[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF HILDA GRIGORIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 24, 2011

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Hilda Grigorian, a 
Glendale resident who has dedicated herself to helping those in need 
around the world, often in some of the most challenging and dangerous 
locations.
  Hilda Grigorian was born and raised in Iran, and migrated to the 
United States in 1978 in pursuit of the American dream of education and 
career. Hilda achieved both of these goals--she obtained a bachelor's 
degree and MBA and is currently working toward her Ph.D. at Walden 
University. She also worked in the private sector for over two decades, 
focusing on international development.
  Hilda began her international relief efforts with a trip to her 
motherland of Armenia, where she volunteered to help small businesses. 
After several visits to Armenia's rural villages, she established a 
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) called Armenia Village Operation, 
which she started with her own funds and other private funding. The 
program implemented important projects in the rural villages of 
Armenia.
  In 2005, Hilda traveled to Afghanistan to work with a USAID-funded 
program to help vulnerable, widowed women with business planning and 
access to funds to regain their businesses which were destroyed by the 
Taliban. She then worked for UNDP in the youth development project. In 
2008, she began working for USAID Afghanistan as a Field Program 
Officer, stationed in the Province of Nangarhar, which borders 
Pakistan. In 2009, she was transferred to the remote, rural Province of 
Ghor in Western Afghanistan, where she helped people implement 
community development programs, created jobs through cash for work 
projects, and ensured a fair distribution of food to the people of 
Ghor.
  Hilda's selfless dedication to the people of Afghanistan has 
immeasurably benefited some of the most at-risk people in the world, 
and has demonstrated the generous spirit of Americans toward those in 
crisis. She thrived in an environment that afforded her very basic 
living conditions, with no luxuries or amenities we often take for 
granted.
  I ask all Members to join me in thanking Hilda Grigorian for her 
unwavering commitment to the people of Armenia and Afghanistan and wish 
her well in all future endeavors.

                          ____________________