On Friday, Dec. 10, the Crescenta Valley Armenian Community & Youth Center hosted a mixer and appreciation night arranged by the organization’s Outreach committee. The event raised awareness of the Outreach task force’s activities in collaboration with local officials, agencies and civic leaders.

Eighty-five attendees, including representatives and officials from local cities along with sheriff and police departments and representatives of local Armenian organizations, met and enjoyed an evening of networking and alliance to strengthen community relations and offer mutual cooperation and support.

The chairman of the Outreach committee, Ani Papirian, welcomed and thanked the guests for their support and encouragement, and affirmed the core mission of the task force. Following the flag salute and prayers’ ceremony, Papirian introduced Arick Gevorkian, chairman of Armenian Cultural Foundation and CV Armenian Community & Youth Center.

Gevorkian emphasized the importance of community participation, outreach and involvement to make the foothill community a better and vibrant place to live and work for all its residents. He highlighted that the Crescenta Valley Armenian Center is a gathering and resource hub for the community and where after-school activities, youth programs, Scouting, athletic activities and community services offer much needed assistance to individuals and families. He added that for the past 20 years, the CV Armenian Center has offered valuable services and collaborated with various organizations and agencies to benefit and aid various local and community needs and causes.

The evening was also an opportunity to honor six dynamic women for their public service and acknowledge their selfless participation, invaluable charity efforts, volunteerism and contribution to society. Honoraries and nominees included Emma Garabedian (Armenian Relief Society), Lida Markarian (Armenian-American Council on Aging), Hermineh Aposhian (Crescenta Valley Armenian Apostolic Church), Maral Leon (Homenetmen Shant), Lorik Sivazlian (Armenian Youth Federation) and Aida Bogharian (CV outreach committee). The outreach committee recognized these ladies with a certificate of excellence and brief narrative of their services and involvement.

Crescenta Valley Town Council President Cheryl Davis and Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Board Member David Cain also offered their appreciation and congratulatory remarks at the event.

Dinner and refreshments were served and at the end of the evening organizers hoped the attendees departed with a renewed sense of commitment and collaboration between various communities, organizations and government agencies.

Contributed by

Arick GEVORKIAN

  Armenian community, mixer