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Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
[email protected]
www.ancawr.org
PRESS RELEASE April 25, 2014
Contact: Elen Asatryan
Cell: 818.523.8389 Office: 818.500.1919
Email: [email protected]
CA STATE ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY PASSES RESOLUTION HONORING THE NEAR EAST
RELIEF; RECOGNIZES ANCA WR "AMERICA, WE THANK YOU" CAMPAIGN
SACRAMENTO, CA - On April 24, 2014, the California State Assembly
unanimously passed a resolution honoring and commending the
extraordinary service of the Near East Relief and the American people
who helped save over 132,000 orphans and provided humanitarian aid to
the victims of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR).
"We were proud to witness the California State Assembly rise in honor
of the monumental humanitarian efforts by the United States and the
American people through the Near East Relief, which helped save the
Armenian nation from annihilation and are grateful to Assemblymembers
Ian Calderon and Scott Wilk for taking the lead and recognizing the
efforts of ANCA WR's 'America, We Thank You' campaign," stated Elen
Asatryan Executive Director of ANCA WR.
In his introductory remarks, Principal Author of AJR 41,
Assemblymember Ian Calderon, provided historical background on the
organization noting that the Near East Relief is the United States'
oldest Congressionally-sanctioned, non-governmental, humanitarian
organization through which more than 1,000 American volunteers left
their comfortable lives to travel across the world to contribute to
the relief effort - saving over 132,000 orphans and 1 million refugees
and raising and delivering over $117 million. He went on to explain
that these efforts in California were led by public officials,
including Mayor James Rolph, Jr. of San Francisco and Judge Curtis D.
Wilbur, Chairman of the California State Committee. He concluded his
remarks by highlighting the work of the ANCA WR's "America, We Thank
You: An Armenian Tribute to the Near East Relief" campaign, which was
launched earlier this year to express their collective gratitude for
helping them survive out of the ashes of destruction.
"California has always been at the forefront of protecting human
rights and leading efforts to raise awareness about crimes against
humanity. The "America, We Thank You" project is a thoughtful tribute
to the Near East Relief and the thousands of Americans - including
many Californians - who delivered unprecedented humanitarian
assistance to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It is
appropriate that today, 365 days from the 100th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, we recognize and remember this historic effort,"
stated Assemblymember Calderon.
"I was honored to joint author AJR 41 to recognize the contribution of
the Near East Relief organization who sustained Armenian and Assyrians
during the Armenian Genocide," stated Assemblymember Scott Wilk. "The
Near East Relief effort saved the lives of more than 1 million
refugees, including relatives of my wife, Vanessa Safoyan Wilk," added
Wilk.
Assemblymember Achadjian followed Assemblymember Calderon's remarks to
provide additional insight noting "The Near East Relief was created by
President Woodrow Wilson and the American Ambassador to Turkey in 1915
in response to the ethnic cleansing of Armenians and Assyrians. It is
a fitting tribute for us to take the time today, the actual Day of
Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide, to remember an organization
that saved the lives of so many and continues to do so today," as he
called on his colleagues to also support the resolution.
Subsequently, Assemblymember Marc Levine joined Calderon and Achadjian
in calling for support and recognizing the efforts of NER.
Immediately after, 72 CA Assemblymembers joined in as co-authors of
the resolution then moved to unanimously pass the resolution. The
vote was followed by a floor introduction of ANCA Western Region
Executive Director Elen Asatryan, ANCA Western Region's "America, We
Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief" Committee
Co-Chair Hermineh Pakhanians and Committee Member Arsho Beylerian for
the organization's efforts in spearheading the campaign.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
###
Photo Caption 1: ANCA WR with CA Assembly Speaker and Members After
AJR 41 Vote From Left: Assemblymember Scott Wilk, Assemblymember
Katcho Achadjian, ANCA WR AWTY Committee Member Arsho Beylerian,
Assemblymember Ian Calderon, Assemblymember Cheryl Brown, Assembly
Speaker John Perez, ANCA WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan,
Assemblymember Chris Holden, ANCA WR AWTY Committee Co-Chair Hermineh
Pakhanians
Photo Caption 2: ANCA WR "America, We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute
to Near East Relief" Introduction on Assembly Floor. From Left: ANCA
WR AWTY Committee Member Arsho Beylerian, ANCA WR Executive Director
Elen Asatryan, ANCA WR AWTY Committee Co-Chair Hermineh Pakhanians
From: A. Papazian
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
[email protected]
www.ancawr.org
PRESS RELEASE April 25, 2014
Contact: Elen Asatryan
Cell: 818.523.8389 Office: 818.500.1919
Email: [email protected]
CA STATE ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY PASSES RESOLUTION HONORING THE NEAR EAST
RELIEF; RECOGNIZES ANCA WR "AMERICA, WE THANK YOU" CAMPAIGN
SACRAMENTO, CA - On April 24, 2014, the California State Assembly
unanimously passed a resolution honoring and commending the
extraordinary service of the Near East Relief and the American people
who helped save over 132,000 orphans and provided humanitarian aid to
the victims of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR).
"We were proud to witness the California State Assembly rise in honor
of the monumental humanitarian efforts by the United States and the
American people through the Near East Relief, which helped save the
Armenian nation from annihilation and are grateful to Assemblymembers
Ian Calderon and Scott Wilk for taking the lead and recognizing the
efforts of ANCA WR's 'America, We Thank You' campaign," stated Elen
Asatryan Executive Director of ANCA WR.
In his introductory remarks, Principal Author of AJR 41,
Assemblymember Ian Calderon, provided historical background on the
organization noting that the Near East Relief is the United States'
oldest Congressionally-sanctioned, non-governmental, humanitarian
organization through which more than 1,000 American volunteers left
their comfortable lives to travel across the world to contribute to
the relief effort - saving over 132,000 orphans and 1 million refugees
and raising and delivering over $117 million. He went on to explain
that these efforts in California were led by public officials,
including Mayor James Rolph, Jr. of San Francisco and Judge Curtis D.
Wilbur, Chairman of the California State Committee. He concluded his
remarks by highlighting the work of the ANCA WR's "America, We Thank
You: An Armenian Tribute to the Near East Relief" campaign, which was
launched earlier this year to express their collective gratitude for
helping them survive out of the ashes of destruction.
"California has always been at the forefront of protecting human
rights and leading efforts to raise awareness about crimes against
humanity. The "America, We Thank You" project is a thoughtful tribute
to the Near East Relief and the thousands of Americans - including
many Californians - who delivered unprecedented humanitarian
assistance to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It is
appropriate that today, 365 days from the 100th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, we recognize and remember this historic effort,"
stated Assemblymember Calderon.
"I was honored to joint author AJR 41 to recognize the contribution of
the Near East Relief organization who sustained Armenian and Assyrians
during the Armenian Genocide," stated Assemblymember Scott Wilk. "The
Near East Relief effort saved the lives of more than 1 million
refugees, including relatives of my wife, Vanessa Safoyan Wilk," added
Wilk.
Assemblymember Achadjian followed Assemblymember Calderon's remarks to
provide additional insight noting "The Near East Relief was created by
President Woodrow Wilson and the American Ambassador to Turkey in 1915
in response to the ethnic cleansing of Armenians and Assyrians. It is
a fitting tribute for us to take the time today, the actual Day of
Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide, to remember an organization
that saved the lives of so many and continues to do so today," as he
called on his colleagues to also support the resolution.
Subsequently, Assemblymember Marc Levine joined Calderon and Achadjian
in calling for support and recognizing the efforts of NER.
Immediately after, 72 CA Assemblymembers joined in as co-authors of
the resolution then moved to unanimously pass the resolution. The
vote was followed by a floor introduction of ANCA Western Region
Executive Director Elen Asatryan, ANCA Western Region's "America, We
Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief" Committee
Co-Chair Hermineh Pakhanians and Committee Member Arsho Beylerian for
the organization's efforts in spearheading the campaign.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
###
Photo Caption 1: ANCA WR with CA Assembly Speaker and Members After
AJR 41 Vote From Left: Assemblymember Scott Wilk, Assemblymember
Katcho Achadjian, ANCA WR AWTY Committee Member Arsho Beylerian,
Assemblymember Ian Calderon, Assemblymember Cheryl Brown, Assembly
Speaker John Perez, ANCA WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan,
Assemblymember Chris Holden, ANCA WR AWTY Committee Co-Chair Hermineh
Pakhanians
Photo Caption 2: ANCA WR "America, We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute
to Near East Relief" Introduction on Assembly Floor. From Left: ANCA
WR AWTY Committee Member Arsho Beylerian, ANCA WR Executive Director
Elen Asatryan, ANCA WR AWTY Committee Co-Chair Hermineh Pakhanians
From: A. Papazian