BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Close to 600 elected officials, dignitaries, and community leaders gathered at The Beverly Hilton for the 2024 ANCA-WR Gala – an evening dedicated to celebrating and honoring those who have championed the Armenian Cause and amplified the voices of Armenians from Artsakh.

The evening began with opening remarks from Souzi Zerounian-Khanzadian, Chair of the ANCA Western Region Gala Committee, a volunteer-based body whose hard work made the evening possible. “It is a profound honor to welcome all of you to this special evening,” said Zerounian-Khanzadian. “I am filled with gratitude and joy to see so many familiar faces and new friends gather here. Your presence reflects the strength and resilience of our community.”

Following Zerounian-Khanzadian, Oshin Harootoonian, Chair of the ANCA Western Region Board of Directors, delivered a powerful dedication speech. “This evening is about more than recognition,” Harootoonian stated. “It is about unity, resilience, and our shared commitment to fight for justice for the Armenian people. Tonight, we honor those who have stood with us and those who continue to sacrifice for our community, both here and abroad.”

ANCA National Board Chairman Raffi Hamparian also gave remarks, dedicating ANCA efforts toward defending the rights and dignities of the Armenian People. “In these fateful days, let us draw sustenance, inspiration, and lessons from the courage and vision of our predecessors.”

This year’s Gala celebrated not only the resilience of the Armenian-American community but also the ANCA-WR’s steadfast efforts over the past year. As attendees reflected on the organization’s milestones, they also had the opportunity to meet the new ANCA-WR Board of Directors, whose dedication to advancing the Armenian Cause has driven forward activism efforts across the Western Region.

Among the many elected officials in attendance were California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Representatives Brad Sherman, Dina Titus, and Anna Eshoo, California State Senators Benjamin Allen and Anthony Portantino, Los Angeles City Council President Emeritus Paul Krekorian, and Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee. Several of these leaders were honored with special awards for their pivotal roles in raising awareness of the ongoing genocide in Artsakh and advocating for justice. The Gala served not only to celebrate these achievements but also to honor the memory of those lost during Azerbaijan’s violent ethnic cleansing campaign and the illegal detainment of Armenian political leaders and prisoners of war.

The ceremony began by honoring Representative Anna Eshoo, who accepted the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of service in Congress. Aram Sarkissian, ANCA-WR Board Member and leader of ANCA Northern California, introduced Eshoo, recalling her early involvement. “Congresswoman Eshoo fought alongside the original founding members of ANCA Northern California,” said Sarkissian. “A rising Armenian star in American politics; now, we are the torchbearers of their mission. On their behalf, we are deeply grateful for your work and most of all, your action.” Eshoo, the only sitting member of Congress of Armenian descent, reflected on her journey. “This is an extraordinary honor and I am very deeply touched to be recognized in this extraordinary way. For over 32 years, we have worked shoulder to shoulder to strengthen the bonds between the United States and Armenia, and whatever the challenges have been, we have never faltered. I am so proud of the work of the ANCA in the halls of congress.”

Representative Dina Titus, the 2024 Legislator of the Year honoree, shared similar sentiments of pride and solidarity. Her award was presented by ANCA-WR Board member Lenna Hovanessian, who spoke of Titus’s longstanding support for the Armenian-American community. “Representative Titus has won the hearts and minds of her Armenian-American constituents with her staunch and unwavering support,” said Hovanessian. Titus, reflecting on her connection to Armenia through her Greek heritage, emphasized the collective achievements of the community. “I can’t tell you how honored I am to receive this recognition, but certainly it’s not what I have done alone; it is together, with all of you, what we have accomplished,” said Representative Titus. “I have been engaged in introducing legislation to hold Azerbaijan accountable with sanctions, which has not been done before. We will continue to push holding those accountable, and bring Azerbaijan’s Armenian hostages home.”

The evening also honored individuals who have transformed education and journalism. Former California Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, currently running for Los Angeles City Council, introduced Sam Simonian, Co-Founder of Tumo and President of AGBU. Simonian received the Global Educational Excellence Award for his visionary leadership in education. “None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for the vision of an individual who saw beyond himself and asked how he could help a generation of individuals empower themselves,” said Nazarian. Simonian, in turn, reflected on the power of education in transforming lives. “It is an honor to accept this award, not just for myself, but for everyone who has contributed to Tumo’s success,” said Simonian. “This moment takes me back to the belief that education unlocks potential. It is the greatest equalizer, leveling the playing field and breaking barriers to success.”

The 2024 Steve Artinian Visionary Activist Award was presented to three pioneering Armenian news outlets: Zartonk Media, The Armenian Report, and 301. Emmy Award-winning journalist Araksya Karapetyan presented the awards, highlighting the importance of journalism in her remarks. “Journalism is an endeavor of public service,” said Karapetyan. “Telling compelling stories is a way to bring people together, and a way to foster change.” Van Der Megerdichian, co-founder of Zartonk Media, emphasized the critical role of media in activism, declaring, “At Zartonk Media, we have embraced our role in this transformative era, where activism extends beyond the streets and into the digital sphere. In this dynamic space, where the battle for hearts and minds is fought in a matter of seconds, we stand as guardians of truth and justice.” 

Zaven Kouroghlian, also a co-founder of Zartonk Media, reflected on the memory of the award’s namesake. “We are honored to accept the Steve Artinian Visionary Activist Award, in the memory of the lifetime of service and ingenuity of Steve Artinian,” said Kouroghlian. “Steve dedicated his life to using media for positive change, and we proudly follow in his footsteps.” Anna Kachikyan, founder of The Armenian Report, reflected on the impact of her metamorphosis into Armenian journalism. “Transitioning from a nationally syndicated TV show, I knew that I left to do something far more meaningful and impactful,” said Kachikyan. “Creating an Armenian platform to keep the community informed has been one of the most important contributions of my career.”

The most poignant moment of the evening came with the presentation of the Human Rights Champion Award to Ruben Vardanyan, State Minister of Artsakh, who is currently detained by Azerbaijani forces. His son, David, delivered a heartfelt video statement on behalf of the family, expressing gratitude for the continued support for Armenia and Artsakh. Vardanyan’s award was presented with opening remarks delivered by Armen Hovannisian, Esq., Member of the ARF Central Committee. “It is both an honor and a challenge to stand in the long and legendary shadow of Ruben Vardanyan,” said Hovannisian. “He is a soldier for peace and freedom, and a victim of vindictiveness and hate.”

As the Gala drew to a close, certificates of recognition were presented to the 2024 summer interns by ANCA-WR Media and Communications Coordinator Edward Barsoumian, Community Coordinator Garen Jinbachian, and Government Affairs Director Ruben Karapetian, acknowledging the critical role interns play in Hye Tahd. “You are the future of Armenian-American advocacy,” said Edward Barsoumian, ANCA-WR Media and Communications Coordinator. “With the tenacity and devotion we saw in each of you, we know that this future will bring about transformative change for the Armenian Nation.”

The 2024 ANCA-WR Gala reaffirmed the organization’s unwavering commitment to justice and accountability, while inspiring unity and action in the face of adversity.

For more information on the ANCA-WR and how to get involved, please visit www.ancawr.org.

The Armenian National Committee of America–Western Region is the largest and most influential nonpartisan 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 in pursuit of the Armenian Cause.