Known for her civic and community involvement here in Southern California as a business and community leader, La Cañada Flintridge resident Maria Mehranian also is making a difference internationally in Armenia.
Mehranian, the managing partner and chief financial officer for Cordoba Corp. recently returned from a weeklong trip to Armenia representing the Armenia Fund.
The Armenia Fund is the largest Armenian-American grassroots, nonmembership charity in the United States. It has raised more than $120 million for humanitarian and infrastructure development in Armenia.
Serving in her role as president of the Armenia Fund, Mehranian joined approximately 45 volunteer medical professionals from Adventist Health Glendale in mid-September on their third medical mission to the Noyemberyan Hospital, located in Armenia’s northeastern Tavush region, near the border with Georgia and Azerbaijan.
“Every year, Armenia Fund and Adventist Health Glendale join forces to bring hope and care to thousands of residents living in Tavush, one of Armenia’s far-flung border regions,” said Mehranian, who currently serves on the board of trustees at Woodbury University and the dean’s leadership board at Cal Poly Pomona College of Engineering, and who previously served as chair of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
“Our partnership allows us not only to provide free surgeries and clinical care, but also to meet the Noyemberyan Hospital’s long-term infrastructure and training needs — a strategically important area for Armenia’s development and civilian security.
“Armenia Fund strongly believes in capacity-building, and the results of this project clearly echo that vision. Medical missions in rural Armenia are no easy feat, but thanks to our partners in Glendale, every mission is a success beyond words.”
According to Adventist Health Glendale, 2,015 patients were seen for extensive clinical checkup and free medications and 78 surgeries and 230 orthopedic interventions were performed in a matter of five days by the surgical team.
Mehranian, who is a past recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for exemplifying outstanding qualities in both her personal and professional life while continuing to preserve the richness of her Armenian heritage, also joined a delegation from the U.S. Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus.
Along with the Congressional delegation, Maria attended several meetings and events, including meetings with the speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia and the heads of standing committees, as well as the head of the U.S.-Armenia Friendship Group. The delegation was joined by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the United States as they met with key civic, religious and community leaders, including the supreme patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The delegation also visited the Artsakh Republic and met with the leadership of the Republic.
The U.S. Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus was founded in 1995 to give members of Congress a platform to advocate for issues relating to Armenia. Caucus members who participated in the mid-September bi-partisan delegation to Armenia included Frank Pallone, Anna Eshoo, Jackie Speier, David Valadao and James Sensenbrenner. In addition, House Foreign Affairs Committee member Tulsi Gabbard joined the delegation.
LCF Resident Leads Armenia Fund Contingent Abroad
