Pasadena Chapter kicked off the New Year with a grand annual Holiday Reception, hosting over 200 guests at the H&H Jivalagian Youth Center on January 11th.
The event was attended by a diverse crowd including national, state, county, and city officials, as well as organizations, faith groups, supporters, friends, and prominent members of the Armenian American community.
The evening was orchestrated by the master of ceremonies, Donig L. Donabedian, the ANCA – Pasadena Chapter committee chairperson. Donabedian not only welcomed the attendees but also acknowledged their unwavering support for the Armenian American community.
Donabedian highlighted the commendable work carried out by the ANCA committee members over the past year. He also applauded the ANCA-Pasadena Chapter Committee for its persistent efforts and diligence in advocating for the best interests of the Armenian American community of Pasadena.
“The ANCA, Pasadena Chapter is a shining example of what happens when an organization takes the lead and makes the kind of strides it has made in an effort to help meet the needs of the Armenian American Community, coupled with the long-standing relationship it has always fostered with the City of Pasadena, and the surrounding cities,” board member, Maria Ekizian, was quoted as saying.
The guests of the ANCA in attendance included U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu’s Representative, Tania Shariatzadeh; California State Senator, The Honorable Anthony Portantino, Chief Deputy of Los Angeles County’s 5th. District, Anna Mouradian; Assistant Field Deputy to LA County’s 5th.District, Savannah Moore; Darla Dyson, 2nd. District Liaison, Councilmember Felicia Williams; The Honorable Sasha Rene Peres, Vice-Mayor, City of Alhambra; California’s 41st. District Assemblymember, Chris Holden’s Field Representative, Ann Marie Hickambottom, City of Pasadena Parks And Recreation Director, Koko Panossian; Senior Project Manager, City of Pasadena, Siranoush Rousian; Treasurer, City of Pasadena, Vic Erganian; The Honorable Suzy Abajian, City Clerk, City of Glendale; California’s 41st. Assembly candidate and former Mayor of the City of Sierra Madre, John Harabedian; Susana Porras, Program Coordinator, Pasadena Police Department; Faculty Supervisor, University of Phoenix, former PUSD Secondary School Superintendent and ANCA – Pasadena Chapter Treasurer, Dr. Marisa Sarian; Dr. Sona Donayan, Professor and Nutrition Department Chair, Glendale Community College; ANCA-Western Region Board Vice-Chair, Raffi Kassabian, Esq.; Pasadena City College Armenian History and Language Professor, Kevork Halladjian; Candidate for California’s 41st. Assembly District, Dr. Phlunte Riddle; Candidate for California’s 52nd. District, Jessica Caloza; Representing District 5 of the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education, The Honorable Patrice Marshall Mckenzie; L& H Tavlian Armenian Preschool Director, Garine Joukadarian; Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian school Principal, Maral Boyadjian; Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth Blanco; Lori Touloumian, Principal, Marshall Fundamental Secondary School; Principal, Blair High School, Amy McGinnis; Assistance Principal, Blair High School, Christine McLaughlin; Jack Minassian, Representing Daniel Webster Elementary School, Pasadena; Former Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent, Dr. Brian McDonald; Former Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education Member, The Honorable Vruyr Boulghourjian; Pasadena Sister Cities Committee Vice President, Michael Warner; Socorro Naranjo Rocha, Senior Community Advocate, PUSD Families in Transition; Martha Jimenez, Community Advocate, PUSD Families In Transition; Reverend Fr. Boghos Baltagian of Saint Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church; Pastor Vatche Ekmekjian of the Armenian Brotherhood bible Church; Pastor Serop Megerditchian of the Armenian Evangelical Union Church; First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena, Mary Agulian; Pasadena Armenian Cultural Foundation Chairperson, Arman Baghdoyan; Hollywood Armenian Cultural Foundation Chairperson, Zohrab Mahdessian; Armenian Cultural Association Hamazkayin Western Region Board Treasurer, Vicken Harboyan and board member, Purag Moumdjian; Armenian National Committee of America, Glendale Chapter Chairperson, Ronnie Gharibian; Author and ANCA San Fernando West Member, Katia Tavitian Karageuzian; Armenian Relief Society “Sosse” Chapter Chairperson, Tamar Orichian; Homenetmen Pasadena “Azadamard” Chapter Chairperson Silvie Baghdadlian and Treasurer, Nairy Kasbarian; Pasadena Hamazkayin “Shahan Shahnour” Chapter Secretary, Maral Nashalian; City of Sierra Madre City Attorney and Pasadena Armenian Festival Committee Co-Founders, Aleksan Giragosian and Vache Savajian; Arthur Kokozian, Director, American Armenian Rose Float Association; Armenian Engineers and Scientists Association Board; Former Commissioner, City of Pasadena, Nat Nehdar.
https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/armenian-national-committee-of-america-pasadena-chapter-hosts-annual-holiday-reception
