Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
ancawr@anca.org
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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.