“He has a real passion for helping young people in all walks of life,” Ropfogel said.
Working with children is what Hovsepian enjoys. Recently, he joined the Glendale Educational Foundation and is helping it meet its fundraising goals.
“The best thing you can give to a kid is being present, spending time with them,” Hovsepian said. “You can teach by example and be a good role model.”
Hovsepian is already taking an active role with the foundation. He is helping with the upcoming gala that will raise funds for the Glendale Unified School District’s education programs.
“I know it would have a great impact to kids,” Hovsepian said of the foundation.
But Hovsepian’s community service doesn’t end with children’s causes.
He also makes time to support businesses via the Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce. For Hovsepian, helping the Armenian immigrant community establish businesses takes an understanding of the culture, he said.
As a chamber member, Hovsepian is involved with getting the word out about Armenian businesses through networking and workshops.
“He’s honestly an absolute delight to work with,” said Annette Vartanian Jackson, executive director of the Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce. “Even in the most stressful situations, he always keeps his cool.”
When it comes to event planning and fundraising, Hovsepian takes on a leadership role that helps the chamber reach its goals, Vartanian Jackson, added.
“He always likes to bring people in to committees and make the best out of an event,” she said.
When he is not helping local causes, Hovsepian volunteers his time with the Armenian Bone Marrow Registry, an organization that seeks to find bone marrow matches for individuals with life-threatening illnesses.
The goal of the registry is to not only encourage people to donate blood, but to create awareness about the need for bone marrow, which can help save a life, he said.
“To help them find a match, I think what an honor it would be to save somebody’s life,” he said.
