SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—More than 300 Young Professionals (YP) from across the country gathered for the 12th annual Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) SF Winter Gala to celebrate the “Love of Life.”
Guests gathered from Feb. 11-13 to meet, mingle, and raise money for the AGBU Children Center’s in Yerevan, Armenia. New to the weekend’s activities, guests met during a welcome reception on Fri., Feb. 11 at the host hotel, the Sir Francis Drake, located in the heart of Union Square. The celebration kicked off later that night at ROE Night Club in the city’s South of Market district, where attendees enjoyed two floors of entertainment at one of the city’s premier night spots.
“It brought our committee great joy to see that our event continuously brings together young professionals from all over the country for such a worthwhile cause,” said Steven Cherezian, gala chairman. “Plans are already underway for next year’s event!”
With so many out of town guests, there was no better way to showcase the beauty of the city than with a walking tour. Nearly 40 YP’s enjoyed visiting Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Ghirardelli Square on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The tour was a hit as the group enjoyed each other’s company, food, Irish coffee, and Ghirardelli chocolate and ice cream.
“The AGBU YP of Northern California put together a fabulous weekend for a great cause!” said Laura Michael, past AGBU YP chair in Boston. “I attended the gala with several other Boston YP members and we all felt that it was an amazing weekend! We made new friends, celebrated our Armenian heritage, and toured a beautiful city, all while supporting such an important charity.”
After a day around town, guests prepared for the highlight of the weekend, the 12th annual gala dinner and dance. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, the pastor of St. Vartan Armenian Church in Oakland, opened the ceremony with a prayer and short remarks. After dinner, guests danced to the sounds of Khatchig Jingirian’s band late into the night. Following the gala, many headed over to the official after-party at Moroc in San Francisco’s Mission District where dancing and food continued, capping off an amazing night. On Sunday, farewells were exchanged over a brunch at the Sir Francis Drake hotel, offering a relaxing close to the weekend.
Over the 12-year history of the winter gala, AGBU YP Northern California has raised nearly $50,000 for AGBU projects and programs in Armenia. Each year, it designates a project from the greater AGBU network to support with a portion of the gala proceeds.
For more information, visit www.agbuypnc.org.
Be the first to comment