ARS Providence Arax Chapter Honors Penny Giragosian as Mother of the Year

The ARS Providence Arax Chapter held its annual Mother’s Day dinner-dance and program on Saturday, May 10, 2003 at the Venus de Milo, Swansea, MA.  Over 250 people attended this year’s annual event.

Every year, the ARS Arax Chapter honors a woman in the Providence community who exemplifies the characteristics of an ideal Armenian mother.  This year’s honorary mother was Ungh. Penelope Giragosian.

Mistress of Ceremonies Ungh. Pearl Bargamian introduced Ungh. Penny, who has dedicated countless hours to the many ARS programs and projects here in the United States and Armenia, and especially to United Nations projects focused on making life better for the children of Armenia.

“We want to thank Ungh. Penny’s family for allowing her time to pursue her dream of helping the ARS and especially the special children of Armenia who are so dear to her,” said Ungh. Bargamian.

Ungh. Maro Minassian, chairwoman of the ARS,Inc. Central Executive, praised Ungh. Penny for her dedication to the ARS and its programs.  Ungh. Margaret Stepanian, ARS Providence Arax Chapter member and ARS Central Executive member, gave a brief history of how Mother’s Day originated and wished Ungh. Penny many more days of health, joy, and love.  Ungh. Georgi-Ann Oshagan, chairwoman of the ARS Eastern USA Board of Regional Directors, recalled the great impact Ungh. Penny had on her and her contemporaries as a powerful example of the modern Armenian woman and presented Ungh. Penny with a silver 25-anniversary ARS pin and 25-year certificate on behalf of the ARS Eastern USA.

Ungh. Penny’s oldest child, Corey Mahjoubian, spoke on behalf of the family and noted that although Ungh. Penny was being honored as the “Mother of the Year” for 2003, for him and his siblings, Ungh. Penny was the “mother of the year” every year.

Ungh. Joyce Yeremian, chairwoman of the ARS Providence Ani Chapter, presented Ungh. Penny with a bouquet of flowers and congratulated her on the occasion of being named ARS Providence Arax Chapter “Mother of the Year.”

Ungh. Penny, in typical fashion, did not focus on herself or her achievements but thanked the audience for all it does to support the Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian people.  Ungh. Penny urged the audience members to continue to help the Armenian people through the great programs of the ARS as they have for many years.

As a memento of the occasion, the ARS Arax Chapter presented Ungh. Penny with a specially engraved keepsake photo album to remember this very special honor and very special day.

Many generous donations were made to the ARS Arax Chapter by the following:  Mr. Aram Garabedian, Leylegian Family, Giragosian Family, Mr. and Mrs. Antranig Hovanissian, and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Tikoian in memory of Michael Topalian.

Rev. Gomidas Bagdasarian gave a meaningful invocation and benediction and recalled his many moments with Ungh. Penny during his time as pastor of the Sts. Vartanantz Church community.

The evening ended with the guests dancing to the sounds of the Joe Kouyoumjian Ensemble.