The Armenians of Greater Los Angeles and Fresno have long been on AGBU President Sam Simonian’s list of key communities to visit, as he pursues his ambitious agenda to meet in person with AGBU local leadership and community members across the world.
From March 13-15, he and his delegation, including his wife Sylva, AGBU Honorary President Berge Setrakian, members of the Central Board, Council of Trustees, Strategic Advisory Council, and Central Office management, took the opportunity to explore what is the world’s largest Armenian community in the Diaspora, after Russia.
Visit to Greater Los Angeles
On March 13, the AGBU delegation received a warm welcome at the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School (MDS), which was celebrating its 50th anniversary that same weekend. Archpriest Fr. Shnork Demirjian, pastor of Saint Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, former Principal Hagop Hagopian, and former Vice Principal Dr. Ellie Andreassian were also in attendance.
The day began with an assembly in the school’s Nazarian Sports Gymnasium, featuring remarks by President Simonian, MDS leadership, Student Council members and other guests, including Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Anna Avetisyan and Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, as well as Armenian dance performances. Members of the school administration then led a guided tour of the campus, which included the school’s newly acquired property across the street — a significant milestone in MDS’s continued growth.
Among the highlights were a visit to the Artemis Nazarian Preschool, where the school’s youngest performed, and a tour of the newly established Collaborative Learning Center (CLC), led by Student Council members, demonstrating the strength of student leadership at MDS. Dr. Natalie Berberian, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Innovation, presented an overview of the school’s library, and AGBU MDS Board Chair and Western Region (WR) Chair Kevork Zoryan highlighted the AGBU Innovation Studios, modeled after the inaugural site in Pasadena. The campus visit concluded with a reception hosted by the school’s Hospitality Committee, a dedicated group of volunteer mothers, held in the Nazarian Gym foyer.
That evening, chapter, committee, and YP leaders from across the greater Los Angeles area convened at the AGBU Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Cultural Center for an intimate roundtable discussion. Led by WR Chair Zoryan and WR Executive Director Gohar Stambolyan, the meeting provided an opportunity for regional leaders to present updates, key initiatives, and share the breadth of activities taking place in the community.
The cultural center was transformed for the occasion into an elegant reception space, complete with live music and a commemorative cake marking AGBU’s own 120th anniversary, a reminder that MDS’s milestone is part of a much longer story of institutional commitment to the Armenian nation and people.
The centerpiece of the weekend was the AGBU MDS 50th Anniversary Gala on March 14, which drew nearly 900 guests for a celebratory evening, raising over $4 million in support of the school’s future. Attendees included supporters, families, alumni, AGBU leadership from across the globe, dignitaries, and community representatives, all united in celebration of five decades of educational excellence and a lifetime of impact.
School Board Chair Zoryan and Head of School David Ghoogasian expressed words of gratitude and honored distinguished members of the MDS community for their decades of dedication and service.
President Simonian, in his speech, remarked on the meaning of the milestone occasion: “Fifty years is more than a milestone, it’s a statement. Schools don’t reach 50 years because of buildings and endowments alone. They reach 50 years because of people; teachers who care deeply about their students, parents who make sacrifices so their children can learn and grow, and administrators and volunteers who dedicate countless hours to guiding the institution forward.”
AGBU Honorary President Setrakian delivered a special tribute to Sinan Sinanian, longtime former MDS School Board Chair, former AGBU Central Board member, and current member of Council of Trustees. Mr. Setrakian then presented Mr. Sinanian with the AGBU Boghos Nubar Award, the highest honor AGBU bestows for outstanding service to the Armenian nation and community. In appreciation of Sinanian’s steadfast commitment and dedication to AGBU, which have left an enduring imprint on MDS, throughout the Western Region, and far beyond, AGBU leadership announced a generous joint contribution to MDS and shall name the plaza surrounding the Sinanian Chapel of the CLC in honor of Sinan and Angele Sinanian.
Visit to Fresno
On March 15, a smaller delegation traveled North to the Central Valley to meet with committee members of the AGBU Greater Fresno Chapter and learn more about the local Armenian community and AGBU’s presence there since 1910, as well as current opportunities for regional and global collaboration. Afterward, they visited the AGBU Center and explored Fresno’s Armenian sites— a fitting conclusion to a weekend that reaffirmed the vitality and reach of the AGBU network across the Western Region.
Reflecting on the visit, President Simonian noted:
“What we saw across the Western Region is a community that is deeply engaged, committed, and forward-looking. In the spirit of AGBU’s 120 years of strength in unity, we look ahead to many more years of shared purpose and impact.”
The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to uplifting the Armenian lives through educational, cultural, socio- economic and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia and the Armenian diaspora. Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians. To learn more visit www.agbu.org.
