Some 450 people gathered at Cipriani Wall Street in downtown Manhattan on January 15 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) — an organization that has provided strength and opportunity to the Armenian people — and pay tribute to a true humanitarian and co-founder of FAR, Dr. Edgar M. Housepian.
Many guests traveled hundreds of miles to attend the regal gala, which helped to raise close to $1 million to support FAR operations.
His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the event and addressed attendees.
Other notable speakers included Tribute Committee Chair Dr. Tavit Najarian; Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and President of FAR Archbishop Khajag Barsamian; Chair of FAR’s Board of Directors Mr. Randy Sapah-Gulian; President Emeritus of Boston University and FAR Board member Dr. Aram Chobanian; and Dr. Housepian’s son Dr. David Hovsepian.
President Barack Obama sent a congratulatory letter on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Fund for Armenian Relief.