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

PRE SS RELEASE
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Contact: Haig Hovsepian

Tel: (818) 500-1918

Three Generations of Armenian Americans Support The ANCA-WR

Los Angeles, CA – In a remarkable illustration of faith, dedication and
continuity, an Armenian American grandfather, his daughter and his
granddaughter all have dedicated their lives to advancing the Armenian Cause
and supporting the work of the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR). The trio, who call Glendale, California home,
recently marked the 100th anniversary of Ghazaros Kademian – the family
elder – by making a generous donation to the ANCA-WR.

Felicia Garver, whose grandfather Ghazaros is a genocide survivor, recently
started working at the ANCA-WR offices in Los Angeles. "By serving as an
ANCA Leo Sarkisian Intern I learned a great many things about Armenians, our
culture, our history, and our country," she commented. "I have met many ANCA
leaders that have influenced my life a great deal, and they helped make me
into the person that I am today. Being only half-Armenian, and being raised
19 years in a non-Armenian environment, I felt it necessary to learn about
Armenians. Ever since my first phone call, and my first visit to the ANCA-WR
office in Los Angeles, I felt a belonging, and a necessity to participate in
the Armenian Cause," Garver added.

The grandfather is Ghazaros Kademian, a 100 year old survivor of the
Armenian Genocide. To mark his 100th birthday this past April and as cited
above, Kademian insisted on making a very generous donation to the ANCA-WR
to support the organization’s education and outreach efforts. Born in the
beautiful village of Zeitoun in 1907, Kademian miraculously survived the
Armenian Genocide and found a new home in Baghdad, Iraq. While in this
newfound country, he helped the Armenian community by being an advisor and
leader. A strong survivor of the genocide, Ghazaros and his wife Azadouhi
raised three wonderful children; Ohannes Kademian, Asdghig Kaladjian, and
Anahid Kademian.

On May 18, 2005 as a part of the Congressional Record, Congressman Adam
Schiff (D-CA-29) honored Kademian noting that, "The courage of survivors
like Ghazaros Kademian reminds all mankind of the extraordinary strength and
determination of the Armenian people who endured the unspeakable atrocities
perpetrated against them by the Ottoman Empire. .It is our sacred obligation
to honor the memory of the one and a half million men, women, and children
systematically murdered during the Armenian Genocide. .The story of Ghazaros
Kademian’s family is terrible and tragic, but not uncommon. It is our
responsibility to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and collectively demand
reaffirmation of this crime against humanity."

The daughter is Anahid Kademian, the youngest daughter of Ghazaros Kademian.
She was born in Baghdad, Iraq and came to the United States as a graduate
student. Later, she became a United States Citizen in 1987, and has been a
strong advocate for Armenians and non-Armenians alike; serving her community
in appointed positions and in volunteer organizations. She has been a
longtime supporter of the ANCA-WR and its grassroots efforts in the Western
United States.

The granddaughter is Felicia Garver, who recently was hired to serve a
summer fellowship at the ANCA-WR offices in Los Angeles. Felicia has been a
Girl Scout since she was six years old and has served her community through
several volunteer organizations. She has earned a number of awards,
including the high honor of being cited as a Girl Scout Gold Award Young
Women of Distinction. In 2005 Felicia served as an ANCA Leo Sarkisian intern
in Washington D.C. where she contacted and researched each state’s
Department of Education in regards to which genocides each state was
teaching as well as the curriculum, mandates, and materials that they were
utilizing. Felicia’s project was further distributed to STAND (A Student
Anti-Genocide Coalition).

The Armenian National Committee of America 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.