Tekeyan Greater NY 75 th Anniversary Gala Honors Senator Menendez
The Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) Greater New York Chapter is hosting a gala banquet
on Saturday, October 15 commemorating the 75 th anniversary of TCA worldwide. TCA is
dedicated to advancing Armenian culture through its various centers and chapters, and the NY
chapter’s event is held under the auspices of the Central Board of the TCA of the United States
and Canada.
US Senator Bob Menendez will be honored at the banquet, while the well-known Armenian
artist Tigran Asatryan and his band from Los Angeles will perform for the first time for the New
York/New Jersey community that evening. DJ Barko will also contribute to the entertainment of
guests.
The master of ceremonies is Diran Jebejian, a man who has spent the better part of his life
serving the Armenian community through various organizations. An ordained deacon, he grew
up in the Armenian Church, and has served on countless planning committees for the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church. He has previously served on the TCA Greater New York
executive committee and performed with the TCA Mher Megerdchian Theatrical Group.
Currently he serves as a co-host for the Armenian Radio Hour of New Jersey and recently was
elected to St. Nersess Seminary’s board of directors.
Diran holds a master’s degree in Public Administration, owns an event photography business,
and serves as Chief of Emergency Medical Services for the Borough of Fort Lee, NJ. He believes
strongly in the TCA mission to promote cultural, spiritual, and educational ties with our
homeland, irrespective of political and ideological barriers.
Honoree Senator Menendez has championed Armenian causes for decades, including justice for
the Armenian Genocide and US support for Armenia and Artsakh. The son of Cuban immigrants,
he entered politics in Union City, NJ, in opposition to local corruption. He obtained his law
degree from Rutgers University, and worked his way up the ladder of government, winning
elections as mayor, state legislator, congressman, and then, in 2006, US senator.
As senator, he became chairman of the important Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and was
able to block biased candidates who potentially would have been hostile to Armenians from
ambassadorial positions. He consistently has worked to constrict US assistance to Azerbaijan and
enforce Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act of 1992. One of his important accomplishments
was help pass a bill which got the US to formally reaffirm its recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and its support of Armenian Genocide education.
He has of course played a prominent role on varied US foreign policy issues. He serves on the
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, where he champions increased
consumer protection and corporate accountability, fairness in lending, affordable housing, and
comprehensive approaches to community revitalization. He served as Chairman of the Banking
Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development where he fought for
smart growth, jobs for the 21st Century and updating our aging transportation system. As a
senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, he has sponsored legislation increasing access
to health care, advocated for fairness in the tax code to help middle class families get college
educations and be able to retire, and has pushed for trade initiatives to ensure America’s global
competitiveness.
Senator Menendez is married to Nadine Arslanian (née Tabourian).
The gala dinner, taking place at the Terrace in Paramus, N.J. (293 Paramus Road), will include a
sophisticated silent auction pieces as well as a variety of raffle items. For sponsorships or tickets,
please contact Talia Bouldoukian (rsvptaliab@gmail.com or 917 238-3970) or Tamar
Degirmenci (tiiaa20@aol.com, or 201 315-6486).
