Бальян Рита
Бальян Рита
Balian Rita
Balian Rita
Бальян Рита, активистка и лидер гуманитарного общества, неутомимо работала и работает на пользу женщин и детей в Америке и в Армении. После землетрясения 1988 года сделала многое, чтобы помочь пострадавшим в катастрофе. С 1996 направила свои усилия на поддержание женского здоровья, снабжая Армению технологиями и техникой из США. Она является основателем, президентом и исполнительным директором некоммерческой благотворительной организации Армяно-Американская Культурная Ассоциация (AACA), основанной в 1995 году в г. Арлингтон, штат Вирджиния. С помощью ААСА г-жа Бальян основала в Ереване Армяно-Американский Центр Здоровья, направленный на улучшение, продление жизни женщин, и в целом армянских семей. Чтобы облегчить и улучшить работу Центра, Бальян установила партнёрство с 7 ведущими американскими медицинскими институтами. Она внедрила систему обмена опытом медсестер американских и армянских городов. Учредила ежегодный Армянский Фестиваль. Работала совместно с Главным Армянским Благотворительным Союзом (AGBU) , старейшей и самой крупной Армянской благотворительной организацией. Была удостоена таких наград, как Награда за достижения выдающимся гражданам от Международного американского агенства по развитию, также высший орден почета Армянской церкви, медаль Святого Нерсеса Шнорали, присужденную Католикосом Гаригином II в октябре 2001 года. Также была награждена почетными званиями доктора наук в трех разных университетах Армении. А в апреле 1996 года, указом президента Армении, Рита и ее муж Варткес Бальяны удостоились звания почетных граждан республики Армения, церемония вручения почетных наград проходила в посольстве республики Армения в Вашингтоне. Также была награждена ООН за деятельность по защите общественных интересов женщин и детей. Награждена американским Красным Крестом за руководство в получении гуманитарной помощи для жертв землетрясения, произошедшем в Армении в 1988 году.
Congressional Record: September 20, 2005 (Extensions)]
RECOGNIZING RITA BALIAN
HON. JAMES P. MORAN
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional contributions of Rita Balian, a humanitarian activist and community leader who has worked tirelessly on behalf of women and children in the United States and Armenia.
Ever since the earthquake in Armenia in 1988, Ms. Balian has dedicated her time, talent and expertise to help the people of Armenia. She has realized many projects in support of women, schools, and universities. Since 1996, she has concentrated her efforts on women's health, taking American technology, management skills and medical expertise to Armenia.
She is the founder, president and chief executive officer of the Armenian American Cultural Association (AACA), a non-profit charitable organization incorporated in 1995 in Arlington, Virginia. Through AACA, Ms. Balian established the Armenian American Wellness Center in Yerevan, a humanitarian project dedicated to saving, prolonging, and improving the lives of women through the early and accurate detection of breast and cervical cancer and to providing primary health care services to ensure the good health and well-being of families in Armenia. To facilitate the Wellness Center's work, Ms. Balian partnered the Center with seven major U.S. medical institutions. Since the Wellness Center's establishment in 1997, it has screened over 60,000 women and saved the lives of over 1,500 through the early detection of life-threatening illnesses.
Ms. Balian has dedicated herself to expanding the services offered at the Wellness Center and providing increased access to those services. The Center has added protocols in gynecology, family medicine, and pathology and reaches out to Armenians living in rural areas through monthly outreach missions and the establishment of two satellite clinics.
Along with her work on behalf of the Wellness Center, Ms. Balian's accomplishments also include the establishment of a sister-city program between the cities of Gyumri, Armenia and Alexandria, Virginia. She co-chaired the Alexandria/Gyumri Sister City Committee for six years, organized several municipal, cultural and educational exchanges and established the Alexandria Armenian Day Festival, which is now an annual celebration.
Through her work with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the largest and oldest Armenian philanthropic organization in the world, Mrs. Balian and her husband cofounded the AGBU New York Summer Intern Program for Armenian college students from around the world. She continues to manage the intern program, which is now in its nineteenth year.
She has received many awards in recognition of her work with the Wellness Center; most notably the ``Spirit of Life Cancer Advocacy Award in September 2003 from the International Spirit of Life Foundation and the Washington Cancer Institute, the ``Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award from the United States Agency for International Development in January 2003, and the Armenian Church's highest medal of honor, the St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal, bestowed upon her through a Pontifical Encyclical by His Holiness, the Catholicos Karekin II, in October 2001.
