The Polish American Awareness Foundation (PAAF) successfully held its inaugural event at Adler Planetarium, in Chicago.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) April 18, 2008 -- The Polish-American Awareness Foundation, Inc, a Chicago based non-profit organization successfully held its inaugural event dedicated to the memory of Jan Karski at Adler Planetarium, in Chicago.
Founded in Chicago by a group of Polish-American businessmen, publishers, journalists and activists, The Polish-American Awareness Foundation (PAAF), in cooperation with PLUS Journal magazine and the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, organized an engaging event.
Choosing the life history of Jan Karski, polish diplomat, WWII hero and long-time lecturer at Georgetown University, as the leitmotiv of its inaugural event, PAAF started realizing its mission focused on the Polish-American legacy and the contributions of Poles to American history, the economy and culture. In order to influence the image of Polish-American ethnic identity in American society and mainstream media, PAAF plans on introducing significant Polish-Americans and their achievements to the general public.
"That special night exceeded our expectations in regards to the attendance and the overall response," said Paul (Pawel) Hardej, President and Co-Founder of PAAF. The event received a warm response from Polish and American communities, and featured interesting speakers which attracted almost 300 engaged guests.
Speakers included Richard Hirschhaut, Executive and Project Director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center; Pat Quinn, Lt. Governor of Illinois; Kaya Mirecka-Ploss, Executive Director of the Jan Karski Institute for Tolerance and Dialogue; Mariusz Brymora, Head of the Culture & Public Affairs Department at the Embassy of Poland in Washington, DC. Tom Wood, historian and journalist from Nashville, TN, presented a couple of entertaining and thoughtful excerpts from his interview with Jan Karski.
"We (State of Illinois) are blessed with the largest Polish-American population... Karski was a Great Pole and a Great American," said Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, one of many Karski's known students at Georgetown University.
PAAF attracted many Holocaust and Polish WWII Home Army (AK) survivors and leaders from various local organizations. The event was widely covered by both Polish and local Chicago media, including Polvision TV, Polsat TV, TV Polonia and FOX News Chicago.
Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski, has issued a statement in support of PAAF and its choice for the topic of its first event. PAAF received many congratulatory letters including one from the former US President, Bill Clinton. Paul Hardej, PAAF's Co-Founder and President, introduced the organization and its goals with an engaging opening speech.
About Polish-American Awareness Foundation, Inc:
Founded at in 2007, The Polish-American Awareness Foundation, Inc (PAAF) highlights the Polish-American legacy by promoting and sharing knowledge of Polish and Polish American history and culture. PAAF invites like-minded members of media, scholars, activists, businesses and volunteers to consider working together with PAAF on a number of projects.
For additional information on news that is the subject of this release or to sponsor one of PAAF's future events or programs contact Ewa Dybioch at (US) 773 744 0908
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