Stephen Elmasian to be honored with Vahan Cardashian Award at ANCA Eastern Region Gala
November 2, 2026WATERTOWN, M.A. – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern Region will recognize longtime Rhode Island Armenian-American community leader Stephen Elmasian with the 2026 Vahan Cardashian Award at its 20th Annual Gala on Saturday, December 5, 2026, in Warwick, Rhode Island. For tickets, sponsorships, and hotel information, visit givergy.us/ancaergala.
The Vahan Cardashian Award – the ANCA Eastern Region’s highest honor – is named in memory of the early 20th century Armenian advocate who built the foundation for modern Armenian-American civic engagement and political advocacy. The Award is presented to those whose lifetime of service and dedication has advanced the Armenian Cause and left a lasting impact on their community for generations to come.
“We are honored to recognize Stephen Elmasian with the 2026 Vahan Cardashian Award,” said ANCA Eastern Region Chair Dr. Ara Chalian. “Steve has been a pillar of Rhode Island’s Armenian-American community and a steadfast voice for Hai Tahd. Beyond his decades of leadership, he has been a mentor and role model to generations of young Armenian Americans, helping them find their own paths in community activism and advocacy. We look forward to honoring his lifetime of service and dedication this December.”
Elmasian’s longstanding leadership of the Armenian National Committee of Rhode Island (ANC of RI) has helped strengthen Armenian-American advocacy and civic engagement throughout the state. Having served as chairman for many years, he currently serves as Co-Chair of the committee. His involvement in the Armenian Cause also includes his work through the Providence ARF “Kristapor” Gomideh, where he previously served as Vice President and Treasurer. Throughout his tenure, Elmasian has remained committed to honoring and building upon the work of those who came before him, particularly Ani Haroian and the late Steve Varadian, while working side-by-side with Steve Mesrobian to carry their legacy forward.
Under his leadership within the ANC of RI, some of the first Armenian Flag Raising Ceremonies in the United States began taking place in Rhode Island. These ceremonies have since become an enduring tradition, honoring members of the local Armenian-American community in Cranston, East Providence, North Providence, Providence, and Warwick. The ANC of RI’s Armenian flag sponsorship initiative has further extended that presence across the state. Established more than two decades ago, the program brings the Armenian flag to Rhode Island city and town halls in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. Hundreds of local sponsors have participated in honor or memory of loved ones, raising nearly a quarter of a million dollars over the past 20 years. The initiative has also inspired similar efforts in Fresno, California, Illinois, and Merrimack Valley.
For Elmasian, sustaining Armenian-American advocacy has also meant investing in those who will carry it forward. Whether leading delegations to Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C., or encouraging young activists to take an active role in their communities, his approach to leadership has emphasized preparing the next generation to take up the torch. A Providence AYF-YOARF alumnus, he served as Junior and Senior advisor for the Providence AYF-YOARF “Varantian” Chapter for 27 years. He has also coached softball and track and field for the “Varantians” since 1981. His years of dedication to the chapter were recognized in 2015, when he was named an AYF Olympic King. Elmasian has also held membership in the Providence ARS “Ani” Chapter and Homenetmen Providence Chapter, alongside his involvement with Sts. Vartanantz Church in Providence, R.I. He currently serves as treasurer of the church’s Men’s Club, previously served on its Board of Trustees, and has contributed to its picnic and food festival committees for decades. His dedication to the community was also recognized with a lifetime achievement award at the annual Sports Banquet at St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church.
This December, Elmasian will be honored alongside Ani Haroian, joining a distinguished list of Vahan Cardashian Award recipients, including Garo Armenian and Paul Jamushian (2025) and Antranik Boudakian (2024), among many others. The 20th Annual ANCA Eastern Region Gala serves as the premier annual fundraising event for the ANCA Eastern Region Endowment Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization dedicated to advancing advocacy, education and civic engagement throughout the Eastern United States. Proceeds from the gala support outreach initiatives, educational programming, leadership development and advocacy efforts carried out in collaboration with a network of local ANCs and activists across the region, empowering Armenian Americans to engage effectively in the civic process and advance policies that promote justice, accountability and a secure future for the Armenian nation.