ARMENIAN WOMEN FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD GATHER FOR CELEBRATION ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY CENTENNIAL

Noyan Tapan
March 22, 2010

NEW YORK, MARCH 22, NOYAN TAPAN-ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian Relief
Society (ARS) Centennial was celebrated at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall
on 10 March. Women from various countries, including Greece, France,
Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Argentina, Brazil, Canada as well as the United
States took part in the three-day celebration. The evening’s keynote
speaker, Ms. Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World
Banking, praised the ARS for its philanthropic and charitable work. She
urged the gathering to continue promoting educational, healthcare,
housing and welfare issues for Armenian families throughout the world.

According to the press release of the ARS, the evening began with
master of ceremonies Ms. Stephanie Mesropian. Then Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate, Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, was invited to read the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness
Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, who declared 2010
the Year of the Armenian Woman, congratulating the ARS on its 100
years of selfless service to the Armenian nation.

His Excellency Tatoul Markarian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia
to the United States, congratulated the ARS and delivered a message
from Armenia’s Minister of Diaspora, Hranoush Hakobyan.

Their congratulatory speech said Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Bureau member, Hagop Der Khatchadourian and Dr. Vartan Gregorian,
President of the Carnegie Corporation.

Mrs. Vicky Marashlian, Chairperson of the ARS Central Executive
Board, reminded everyone of the work that the ARS has undertaken;
from sheltering and feeding orphans in the Homeland to equal justice.

At the conclusion of her address, she presented the ARS "Ararat"
Award to Shant Mardirosian, the Chairman of the Near East Foundation.

The 100th anniversary is also being celebrated with local and regional
events throughout the 26 countries where ARS entities are located. The
New York-based gathering is part of a series of events that will
culminate this fall with a pilgrimage to Der Zor, the Syrian desert
where hundreds of thousands of Armenians perished during the Genocide
and a week-long celebration in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress