November 25, 2025
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The force of women for women was with AIWA this weekend in Palo Alto, CA as the Armenian American Women’s Association (AIWA) San Francisco affiliate gathered to celebrate the enduring legacies of Diana and Lucille Apcar and to introduce FoundHer, a bold new initiative designed to provide Armenian women with essential funding, mentorship, and hands-on guidance to launch and grow in the realm of entrepreneurial diplomacy.
The celebration began with an appreciation reception hosted at the home of Andrew and Tsovo Massena. The evening brought together sponsors, Board members, and guests for intimate networking, meaningful tributes, and musical performances, underscoring AIWA’s commitment to community, culture, and empowerment. Silva Katchiguian, AIWA President, offered remarks highlighting the breadth of AIWA’s initiatives and thanking donors and attendees for their ongoing support. “Your goodwill, understanding, and commitment to stand beside every woman sustains our work and expands our reach. Thank you for believing in AIWA, and for choosing to invest in the voices, talents, and futures of Armenian women worldwide,” she said.
Ms. Massena, Vice-Chair of the San Francisco Affiliate, emphasized the transformative impact of AIWA initiatives that equip women with skills training. She observed, “It is so gratifying to see these women redefine their futures, expand their economic self-reliance, and demonstrate how education can uplift entire households and communities.”
Mimi Malayan, great granddaughter of Diana Apcar presented her great grandmother’s life from a personal angle, while Emma Arakelyan, Digital Creator, Co-founder at Orion Score and AIWA board adviser spoke of the connection between Diana Apcar’s extraordinary story with the modern vision of New Julfa. Arakelyan presented silver pins reproducing the “Daj” art to leading women who fused heritage and modern entrepreneurship in their respective fields. Recipients were Mimi Malayan, Meline Mesropian from Osaka Japan for preserving the Apcar history; Lusine Yeghiazaryan for her support of Digital Julfa program; and Esther Wojcicki, journalist and educator.
Following the reception, AIWA hosted a gala at the Four Seasons Hotel, drawing a sold-out crowd of friends, supporters, and partners who gathered to mark the official launch of the FOUNDHER initiative. Both events were enriched with powerful speeches and tributes to distinguished AIWA women, complemented by performances by Rosa Lynn and Eva Voskanyan.
Gala highlights included a call to action from Lilit Yenokyan, Chair of the SF Affiliate, who challenged attendees to invest in AIWA initiatives and the FoundHer program, with a fundraising target of $150,000 to be raised by the close of the evening. Emcee Gassia Mikaelian of KTVU FOX News kept the program engaging and on schedule, underscoring AIWA’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women.
In the spirit of recognizing trailblazers, AIWA members honored three women trailblazers who broke barriers in their field and paved the way for others. Mimi Malayan, great-granddaughter of Diana Apcar; Alice Petrossian, Educator and Community Leader; and Magdalena Yesil, Entrepreneur and Venture Capitalist were recognized for their contribution to their communities and to the fields in which they served.
A particularly moving moment featured the retelling of how Lucille Apcar’s handwritten letter to AIWA-SF, and her connection to AIWA Founder Barbara Merguerian, came to life on stage. AIWA SF former Chair Christine Soussa and Treasurer Laura Dirtadian shared how Lucille’s strength and resilience exemplified the Apcar legacy. Dirtadian reflected, “This small frail looking woman (Lucille) truly epitomized strength, resilience, and the power of channeling the beauty of a woman’s energy.” Soussa added, “It is a profound honor to keep the Apcar legacy alive through AIWA.” Lucille Apcar’s estate left more than $150,000 to AIWA to champion women’s ingenuity by empowering and elevating female entrepreneurs and women-led projects through FoundHer.
To illustrate AIWA’s impact and ongoing commitment to women in business and startups, Mariam Torosyan, founder of SafeYou and AIWA grant recipient, spoke about the courage and compassion of the women who paved the way. Torosyan is a Cartier Women’s Initiative 2025 Impact Awardee, highlighting the broader reach and recognition of AIWA-supported endeavors.
Emma Arakelyan, Gala keynote speaker, shared her enthusiasm for the Digital Julfa mission to revive Armenian trade power and brand influence by connecting merchants of the past with today’s markets. “Tonight, we celebrate the Apcar family, one of the most illustrious New Julfan Armenian merchant families, whose vision, trade networks, and philanthropy shaped not only the Armenian diaspora but also global commerce and diplomacy for centuries. They were carriers not just of goods, but of businesses, ideas, and innovation— rebuilding national identity and brand globally through excellence, resilience, and creativity,” Arakelyan stated.
FoundHer Initiative
FoundHer is AIWA’s new initiative aimed at empowering Armenian women through critical funding, mentorship, and practical guidance to help them launch and scale ventures in entrepreneurial diplomacy. The program aligns with AIWA’s mission to elevate women’s leadership and strengthen communities through education, commerce, and diplomacy.
The weekend culminated with a drum roll announcing the donations tally, and AIWA proudly announced that the fundraising goal of $150,000 had been met in contributions to support FoundHer and AIWA’s broader programs.
