American Red Cross President And Ceo Gail J. Mcgovern Visits The Western Diocese

American Red Cross President and CEO Gail J. McGovern visited the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America on Thursday, March 17, 2016 and met with the Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

McGovern, who was accompanied by Mr. Jarrett Barrios, CEO of the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region (ARCLAR) was greeted at the Diocesan Headquarters by Joseph Kanimian, Esq., member of the ARCLAR Board of Trustees. Mr. Kanimian, who has served for the last nine years on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region (ARCLAR), was re-elected to serve on the Board of ARCLAR for another three-year term during the organization's 99th annual meeting held at the California Endowment in Los Angeles in June 2015. Mr. Kanimian, who serves on the Financial Development Committee of the Board and Prepare Southern California, is also the Chairman of the Diocesan Council and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ararat Home of Los Angeles, Inc.

The Primate expressed his delight in welcoming the American Red Cross CEO to the Western Diocese, informing Mrs. McGovern that the religious institution has been an ARCLAR partner for over nine years and has been supporting the American Red Cross by collecting contributions from the faithful and allocating the funds for the organization’s global and local disaster relief efforts. Archbishop Derderian also informed the ARC President about last year’s ecumenical service at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral during which the American Red Cross, as an organization, was honored. As a symbol of gratitude, an Armenian cross-stone was presented to Mr. Jarrett Barrios during the service in recognition of the organization’s immense humanitarian support extended to the Armenian nation.

"The ARC is an integral part of our daily life", stated His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, "It does play a major role in extending a helping hand to all nations and countries of the world when disaster strikes.  We all remember the role it played during the devastating earthquake that hit Armenia and we are thankful for the ARC for that" added the Primate.

Archbishop Derderian led his guests on a tour of the Cathedral complex as they visited the Cathedral’s sanctuary and the outdoor Genocide Memorial Monument situated near the Hampar Family Entrance of St. Leon Armenian Cathedral.

In the afternoon, more than 200 ARC volunteers and staff of the second largest Red Cross region in the nation participated in a town hall meeting with the President and CEO of Red Cross Mrs. Gail McGovern. Held at the Nazareth and Sima Kalaydjian Hall, the Primate welcomed the guests and as a symbol of his gratitude presented Mrs. McGovern an icon depicting the Annunciation of St. Mary.

Mrs. McGovern joined the ARC as president and CEO on April 8, 2008 and has taken a strong leadership role at the nation's leading emergency response and blood services organization.  During the lecture/meeting she spoke about the significant role the ARC plays in disaster preparedness and disaster relief all over the world.  She also spoke about the need for the general public to support the ARC to meet its obligations and elaborated on new approaches and programs to reach the public through outreach programs.

Click here to learn more about the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.