Los Angeles, CA – The ANC-WR Annual Banquet set for September of this year in Los Angeles has reached a new milestone by attracting unprecedented support from Members of Congress and prominent community leaders months before the marquee event is held. The largest gathering of Armenian American political leaders and public officials in the State of California is slated to be held at the Sheraton Universal on September 30th. The list of those being honored at this event, which unites Armenian Americans from across the Western United States, will be announced publicly on August 1, 2007.

“To have such strong support from a bipartisan group of public officials is a tribute to the respect our organization enjoys from Republicans and Democrats,” commented ANC-WR Board Member and Banquet Chair Aida Dimejian. “And to have people like Frank and Houri Melkonian, who are leading philanthropists in our community, serving as our honorary chairs, is a real and genuine honor,” she added.

Among those political leaders serving as honorary chairs for the ANC-WR Annual Banquet are U.S Representatives Adam Schiff, George Radanovich, Brad Sherman, Grace Napolitano and Anna Eshoo. Also serving as honorary chairs will be Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Honorable Judge Dickran Tevrizian, California State Senators Jack Scott and Joe Simitian, Assemblymembers Paul Krekorian and Anthony Portantino, and distinguished former State Senator Chuck Poochigian.

A prominent list of community members will be serving as honorary chairs, including longtime ANC supporters Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Houri Melkonian, Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian, Mr. Vache Marganian, Mrs. Kathy Saroukhanian, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph and Savey Tufenkian, Dr. and Mrs. Garo and Sylvie Tertzakian, Mr. Larry Zarian, Mr. and Mrs. Manas and Donalee Boujikian, Mr. Apo Saghdejian, Mr. Mark Geragos, Archbishop of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, Moushegh Mardirossian, and Mr. and Mrs. Vahe and Aida Yeghiazarian.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region’s Annual Banquet will be held on September 30th, 2007, at the Universal Sheraton in Los Angeles. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour and silent auction, with the formal program commencing at 7:00 p.m. Organizers of this event expect that it will be sold out well before September 30th.

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

Photo Captions: Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA-29); Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA-19); Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA-14); Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA-27); Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA-38).