Recognizing the Homenetmen Ararat Chapter's 25th Anniversary CONGRESSMAN ADAM B. SCHIFF OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, October 21, 2003 Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Glendale/Ararat Chapter of Homenetmen. Homenetmen is an organization that provides Armenian communities around the world with moral, physical, and social education. In the 25 years since its inception, the Glendale Chapter of Homenetmen has grown from a seven member volunteer group to a thriving community organization with over 1800 members. The Ararat Chapter is now the largest in the United States, and conservatively estimates that it has provided services to nearly 10,000 adults, children and seniors since 1978.   For the last quarter century, the Ararat Chapter has been a guiding light for the growth and success of Glendale's Armenian community, and the community as a whole. Ararat's efforts to form lasting bonds with community and government organizations, regardless of race or religious affiliation, have made a lasting positive impact on the community. They provide numerous supervised weekend and after school programs that afford a healthy and safe environment for children and young adults. The Ararat Chapter's volunteers also play a vital role in contributing to drug awareness education throughout the community. The Homenetmen-sponsored 5K/10K run/walk attracts over 1,000 participants annually, and includes pre-and-post race events tailored to drug and alcohol awareness. The Ararat Chapter also works closely with local hospitals, churches, and local governments on a variety of beneficial community events such as graffiti clean-ups, scouting events, holiday luncheons with the Salvation Army, and blood drives with the Red Cross. Ararat volunteers blanket our community with goodwill and friendly hands. Schools, children, hospitals, and many other groups are buoyed by the charity of this outstanding community organization. They are a tribute to their Armenian heritage, and a jewel of their home city of Glendale. It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the Homenetmen Ararat Chapter for their 25 years of dedicated service to the Glendale community.