LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS/ ASBAREZ: The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) announced that it will recognize three individual champions of human rights – U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, Cleveland H. Dodge, and Jackie Coogan — who, in working with the Near East Relief, were instrumental in bringing worldwide attention and rendering aid to the orphans and refugees during and in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide from 1915 through 1930.

The Armenian National Committee of America WR (ANCA-WR) is proud to recognize U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s efforts to draw international attention the Armenian Genocide and for organizing private and public relief efforts to save the Armenian people. Accepting the posthumous recognition on the Ambassador’s behalf is his great-grandson, Henry Ben Morgenthau IV, MD, a pediatrician based in San Francisco, California. Dr. Morgenthau is also the grandson of Henry Morgenthau Jr., who was Secretary of the Treasury during President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration. Dr. Morgenthau IV has maintained strong ties to the Armenian community and its most important causes throughout his life. In 1999, he traveled to Armenia where he met with the President in Yerevan, the Catholicos at Etchmiadzin, and visited the National Genocide Memorial and other important cultural sites.

In receiving this honor, Dr. Ben Morgenthau stated, “I would like to thank the Armenian National Committee WR for singling out the heroic work of the Near East Relief and the Near East Foundation. My great grandfather, Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, was a founder of the Committee on Armenian Atrocities, which later became the Near East Relief. He was one of just a few heroes in positions of power willing to call attention to the horrific Genocide taking place in Armenia in 1915. We need more heroes.”

Accepting the recognition on behalf of Cleveland H. Dodge is his great-grandson Johnson Garrett, currently the Vice-Chairman of the Near East Foundation (NEF) and a Board Member of the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation. He is also a member of the executive committee for both organizations. Garrett has worked as a digital media executive for 15 years, previously working for AOL, Viacom, Excite@Home, Ask Jeeves, and most recently, IAC/InterActive Corp. Garrett was a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a founding member of Network 20-20, a New York based foreign policy group. He graduated with a B.A. from Princeton University and a MBA from Columbia School of Business.

In response to the recognition, Garrett stated, “On behalf of the Dodge family, I am deeply grateful for this honor being bestowed upon my great-grandfather Cleveland H. Dodge. His philanthropic legacy was extraordinary, but no more evident and impactful than in helping to found Near East Relief which aided so many Armenians in their darkest hour.”

Accepting the recognition posthumously on Jackie Coogan’s behalf is his grandson, Keith Coogan. On this occasion, Keith stated, “Jackie Coogan played a very small part and was a very young man who turned to his father at the time and said, ‘Daddy, we need to do something to help.’ And his father believed that as a young boy of privilege, it was important that Jackie see what was happening in the world. And in a few short years, Hollywood came together and raised millions. It was really the children that came together, as Jackie led the Children’s Crusade of Care with his milk trains and the steam barges he took overseas via the establishment of the Near East Relief. I thank you for honoring him, California, and all of Hollywood.” Keith Coogan was born on January 13, 1970 in Palm Springs, California. Following in the footsteps of his legendary grandfather, Keith began his acting career in TV commercials, as well various TV shows and made-for-TV movies. He played the smitten Brad Anderson in the delightful teen comedy cult favorite “Adventures in Babysitting” and gave an engaging performance as Christina Applegate’s brother Kenny in “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.” He has made guest appearances on “Toy Soldiers,” “The Love Boat,” “Eight Is Enough,” “Knight Rider,” “CHiPS,” “Starman,” “21 Jumpstreet,” to name a few. Keith graduated from Santa Monica High School and attended Santa Monica College and Los Angeles City College, majoring in Drama. Coogan resides in Los Angeles and continues to act and runs blogs in his spare time.

The ANCA-WR is proud to recognize the humanitarian spirit of Henry Morgenthau, Cleveland H. Dodge, and Jackie Coogan, who embarked on one of the greatest international humanitarian efforts launched in the history of the American people. In addition to recognizing these three individuals, accepting the “Humanitarian Award” on behalf of the Near East Foundation will be Shant Mardirossian, Chairman of the Near East Foundation (NEF) and Charles Benjamin, President of NEF.

Mardirossian is the Chairman of the Near East Foundation (“NEF”), an international development organization founded in 1915. NEF is affiliated with Syracuse University, where its headquarters are located and operates in seven countries, which include Egypt, Jordon, Morocco, the West Bank, Sudan, Mali and Armenia. Mardirossian most recently led NEF’s effort to establish micro-economic development projects in rural Armenian villages. In his professional life, Mardirossian is a Partner and the Chief Operating Officer at Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C., a leading U.S. middle-market private equity firm. He is a graduate of the Lubin School of Business at Pace University and holds a B.B.A. in Public Accounting and an M.B.A. with dual concentration in Investment Management and Strategic Management.

Charles Benjamin has over 20 years of experience in international development, with extensive experience in community development and natural resource management throughout the Middle East and Africa. He has been involved with NEF since 1993, when he began a five-year assignment as Country Director in Morocco. Prior to becoming President of NEF in January 2010, he was a Senior Manager with the International Resources Group, an international development-consulting firm based in Washington, D.C., where he managed USAID-funded development projects in the Middle East and Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in natural resources and environment from the University of Michigan, with a focus on decentralization and local institutional development in West Africa.

The legacy of the Near East Relief and all of the selfless individuals who exemplified true humanitarian spirit reflect the deep bonds that have long existed between the American and Armenian people. The Armenian National Committee of America WR is proud to honor and recognize their work and their memory.