Little Armenia, CA – Well over two-hundred Armenian youth gathered in the “Little Armenia” district of Los Angeles Sunday providing their volunteer service to the AYFís 3rd Annual Little Armenia Cleanup. Volunteers from all over Northern and Southern California; including Fresno and San Francisco, helped remove thousands of pounds of trash from major streets in Little Armenia, bringing the three year total to over 23.5 tons of trash removed by the AYF.

Organized by the Armenian Youth Federation and cosponsored by Los Angeles City Council member Eric Garcettiís Office, the cleanup attracted volunteers from the public at large and community organizations such as the AYF, Homenetmen Los Angeles Chapter, and the ARF Badanegan Organization.

Before the clean up began Nora Ounjian relayed the AYF Central Executiveís message to the youth. “The AYF will remain at the forefront of serving our community and, in particular, will continue to provide our youth with opportunities of social service,” said Ounjian. Reverend Father Vicken Vassilian representing his Grace Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy Armenian Church, blessed both the effort of the AYF and the volunteersí willingness to serve the community.

Los Angeles City 13th District Council member Eric Garcetti thanked the volunteers for their efforts and welcomed the initiative of both the volunteers and the AYF. The Council member awarded the AYF with a desktop plaque that carries the seal of the city of Los Angeles and reads Little Armenia.

In the coming weeks many “Welcome to Little Armenia” light-post banners will be added to the existing 63 erected from past years. Depicting the Tri-color, Sardarabad Monument, and Mount Ararat, the banners have added a touch of Armenia to the community.

The Armenian Youth Federation would like to thank the volunteers and the official sponsors of the Little Armenia Clean Up, without whom the event would not have been the success that it was. Adin of California, Asbarez Daily Armenian Newspaper, Horizon Armenian Television, Nor Hayastan Daily Newspaper, USA Armenian Life Magazine, Closet World, Color Depot, Donoyan Insurance Agency, Sylvieís Costumes, Carpet Show, Sun Workís Tanning, Eric Garcettiís Office and staff, and the A.R.F. Hollywood Karekin Njteh Gomideh, played a fundamental role in the success of this public service effort.