Arpi Chapter

The ARS Arpi Chapter was established in 1977 in the City of Diamond Bar located in the north-east part of Los Angeles County, California. The following were the founding members:

• Vanoush Baghdasarian
• Angel Krdokian
• Louise Krdokian
• Janet Garabedian
• Nellie Matheosian.

The chapter was concerned about the accessibility of Armenian language instruction in the area and established a Saturday School in 1980, which continues to operate. Christmas and year-end programs were organized for the Saturday School. A second Saturday School was operated in the City of La Verne from 1993 to 1996. The chapter organized craft and art programs, celebrated traditional holidays and conducted other fundraising to operate the schools. Following the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, the chapter raised funds to assist the earthquake survivors. The chapter sponsored two orphaned children in Artsakh through the ARS Sponsor-A-Child program. The Arpi chapter became a sister chapter to the ARS Shoushan Chapter in Armenia, and provided assistance to the chapter. One of the smallest chapters in the region, the Arpi Chapter continues to serve the educational needs of the new generation locally and provides assistance to ARS children’s programs in Armenia and Artsakh.