PRESS RELEASE March 2, 2015
Armenian National Committee of America | Western Region
Noushig Karpanian | Communications Coordinator
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
Office: 818.500.1918
Direct: 818.860.2790
[email protected]
ANCAWR.org
facebook.com/ANCAWesternRegion
@ANCA_WR
What: Opening Reception & Premiere by the `America We Thank You: An
Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief’ committee of the Armenian National
Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) of the Traveling
Exhibit entitled
“They Shall Not Perish: The Story of Near East Relief,” curated by the Near
East Foundation (successor to Near East Relief) and co-sponsored by the
ANCA-WR, LA City Mayor Eric Garcetti, LA City Councilmember Paul Krekorian
and LA Public Library.
When: Friday, March 6, 2015 at 6:30pm (PST)
Where: Los Angeles Public Library | Central Branch Rotunda
630 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Admission is Free to All; Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served
Parking: Ample street parking is projected
$8 Parking at 524 South Flower Street Garage is available
Who: Armenian National Committee of America Western Region; “America We
Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief”
Exhibit will be on display in the Library’s Atrium from March 7 – April
30.
Background:
“America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief,’ is a
movement to recognize the unprecedented outpouring of generosity and
philanthropy by the American people, under the auspices of Near East
Relief–the United States’ first Congressionally-sanctioned
non-governmental organization–which, from the onset of the Armenian
Genocide, perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey in 1915, and for 15 consecutive
years, provided humanitarian relief efforts to rescue and rehabilitate over
1,000,000 refugees and 132,000 orphans of the Armenian Nation and other
Christian minorities.
The Exhibit, “They Shall Not Perish: The Story of Near East Relief,” with
its 28 color panels each measuring an impressive six feet by three feet, is
comprised of high-quality scans of official correspondence, biographies of
missionaries and relief workers who lived, volunteered and served on the
ground, as well as treasured archival photographs, some of which have only
recently been accessed and offer new insight to NER’s impactful legacy in
saving a people under the threat of total annihilation.
Over a period of 15 years from 1915-1930, the NER mobilized all segments of
American citizenry (elected officials, celebrities and laypersons alike),
and indeed the world, into a well-organized and well-funded relief effort
that raised $117,000,000 (despite its initial goal of $30,000,000), the
equivalent of $2.7 billion in today’s dollars, built over 400 orphanages,
food & clothing distribution centers, medical clinics and hospitals, and
vocational training schools throughout the Near East.
The NER served as a model upon which future philanthropic organizations,
including the U.S. Peace Corps and USAID, and future calls for overseas
relief efforts known as `citizen philanthropy’ were modeled.
The U.S. patronage of the NER reflects the deep bonds that have long
existed between the American and Armenian people. The Armenian National
Committee of America WR is proud to honor and recognize their work and
their memory.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the largest
and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States and
affiliated organizations around the country, the ANCA-WR advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
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From: Baghdasarian