NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA FUND-WESTERN REGION VISITS THE WESTERN DIOCESE
by Divan of the Western Diocese
esident-of-armenia-fund-western-region-visits-the- western-diocese/
Apr 01 2009
The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
On March 31, 2009, Ara Aghishian, Esq., President/Chairman of
the Armenia Fund-Western Region, visited the Western Diocese for
the first time in his new capacity and met with the Primate of the
Western Diocese His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian. During the
meeting the Primate once again congratulated Ara Aghishian, Esq.,
on his election and hoped that during his tenure the Armenia Fund
would continue his mission even more successfully to the benefit of
our fatherland Armenia and Artsakh.
Under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate, the Western Diocese has been actively involved in numerous
humanitarian and charity projects in Armenia and Artsakh, including
financial and humanitarian aid to 1000 orphans, "sister churches,"
cultural centers, and borderline villages, and many other similar
causes in Armenia and Artsakh. Some of these projects have been
realized through the Armenia Fund, Inc., throughout past several years.
According to a news-release posted on the Armenia Fund website:
"On Thursday, March 26, 2009, the Corporate Board of Armenia Fund,
Inc. unanimously elected Ara Aghishian to the post of Chairman/
President. Mr. Aghishian has been Vice President of the Fund since
2001.
"Present at the meeting were the Honorable Grigor Hovhannisyan, Consul
General of the Republic of Armenia, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of
the Armenian Apostolic Church, Fr. Antoine Saroyan of the Armenian
Catholic Eparchy, Rev. Joseph Matossian of the Armenian Evangelical
Union of America, Mr. Al Cabraloff of the Armenian Assembly of
America, Mr. Avedik Izmirlian of the Armenian Cultural Foundation,
Dn. Vahe Charkhutian of the Armenian General Benevolent Union SCDC,
Ms. Sossie Poladian of the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA,
Dr. Hampig Sarafian of Nor Serount Cultural Association, and Mr. Ara
Aharonian of Tekeyan Cultural Association.
"Mr. Aghishian has been in private legal practice since 1988 in
California. He is admitted to practice law in all the courts of the
State, all Federal District Courts in California, the 9th U.S. District
Court of Appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Aghishian heads the
Law Offices of Ara Aghishian with offices in Encino, San Diego, and
Sacramento. His client base consists of Fortune 500 companies as well
as the City of Los Angeles.
"He is a member of the California State Bar, the Los Angeles County and
American Bar Associations, as well as the Armenian Bar Association. He
has served as Judge Pro Tem of the Los Angeles Superior Court for
several years. Mr. Aghishian has received several commendations and
recognitions for his volunteer services to the legal profession.
"For 15 years, Mr. Aghishian served as the Secretary of the Board
of Trustees of TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School in Hollywood,
CA. He is a former Chairman of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of
the Armenian General Benevolent Union. He is a former member of the
AGBU Asbeds and AGBU SCDC. Mr. Aghishian is a Godfather of the Mother
Cathedral of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
"Mr. Aghishian is married to Julia Yeranossian and a proud father of
a daughter, Alexandra. In the spirit of philanthropy and furthering
Armenian studies, Mr. and Mrs. Aghishian have sponsored Armenian
language, culture and history programs at the University of California,
Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, and various
Armenian schools in the U.S. and Canada.
"In 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Aghishian were the Honorary Presidents of
the Armenia Fund Canada (Montreal) chapter’s annual gala. Besides
sponsoring various other charitable causes, Mr. and Mrs. Aghishian have
sponsored various projects of the Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region.
"Ara Agishian, the patriot and philanthropist, has always been the
loyal partner and great supporter of the Fund. As the U.S. Western
Region affiliate’s new president, he will ex officio continue the
work he has been doing unselfishly for years. Thank you very much
to the Board for the decision they came up with and my warmest
congratulations to Mr Agishyan on his election," the Hayastan All
Armenian Fund acting executive director Ara Vardanyan pointed out."