New York, NY – The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region will host its Fourth Annual Banquet at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Warwick, Rhode Island on Saturday, December 4, 2010. The Banquet will begin with a cocktail reception and silent auction at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner and awards at 8:00 p.m. This marks the first year that the regional banquet will rotate from New York City where it has been held for the past three years.

Every year, more than 300 Armenian American community members and leaders from throughout the Eastern United States join prominent Members of Congress, statewide officials, and state legislators for the ANCA Eastern Region Banquet.

The ANCA Eastern Region once again will honor an individual with its prestigious Freedom Award for outstanding contributions toward the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and for pursuing other issues of importance to the Armenian-American community. Past recipients of the Freedom Award include former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Samantha Power, and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez.

The Vahan Cardashian Award also will be presented to an Armenian-American activist who has exemplified the ideals and dedication of the founder of the Hai Tahd movement. Past recipients of the Vahan Cardashian Award include Mr. Vahe Amirian of New Jersey, Ms. Martha Aramian of Rhode Island, Mr. Bedros Bandazian of Virginia, and Ms. Melanie Kerneklian of Virginia.

For more information about the Banquet, please contact George Mangalo at (401) 662-0216 or Stephanie Killian at (401) 523-0205.