PRIMATE ATTENDS BANQUET TO BENEFIT MILLENNIUM ARMENIAN CHILDREN’S VACCINE FUND
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, December 17 (Noyan Tapan). Upon the official
invitation of the Ani and Narod Memorial Foundation, on the evening
of Wednesday, December 15, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America,
attended a banquet entitled “Mistletoe and Miracles”, in benefit of
the Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccine Fund.
According to the Press Office of the Diocese, speakers featured
at the banquet included His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate; Golden Globe Winner Mike Connors; Angie Turner, CEO,
American Red Cross, San Gabriel Valley Chapter; Michael Mahdesian,
Former Deputy Director, Bureau of Humanitarian Response, US Agency
for International Development; Lisa Grande, UN Resident Coordinator;
and Raffi Ardhaldjian, Chief Volunteer Office, Ani and Narod Memorial
Foundation. Tamar Kevonian from Mosaix Magazine served as Master
of Ceremonies.
In his remarks, His Eminence addressed the attendees with the words,
“Tonight we are rejoiced with your presence as you become partners in
this God-pleasing mission, namely the Millennium Armenian Children’s
Vaccine Fund. As we prepare ourselves to celebrate Christmas, this
evening challenges us to renew our Christian spirituality, to put our
Christian faith in actions, to reach out to the Children of Armenia,
and to put a sense of joy in their hearts.
“We commend the exemplary work launched tonight by the Ani and Narod
Foundation, thus helping us to enrich our spirituality in participating
in this significant mission. We extend our sincere appreciation to
Raffi Ardhaldjian, the founder of this organization, as well as to
all its members.”
In closing the Primate said, “We all can give. We all should
give. Tonight with our participation, we make a milestone in the life
of the community. We become instruments of love and instruments of
change in the hands of God.”