"High Finance and Higher Education" - the theme of this year's ball of Kosciuszko Foundation

The theme of this year’s ball on April 25 will be “High Finance and Higher Education.”    

Tickets for this prestigious black tie event are $275 before April 1, or $300 after. Students pay $200. The ball is the Foundation’s annual fundraising event which brings together the most successf ul Poles in America and the Polish diplomatic community for a night of dining, dancing and networking.  Proceeds support the educational and cultural mission of the Foundation.

Mr. Sulimirski said, “The PSFCU started out small, giving loans to immigrants who could not get mortgages from American banks.  But now, it has more than $1 billion in assets, and while many American banks are struggling due to the subprime mortgage mess, the PSFCU is going strong and has not had a single foreclosure.  That is very impressive and deserves to be recognized.  Mr. Chmielewski has done a fantastic job running the credit union and helping Polish Americans build their credit ratings and their net worth.”

Mr. Chmielewski said, “I am flattered by this recognition for the PSFCU by the Kosciuszko Foundation.  This also shows that Poles and Polish Americans understand High Finance and that we are good partners for the financial industry.  We at the PSFCU recognize the invaluable work of the KF in providing unique educational and cultural opportunities for our community. The PSFCU is honored to join hands with the KF to improve the situation of Polonia in America.”

The KF and PSFCU were also major supporters of the new permanent Chair of Polish Studies at Columbia University. 

The PSFCU has helped tens of thousands of Polish immigrants to establish themselves and achieve financial success issues in America. It is also the most generous supporter of Polish charities in the United States. Except for the Kosciuszko Foundation, the PSFCU’s scholarship fund for Polish Americans is the largest in America. The Kosciuszko Foundation awards about $1 million in scholarships annually, and the PSFCU awards $300,000 to students each year.
 
“That’s why the theme of this year’s ball will be High Finance and Higher Education” said Kosciuszko Foundation President Alex Storozynski.  “Thaddeus Kosciuszko wrote, ‘By nature, we are all equals. Riches and education constitute the only difference.’ The PSFCU and the KF help Polish Americans to achieve financial stability and educate their children. These go issues go hand in hand.”

In addition to the PSFCU, the ball will honor several members that have made legacy gifts to support the foundation’s educational and cultural programs.  Mr. Storozynski said, “These are dedicated members who have made an investment in the future of the Foundation by establishing a fund which will support its educational and cultural programs.”

In addition to Mr. Chmielewski and the PSFCU, this year’s honorees are:

Dr. and Mrs. Ronald and Maria Hagadus of Bedford Hills, NY.  Dr. Hagadus, a trustee of the Kosciuszko Foundation and an ophthalmologist, has been active in the Foundation’s Scholarship Advisory Committee.  Mrs. Hagadus, a former Trustee and Trustee Emeritus, is an artist, writer and translator.  Acting on their love of Polish culture, they established the Memorial Cultural Endowment Fund in memory of their son, Dr. James Hagadus.

Dr. Stanislaw Milewski, an ophthalmologist and trustee emeritus of the Kosciuszko Foundation and Mrs. Anita M.K. Milewski of Manchester, Connecticut established a Fund in Memory of their Parents benefiting educational exchange of Polish Ophthalmologists.

Dr. Witold Kawecki, a member of the Kosciuszko Foundation’s National Advisory Council and Mrs. Dorothy Kawecki of Plainville, Connecticut made a significant contribution to the Kosciuszko Foundation Pooled Income Fund, making the Foundation a beneficiary.

Likewise, Dr. John A. Cetnarowski-Cetner of Albany, NY established a charitable remainder unitrust of which the Kosciuszko Foundation is the beneficiary. The ensuing fund will benefit students of Polish history, culture and music.

In December 2007, Mrs. Stephanie T. Mucha, of Buffalo, NY.  established a charitable remainder trust benefiting the Kosciuszko Foundation.  The Fund will honor her late husband, Mr. Joseph Mucha, who had a long relationship with our founder, Dr. Stephen Mizwa.

Mrs. Mary Ann Iwinski of Ridgefield, Conn. & San Marco Island, Florida established the Dr. Raymond S. Dziejma Fund for graduate students in medicine and dentistry.  Dr. Dziejma, a long time member of the Kosciuszko Foundation, was her brother.

For more information on the Kosciuszko Fo undation Ball at the Waldorf Astoria, e-mail development@the kf.org or call (212) 734-2130

An American Center for Polish Culture
15 East 65th Street, New York, NY 10065-6501 · Phone (212) 734-2130