ANCA OC Co-Sponsors Brea’s Annual Christmas Party and Holiday Lunch for Seniors

December 21, 2021

BREA, Calif.—The Brea Senior Center’s annual Christmas Party took place on December 17, 2021 at the Brea Community Center. The event was a huge success with over 300 seniors enjoying the festivities including music, raffle and a visit from Santa.

As part of its ongoing outreach to elected officials and the community in general, the Orange County Chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA OC) also co-sponsored this amazing event, attended the Christmas Party and along with first responders, city staff and volunteers, helped serve holiday lunch to the seniors.

During the program Brea Councilmember Marty Simonoff announced that Dwight Manley, a local business owner, donated $100,000 to the Senior Center to make sure vital programs continue throughout the year. Mr. Manley, in a very moving speech explained his connection to the Seniors and how he reads and keeps each letter he receives, then reaffirmed his support for the Senior Center. The party continued with live musical performances, and the much-anticipated raffle where Mr. Simonoff drew the tickets and mayor Cecilia Hupp and other city council members and staff passed out gift cards totaling over $13,000 with each and every attendee winning at least one!

This annual event has grown tremendously since the inaugural Senior Christmas Party at the Center in 2013, spearheaded by Marty Simonoff. Back then he, along with the support of the Brea Police Officers and Fire Fighters Associations, and Cecilia Hupp now serving as the Mayor of Brea, organized the free Christmas lunch and party for seniors with over 130 attendees and $400 in gift cards. Over the past few years, this simple gesture has become the highlight of the Senior Center and one of the most anticipated Christmas parties in the area.

There has been overwhelming support from the community, growing each year, while the focus remains on ensuring Seniors have an enjoyable and fun Christmas.

Mr. Simonoff is a second-generation Armenian American currently serving his seventh consecutive term on the Brea city council. He’s the longest-serving councilmember in Brea and has been the mayor five times. He continues to be a close friend of the Orange County Armenian American community in general, and specifically, the ANCA OC and is always helpful and supportive regarding issues of concern to the Armenian American community such as recognition of the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh, he’s spoken at community events and at the Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting during proclamations recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Last year while he was the Mayor of Brea, the city adopted its own resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

ANCA-OC looks forward to continuing to work closely with Marty Simonoff.

ANCA OC is the Orange County chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America working directly with the national office to advance a broad range of local and national issues important to the Armenian American community in Orange County and throughout the Western United States in furtherance of the Armenian Cause.