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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, January 20, 2005
AGBU SAO PAULO CELEBRATES 40th ANNIVERSARY
Sao Paulo, Brazil – Founded in 1964, AGBU Sao Paulo celebrated its
40th anniversary on Sunday, November 28, 2004 with a special luncheon
for over 450 AGBU members, donors, and friends. During the afternoon
program, AGBU Sao Paulo acknowledged all AGBU members who were
instrumental in the establishment, growth, and success of the chapter
over the last four decades.
The 23 founders were honored with eight receiving the venerable AGBU
Veteran Member award and fifteen individuals accepting silver plates
in honor of their now deceased family members.
Silver plates were awarded to the former chairmen: Avedis Clemente
Kherlakian (represented by his widow), Andre Jafferian (represented by
his son Pedro Jafferian), Antonio Miksian, Zaven Der Haroutounian, and
Regina Woskergian Bazarian. As a mark of distinction for their service
to AGBU, the Central Board bestowed upon former chairmen Eduardo
Mekbekian and Jorge Kevork Der Haroutounian the designations of AGBU
Honor Member.
Also honored were the pioneers of the Chapter’s educational program
which began with Armenian language classes in 1975 and expanded in
1985 with the establishment of the Paren and Regina Bazarian primary
school: Anahid Mekhalian, Chake Atchabahian, Hripsime Bedoian, Paulo
Pajanian, Davinia Mekitarian, and the school’s Principal, Nelly
Nalbandian.
Together, the Chapter headquarters and the School comprise the AGBU
Sao Paulo Center, an expansive complex serving the educational,
cultural, and social needs of the Armenian community and the youth in
particular. Since founding their Youth Committee in 1973, AGBU Sao
Paulo has had positive results in the succession of Armenian youth
into local chapter leadership positions.
Taking stock, AGBU Sao Paulo Chairman Carlos Matheus Der Haroutounian
expressed the sentiments of many, “We are one of more than sixty
chapters spread all over the world, the youngest in South America, and
the only one that speaks Portuguese. We are a ‘grain of sand’ among
the thousands of AGBU members in the world, but we are a chapter that,
here in Brazil, has a position of leadership in the Armenian
community, which in only four decades passed from a tiny office to the
large Alex Manoogian Complex, and whose work and success are an
example for our sister chapters.”
AGBU Sao Paulo is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Armenian
heritage and culture through humanitarian, educational, cultural, and
social programs within Sao Paulo and across Brazil. For more
information, please contact AGBU Sao Paulo at 55-113-814-9299 (or
9930) or e-mail [email protected]. For a complete directory of
AGBU’s global chapters, please visit and click Global
AGBU.