"Jan Karski - an Ambassador of Justice and Peace" (Inaugural Ceremony and Lectures) organized by the Polish American Awareness Foundation (PAAF) in collaboration with PLUS Journal magazine and The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center was a great success. PAAF would like to thank our excellent speakers and guests for their participation.

The event focused on the legacy and impact of Jan Karski, a Polish diplomat, ardent opponent of Communism and impassioned fighter for the liberation of Poland and Polish Jews during the Holocaust. The ceremony featured keynote speeches by Karski’s former student, the Honorable Pat Quinn, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Illinois; Dr. Kaya Mirecka-Ploss, Executive Director of the Jan Karski Institute for Tolerance and Dialogue in Washington D.C.; and never seen before excerpts from Tom Wood's interview with Jan Karski. This event was the first in a series of efforts designed to promote Polish history, cross-cultural understanding and an increased awareness of the contributions of Poles to our nation and to the world.

Paul (Paweł) Hardej, President and Co-Founder of PAAF, presided the ceremony. Hardej introduced speakers as well as presented the mission and goals of the Polish American Awareness Foundation with an engaging opening speech. Speakers also included Richard Hirschhaut, Project and Executive Director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center and Counselor Mariusz Brymora, Head of the Culture & Public Affairs Department at the Embassy of Poland in Washington, D.C. 

PAAF's event 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 congratulations letters including one from the former US President, Bill Clinton.

 

PAAF would like to thank our generous individual donors and corporate sponsors for all the help. Click here to see the list of our supporters

Click here to contact us if interested in attending our future events or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities 

 Gallery of pictures and videos from the event is coming soon, please, come back to see it yourself!