Philadelphia, PA — The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA ER) has announced that Antranig Garibian will be the Master of Ceremonies of the 7th Annual ANCA Eastern Region Banquet on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Philadelphia.

A native of Philadelphia, Garibian was raised in a vibrant and active Armenian community. He credits his family and community for inspiring and encouraging him to be active in the Armenian church and in his efforts to create awareness of Armenian issues in the United States.

“I have always admired the ANCA’s energy, passion and dedication. The ANCA’s work is critical to the future of the Armenian people both in Armenia and here in the U.S. It’s easy to talk the talk, but the ANCA truly does walk the walk. I am truly honored and humbled to serve as Master of Ceremonies for this year’s 7th annual ANCA Eastern Region Banquet. I look forward to celebrating another successful year for the ANCA, and to working together to face the significant challenges that lie in the year ahead,” Garibian stated.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University in 2001, focusing on post-Soviet democratization, and his J.D. from Temple University in 2004. Garibian is a litigation associate at Stradley Ronon Stevens and Young, LLP in Philadelphia. He maintains an active practice in New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, focusing on complex commercial litigation, product liability, insurance coverage, and on the representation of religious and nonprofit organizations.

Garibian has traveled several times to Armenia, having last visited with his family in 2011. In addition, he travels to Jerusalem and maintains close ties with the Armenian community there, focusing his efforts on preserving the rights of the Armenians in the Holy Land. He serves on the Diocesan Council of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church and is a member of the committee of the Diocesan Legate, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, where an emphasis has been placed on the safety of the Christian minorities in the Middle East.

He currently lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Sabrina, a native of Rhode Island, and their two children, Raffi and Alessandra. The Garibians are active members of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church parish in Cheltenham, PA, and feel extremely blessed to have such wonderful friends and family throughout the entire Philadelphia Armenian community.

The 7th annual ANCA Eastern Region Banquet will honor critically-acclaimed author Chris Bohjalian with its ANCA Freedom Award and long-time Hai Tahd activist Zohrab Tazian with its Vahan Cardashian Award.

The banquet will begin with an elegant cocktail reception and silent auction at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and awards ceremony at 8:00 p.m. To purchase tickets or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.anca.org/erbanquet . For more information, please contact James Kzirian at (267) 767-0453.

The ANCA Eastern Region Endowment Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization that supports the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region in outreach to Armenian American communities.

Photo Caption: ANCA Eastern Region Banquet 2013 Master of Ceremonies is Philadelphia native Antranig Garibian, a longtime active member of the Pennsylvania Armenian community in many respects.