Pasadena Receives Sister City Recognition

Members of the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee Monday evening presented Mayor Tornek and the City with an award received from Armenian sister city Vanadzor, Armenia. The Pasadena Sister Cities Armenian sub-committee received the award from the city after traveling to Vanadzor, and helping to install a new heater in a local kindergarten.

“This just goes to demonstrate Pasadena’s recognition and reputation throughout the world,” said Mayor Tornek, who accepted the award on behalf of the City.

The Award recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding community and individual sister city programs that promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation.

In 2015, the PSCC raised funds to have heaters installed at School #3 in their sister city Vanadzor, Armenia. Being that the Armenian winters are very harsh, the unheated school created challenging learning conditions. PSCC worked alongside the Mayor of Vanadzor to provide financial and organizational assistance.

Sister Cities International’s Annual Awards are awarded in several categories including Best Overall, Innovation (Arts and Culture, Economic Development, Humanitarian Assistance, and Youth and Education), and Volunteer of the Year. Award winners will be honored at the Lou Wozar Diplomatic Awards Dinner on Saturday, July 16 during SCI’s 60th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, DC.

Founded as a Presidential Initiative by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization for 570 member communities with 2,300 partnerships in 150 countries on six continents. The sister city network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers who work tirelessly to promote the organizations’ mission of creating world peace and understanding through economic development, youth and education, arts and culture, and humanitarian assistance.