ABMDR) held its annual banquet, Match for Life 2011, on the
evening of Sunday, July 31. The jubilant community event, which was
attended by more than 400 supporters, took place at the Glendale
Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Glendale, California.
Match for Life 2011 was an occasion for celebrating ABMDR's many
achievements during the past year and reaffirming worldwide support
of its life-saving mission.
As the registry continues to expand its work by recruiting potential
bone marrow stem cell donors, facilitating bone marrow transplants,
and conducting immunogenetics research, it receives vital support
from community benefactors as well as local healthcare organizations.
Among these organizations are Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health
Center, a lifetime supporter of ABMDR; and Glendale Adventist Medical
Center, the main corporate sponsor of this year's Gala.
In her opening remarks, Salpi Mankerian of ABMDR graciously
acknowledged the presence of dignitaries, community leaders, and
artists. They included Armenian Consul General Grigor Hovhannisyan,
Glendale Mayor Laura Friedman, Glendale City councilmember Ara
Najarian, former Glendale Mayor Larry Zarian, Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian of the Prelacy, Diocesan representative Archpriest
Hovsep Hagopian, Rev. Joseph Matossian of the Armenian Evangelical
Union of North America, Father Krikor Chahinian of St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Catholic Church, and popular singer Armenchik.
The evening's program kicked off with a video message from U.S.
Representative Adam Schiff, a longtime supporter. After commending
the registry for its continued accomplishments, Schiff addressed the
Board and volunteers of the organization and said, `Your unwavering
dedication is a testament to the abiding mission of ABMDR.'
Following the invocation by Archbishop Mardirossian, welcoming
remarks were delivered by Master of Ceremonies and ABMDR Board Chair
Mark Geragos. After thanking the attendees for their continued
support, Geragos acknowledged the sponsors of the event, including
Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital and
Health Center, Dr. Boris Baghdasarian, and Dr. Nubar Boghossian of
the Los Angeles Cancer Network, among others.
Geragos next introduced a short video announcement featuring Serj
Tankian, lead singer and songwriter of the acclaimed rock band System
of a Down. The video, which met with waves of applause, showed
Tankian appealing to Armenians to join the registry as potential stem
cell donors. Commenting on the effect of the video, Dr. Frieda
Jordan, president of ABMDR, later commented, `Serj Tankian's
impassioned appeal is certain to rally our youth around the
registry's cause. It will help strengthen the growing involvement of
the new generation in our activities.' The 30-second announcement
can be accessed through the ABMDR website (abmdr.am) and will soon be
posted on YouTube and elsewhere.
Equally heartening were the remarks of cancer survivors Alique
Topalian and Aleen Mankerian. Topalian, who was diagnosed with
leukemia when she was 4 and inspired the establishment of ABMDR,
reiterated her faith in the registry as an organization that brings
hope to thousands struck by life-threatening blood-related diseases.
On her part, Aleen Mankerian said, `ABMDR is one of the most
important aspects of my life.' As significantly, she added, `The
registry gives me a chance to connect with my Armenian heritage.'
Afterward guests were treated to the extraordinary artistry of the
evening's musical performers: Victor Espinola, Armen Movsessian, and
Alexander Zhiroff of the renowned world-music ensemble The Forbidden
Saints. Their energetic performances, featuring renditions of
Armenian and world-music classics, punctuated the remainder of the
Gala's program.
A highly anticipated highlight of the event came when Dr. Frieda
Jordan took the podium.
After conveying her profound gratitude to Board members, volunteers
such as Fimi Mekhitarian and Naz Atikian, sponsors, the evening's
honorees, and the registry's Yerevan staff for continuing to make
ABMDR a worldwide success, Dr. Jordan thanked the organization's
lifetime supporters, including Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health
Center, Ralph Yirikian and VivaCell, the Foundation Laboratory, Dr.
Carolann and George Najarian, and Sidon Travel, among others.
As she spoke of ABMDR's achievements in the past year, Dr. Jordan
emphasized outreach and educational programs which were facilitated
by Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
Dr. Jordan thanked both archbishops for their exemplary leadership,
and added that ABMDR's most recent Walkathon has made such a positive
impact that the Armenian community of Fresno has invited the registry
to hold its first-ever walk event in Fresno, on October 15, 2011, a
week prior to the Los Angeles Walkathon.
Subsequently Dr. Jordan invited this year's honorees to the stage.
The Woman of the Year Award was bestowed on longtime Board member and
Outreach Officer Vergine Madelian, PhD; George Titizian, a major
supporter and a member of the registry's Board of Directors, received
the Man of the Year Award; the Volunteer of the Year awards were
conferred on Ani Azar, Dr. Evelyn Baghdasraian, and Sophik Zargarian;
and the Business of the Year Award was given to 4over, Inc.
Before each individual was invited to the stage and accepted his or
her award, the guests were shown a video message by the respective
honoree. `Our task might be daunting sometimes, but it's the most
rewarding cause I've ever been involved in,' Dr. Madelian said in
her
message. `It's an honor to serve this organization.'
On his turn, George Titizian said that since losing his wife to a
bone marrow disorder in 2008, it has been a privilege to keep her
spirit alive by supporting the work of ABMDR.
The bestowment of awards was followed by the announcement of lottery-
prize winners. As in previous years, the ABMDR lottery as well as the
silent auction, which was held throughout the evening in the foyer of
the ballroom, will benefit the registry's ongoing activities and
projects.
About the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry: Established in 1999,
ABMDR, a nonprofit organization, helps Armenians worldwide survive
life-threatening blood-related illnesses by recruiting and matching
donors to those requiring bone marrow stem cell transplants. To date
the registry has recruited over 20,000 donors in 13 countries across
three continents, identified 2,023 patients, found 1,700 potential
matches, and facilitated 13 bone marrow transplants.
From: A. Papazian