The Armenian people have acknowledged Ms. Balian's humanitarian work as well. She has received honorary doctoral degrees from three different universities in Armenia, and in April 1996, Rita and her husband, Vartkess Balian, became honorary citizens of the Republic of Armenia through a special presidential decree presented to them at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC.
She has also been honored by the United Nations for her advocacy on behalf of women's and children's rights and by the American Red Cross for her leadership in obtaining humanitarian assistance for the victims of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia.
Since March of 2004, Ms. Balian has served as a member of Governor Warner's Virginia/Armenia Advisory Commission.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the numerous accomplishments of Rita Balian. Her dedication to the people of Armenia and her efforts to increase international understanding reflect a deep sense of purpose and remarkable ability to achieve difficult and worthy goals. Her work serves as an inspiration to us all.
Categories: Armenian Individuals
http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Rita_Balian
Rita Balian
Congressional Record: September 20, 2005 (Extensions)]
RECOGNIZING RITA BALIAN
HON. JAMES P. MORAN
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional contributions of Rita Balian, a humanitarian activist and community leader who has worked tirelessly on behalf of women and children in the United States and Armenia.
Ever since the earthquake in Armenia in 1988, Ms. Balian has dedicated her time, talent and expertise to help the people of Armenia. She has realized many projects in support of women, schools, and universities. Since 1996, she has concentrated her efforts on women's health, taking American technology, management skills and medical expertise to Armenia.
She is the founder, president and chief executive officer of the Armenian American Cultural Association (AACA), a non-profit charitable organization incorporated in 1995 in Arlington, Virginia. Through AACA, Ms. Balian established the Armenian American Wellness Center in Yerevan, a humanitarian project dedicated to saving, prolonging, and improving the lives of women through the early and accurate detection of breast and cervical cancer and to providing primary health care services to ensure the good health and well-being of families in Armenia. To facilitate the Wellness Center's work, Ms. Balian partnered the Center with seven major U.S. medical institutions. Since the Wellness Center's establishment in 1997, it has screened over 60,000 women and saved the lives of over 1,500 through the early detection of life-threatening illnesses.
Ms. Balian has dedicated herself to expanding the services offered at the Wellness Center and providing increased access to those services. The Center has added protocols in gynecology, family medicine, and pathology and reaches out to Armenians living in rural areas through monthly outreach missions and the establishment of two satellite clinics.
Along with her work on behalf of the Wellness Center, Ms. Balian's accomplishments also include the establishment of a sister-city program between the cities of Gyumri, Armenia and Alexandria, Virginia. She co-chaired the Alexandria/Gyumri Sister City Committee for six years, organized several municipal, cultural and educational exchanges and established the Alexandria Armenian Day Festival, which is now an annual celebration.
Through her work with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the largest and oldest Armenian philanthropic organization in the world, Mrs. Balian and her husband cofounded the AGBU New York Summer Intern Program for Armenian college students from around the world. She continues to manage the intern program, which is now in its nineteenth year.
She has received many awards in recognition of her work with the Wellness Center; most notably the ``Spirit of Life Cancer Advocacy Award in September 2003 from the International Spirit of Life Foundation and the Washington Cancer Institute, the ``Outstanding Citizen Achievement A ward from the United States Agency for International Development in January 2003, and the Armenian Church's highest medal of honor, the St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal, bestowed upon her through a Pontifical Encyclical by His Holiness, the Catholicos Karekin II, in October 2001.
The Armenian people have acknowledged Ms. Balian's humanitarian work as well. She has received honorary doctoral degrees from three different universities in Armenia, and in April 1996, Rita and her husband, Vartkess Balian, became honorary citizens of the Republic of Armenia through a special presidential decree presented to them at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC.
She has also been honored by the United Nations for her advocacy on behalf of women's and children's rights and by the American Red Cross for her leadership in obtaining humanitarian assistance for the victims of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia.
Since March of 2004, Ms. Balian has served as a member of Governor Warner's Virginia/Armenia Advisory Commission.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the numerous accomplishments of Rita Balian. Her dedication to the people of Armenia and her efforts to increase international understanding reflect a deep sense of purpose and remarkable ability to achieve difficult and worthy goals. Her work serves as an inspiration to us all.
