Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email.anca@anca.org
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
January 22, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA "CANS FOR THE CAUSE" INITIATIVE COLLECTS OVER
10,000 FOOD ITEMS FOR NATIONWIDE OBAMA DAY OF SERVICE EFFORT

— Grassroots Effort Honored U.S. Humanitarian
Relief for Armenian Genocide Survivors

— ANC Chapters Teamed up with Local Armenian American
Groups and Citizens Across the Country

WASHINGTON, DC – Local Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) chapters teamed up with Armenian American groups and local
activists to collect over 10,000 food items for community food
banks across the U.S. during National Day of Service activities
spearheaded by President Barack Obama.

The ANCA’s "Cans for the Cause" initiative was organized in honor
of U.S. humanitarian assistance efforts for survivors of the
Armenian Genocide from 1915-1923. American humanitarian assistance
efforts to Armenian populations devastated in Turkey during the
Hamidian massacres of 1895 and subsequently the Armenian Genocide
of 1915 represented the first American Red Cross foreign
humanitarian assistance campaign and was instrumental in saving
countless lives.

"During the Armenian Genocide and in the aftermath of this terrible
crime, Americans participated in an unprecedented humanitarian
relief effort for the survivors of Ottoman Turkey’s brutal campaign
of race extermination," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "As a community we owe a tremendous debt to the
generosity of the American people and strive to honor this proud
chapter in U.S. history by doing our part to feed the hungry and
bring hope to those facing hardship both abroad and here on our own
shores."

The ANCA campaign was spread out across 20 individual food drives
in 12 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington, DC. These efforts were
part of the wider Day of Service activities, which coincided with
Martin Luther King Memorial Day (January 19) and the Presidential
Inauguration (January 20th). Local food drives inspired
contributions from people of all ethnicities and walks of life –
committed to ending hunger. The Burbank, California drive was
supported by contributions from State Assemblyman Paul Krekorian
and Burbank City Council candidate Garen Yegparian.

The National Day of Service, first initiated by Congress in 1994,
honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King by transforming the
federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community
service grounded in his teachings of nonviolence and social
justice. Highlighting and expanding that initiative, President
Obama announced the "Renew America Together" initiative, which
culminated in over 13,000 community service events around the
country. Community efforts, including the ANCA Cans for the Cause
initiative, were highlighted on the Renew America Together website
–

Local food banks have highlighted the important role that community
groups play in ending hunger in our neighborhoods. Capital Area
Food Bank President and CEO Lynn Brantley noted that "The food bank
is seeing record numbers of people seeking food assistance and we
expect to see more with the collapsing economy. Food drives play a
critical role in food bank operations and during these challenging
times, support from groups like the Armenian National Committee of
America helps us nourish those in need and shines a light on the
issue of domestic hunger."

In the week leading up to the national Day of service, ANCA "Cans for
the Cause" national coordinator Garo Manjikian provided local
activists with an organizing "tool kit" for local community
activists and groups, which outlined the steps for program success.

"Armenian American community response to the ANCA ‘Cans for the
Cause’ campaign was amazing, with local ANC, Armenian Youth
Federation and Armenian Relief Society chapters, groups like the
Heros Foundation, and activists leading the charge in their cities
across the U.S.," said Manjikian. "We have been encouraged by the
daily updates, photos and supportive emails from Armenians and non-
Armenians alike and look forward to building on this initiative in
the future."

Visit the ANCA Facebook page
( 58)
and ANCA Website () for updates and
photos from local "Cans for the Cause" efforts. For comments, or
to further highlight the "Cans for Cause" initiative in your area,
contact national program coordinator Garo Manjikian at
garo@anca.org or (202) 775-1918.