GLENDALE, CA – Longtime community activist and benefactor Charles Ghailian will receive the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region’s (ANCA-WR) Legacy Award at organization’s 2010 Annual Banquet on October 24th. Mr. Ghailian will be honored for his years of selfless dedication and service to the Armenian American community.

“The ANCA-WR is proud to salute and honor Charles Ghailian,” remarked ANCA-Western Region Chairwoman Aida Dimejian. “The contributions he has made to the advancement of our organization, the Armenian Cause and his years of exemplary service to the Armenian American community are truly worthy of the highest honors,” Dimejian added.

Charles Ghailian: A Lifetime of Dedication and Service

Charles Ghailian was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mr. Ghailian’s roots lead back to Van on both sides of his parents. His grandparents, survivors of the Genocide, migrated from Yerevan to Tehran, Iran after Armenia’s short-lived independence. Though his parents originally met in Iran, they got married in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Ghailian family was involved in the Armenian community in Buenos Aires, particularly the elder Ghailian who played an instrumental role in young Charly’s nationalistic development.

The young Ghailian family relocated to the United States in 1959, settling in Los Angeles. Young Charly enrolled in the “Raffi” Hayrenagtsagan Organization Scouting Program, where his mother was among the founding members. The organization later served as the foundation of the Homenetmen Los Angeles Chapter in 1968. Mr. Ghailian was also a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and the Raffi Choir.

In 1971, while only 19 years of age, Mr. Ghailian started his entrepreneurial career and moved to Denver, Colorado as an independent agent and distributor in the apparel industry servicing the seven Rocky Mountain States. Having met Julia at the age of 15, the young sweethearts were married in 1973. Soon thereafter, the couple moved back to Los Angeles where they focused on their family and career.

The Ghailians’ came to be blessed with three children: Carlo, Angelo and Monica. All three attended Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School and pursued their college education at the University of Southern California. The three young Ghailians’ have achieved many successes, but it is their dedication to serve their community through their respectful roles in the ANCA-WR, the Armenian Cultural Foundation (ACF) and AGBU Young Professionals, which is to be applauded. Charly and Julia Ghailian are blessed with five grandchildren.

Mr. Ghailian’s business accomplishments are especially noteworthy. From the age of 31, Charly was a partner of Organically Grown Corp, a clothing manufacturing firm and in 1988, he founded his own company, Chazzz CMG, Inc. After running his own shop for 10 years, in 1998, Charly merged with Tarrant Apparel Group, a publicly traded company where he served as a top executive until 2008. Today, Mr. Ghailian is the President and founder of Monarch Apparel Group, a global sourcing company servicing the retail community at large.

Through the years, Mr. Ghailian’s professional successes appear to have been only a springboard for his family, civic, and community commitments. He has always shared his success with the Armenian community and served its various organizations. Among the many leadership roles held, Charly Ghailian served as Vice Chairman of Homenetmen’s Western Region Executive Committee, a Board Member of the ANCA-WR, and an Honorary President, with his wife Julia, for Homenetmen’s 29th Navasartian Games. Currently, Mr. Ghailian is the Chair of the University of Southern California’s (USC) Institute of Armenian Studies at the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

“As another successful ANCA-WR year is upon us, I would like to salute and congratulate the Board of Directors, the chapters and the army of volunteers who support and serve the ANCA-WR and its vision,” stated Charles Ghailian. “I am looking forward to another magnificent Annual Banquet on October 24th and wish the very best to all,” he added. The 2010 Annual Banquet – which is set to be a sold out event – will be held on October 24th at the Universal Sheraton in Los Angeles. The Banquet represents the single largest annual gathering of Armenian American leaders and public officials in California. The Banquet is attended by more than a thousand benefactors, supporters and community allies. Individuals interested in attending the ANCA-Western Region banquet are encouraged to call (818) 500-1918.

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.