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Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Contact: Talin Gregorian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
THE ANCA-WR PRAISES THE ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY’S EFFORTS IN HURRICANE RELIEF
— Regional ARS Leadership Has Begun Collecting Aid for the Survivors
of Hurricane Katrina
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region (ANCA-WR) today praised the leadership of the Armenian Relief
Society of Western USA (ARS-WR) in its efforts to raise monetary
donations for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina following the
flooding and devastation in the aftermath of the natural disaster in
the Gulf Coast.
With the motto of `serving the humanitarian needs of all communities
in the world,’ the ARS has always been in the forefront of gathering
aid for victims of devastation. Last January, after the Tsunami in
South-East Asia, the ARS-WR was instrumental in the Armenian American
community of the Western United States in raising funds for the
survivors of the disaster.
`The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is too disastrous to describe, but
we know that as concerned ARS members, supporters and community, all
of us are ready to take responsibility to alleviate the suffering of
fellow citizens in the Gulf States,’ said Angela Savoian, Chair of the
ARS-WR Regional Executive.
The ARS-WR plans to send the money they raise to the schools in the
southern states that have accepted to take in the displaced
children. These schools, some of which are already under funded, need
the financial support in order to keep the schools open and operating.
The ARS-WR will also send a portion of the donations to the local
Armenian American community in Louisiana that was affected by
Hurricane Katrina. Currently, there are 23 families that are taking
refuge in the local, and recently built, Armenian Church. The homes of
21 of these 23 Armenian families are completely uninhabitable and will
need to be completely rebuilt.
With the realization that thousands of survivors are displaced,
homeless and jobless along the Gulf coast, the ARS-WR has worked and
will continue to work tirelessly in hopes of raising as much money as
possible. They strongly believe that the Armenian American community,
who has felt the impact of natural disasters, whether in Northridge or
Armenia, will unite in its efforts to support their neighbors in the
Gulf Coast region.
If you would like to donate to the ARS-WR Katrina Fund, you can visit
arswestusa.org or send donations to 517 West Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale,
CA 91202. Please make the checks payable to ARS Katrina Fund. If you
would like more information about the organization’s efforts, visit
the website or call (818) 500-1343.
The ARS is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian
organization with affiliate entities in 24 different countries serving
the social and educational needs of Armenian communities everywhere,
seeking to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation, and
to bring humanitarian help to all communities in distress — Armenian
and non-Armenian alike.
The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in 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.