NEW YORK—Armenian Relief Society (ARS) members from various countries, including Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, France, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and the United States gathered in New York City this past weekend to celebrate the organization’s 100th anniversary.
The three-day celebration, organized by the ARS Central Executive Board, began with a gala evening at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall. Mistress of ceremonies Stephanie Mesrobian began by reflecting on the 100 years of ARS service to Armenian communities worldwide. She described the humanitarian work of the ARS as it evolved during the past century and touched upon the organization’s future with special focus on the programs in Armenia, Artsakh (Karabagh), and Javakhk. She introduced the invited guests, including the benefactors, organizational representatives, church leaders, and UN representatives present.
The evening’s keynote speaker, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, the president and CEO of Women’s World Banking, praised the ARS for its philanthropic and charitable work. She touched upon the changes in the non-profit sector, mentioning that investment in women’s economic development has shown to be successful. She urged the gathering to continue promoting educational, healthcare, housing, and welfare issues for Armenian families throughout the world.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the 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” and congratulated the ARS on its 100 years of selfless service to the Armenian nation.
The ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States, Tatoul Markarian, delivered a message from Armenia’s minister of diaspora, Hranoush Hakobyan. The ambassador also offered his personal congratulations and urged the members to continue its mission.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau member Hagop Der Khatchadourian and Dr. Vartan Gregorian, the president of the Carnegie Corporation and past recipient of ARS scholarships, offered their remarks. Vicky Marashlian, the chairperson of the ARS Central Executive Board, then spoke about the work that the ARS has undertaken. “The ARS works on a full spectrum of issues, from local community efforts, to sheltering and feeding orphans in the homeland, to promoting awareness of our vibrant culture and of equal justice wherever and whenever people are denied basic rights,” she said. Speaking to the membership in the audience, she emphasized that “we are an alliance of strong, passionate women catalyzing partnerships and leveraging human and financial capital to serve the needs of our people.”
At the conclusion of her address, she presented the ARS “Ararat” Award to the Near East Foundation, an organization celebrating its 95th anniversary, as it was started the same year as the Armenian Genocide in 1915. Shant Mardirosian, the chairman of the Near East Foundation, accepted the award with great honor and thanked the ARS for acknowledging their work.
The evening featured a vibrant performance by opera singers Yeghishe Manucharyan, tenor, and Victoria Avetisyan, mezzo-soprano. They were accompanied on piano by Armine Vardanyan and on the glass harmonica by Alisa Nakashian-Holsberg.
The celebration concluded with a reception that gave all those in attendance an opportunity to collectively congratulate the ARS’ 100 years of service to the Armenian people.
The ARS members who had gathered from throughout the world also attended a one-day seminar on various topics, including UN NGOs, Armenian women and empowerment, international philanthropy, and internal organizational issues.
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 desert in Syria where hundreds of thousands of Armenians perished during the genocide, and a week-long celebration in Armenia.
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Officials who attended the Carnegie celebration included Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Eastern U.S.; Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Western U.S.; Archbishop Manuel Batakian, Exarch of the Armenian Catholic Church in North America; Levon Filian, representing the Armenian Missionary Association of America; Tatoul Markarian, the ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in the U.S.; Mr. and Mrs. Garen Nazarian, representative of the Republic of Armenia at the UN; Aram Avetisyan, the NKR representative in the U.S.; Hagop Der Khachatourian, representing the ARF Bureau; Hrayr Baronian, representing the ARF Central Committee, Eastern U.S.; Garine Hovsepian, representing the ARF Central Committee, Canada; Zarmayr Setrakian, representing the Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Association; and Shant Martirossian, representing the Near East Relief Foundation.
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