October 2008 - Polish American Association

Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
Pol
PAID
Chicago, Illinois
Permit No. 5789
Polish American Association
3834 North Cicero Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60641
Phone: (773) 282-8206
Fax: (773) 282-1324
WWW. POLISH. ORG
Thank You
...to those who made PAA’s 2007 Gala & Benefit Auction, to those who made generous donations to the Miracle Fund,
to all those who generously donated their time, services, and gift items for the silent auction and grand raffle at our Annual Gala, to all those who
helped make the Holiday’s more special for PAA’s clients, and to the foundations and corporations that provided support for our programs...All
Temp Heating & A/Cond., Inc., Alphawood Foundation, Altman Dermatology Associates, Anonymous, Anthony M. Slawniak, Aon
Corporation, Archer Gold Jewelry, Mitchell Asher, AT&T, Citi Handlowy w Warszawie, Ted Baranowsk, Irving Barr, Benjamin
B. Green-Field Foundation, Kenneth & Margaret Berezewski, Stanislaw Bernacki, Helene Blake, Edward & Jane Bleka, Dan &
Sheri Boho, Rev. Michael Boland, Susan Bowey, Brockhaus, Stuber, Fox & Lloyd, Inc., Dorothy Brown, Gina Buda, By-Lo Mfg.,
Inc., Catholic Charities, Charter One Foundation, Chest Medicine Consultants SC, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Journeymen Plumbers’
L. U. 130, U. A., Chicago Society PNA Lodge 1450, Christopher Radko (Starad, Inc.), Mark & Barbara Chudzinski, Cianciara
Architects, Citibank, ComEd, An Exelon Company, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland, Copernicus Foundation, Crowne
Plaza Chicago Metro, Cukierski & Kowal, L.L.C., CVS/Pharmacy, Benjamin DeHayes, Divine Mercy Polish Mission, Lawrence
Dyjak, Camille Einoder, Emil J. and Marie D. Kochton Foundation, European Cultural Foundation, First Bank, Florida Distillers
Company, Foundation for Health Enhancement, Gift From the Heart Foundation, Gordon and Pikarski, Dolores Grantz, Mark
Hauer, Health Care Service Corporation, Helen Archacki Trust, Hinshaw & Culbertson, Home Depot, Idea Furniture Company,
Michael & Natasha Isaacs, Jessica Jagielnik, Jesser and Farber, L.L.P., Jewel-Osco, Joe Zapora Restoration CO., Stanley & Susan
Jozefiak, JP Morgan Chase, Clem Juris, Adam Kamieniak, Krzysztof Karbowski, Karol Uryga-Nawarowski Foundation, Karyn’s
Inner Beauty Center, Kasia’s Deli, Inc., Kenard Management Corp., Dr. Krystyna Kiel, Gregg Kobelinski, Konica Minolta,
Liliana Kostek, Thaddeus Kowalski, John & Rose Ann Koziol, Krzysztof Koziol, Kraft Employee Fund, Walter Kurczewski,
LaSalle Bank, Legion of Young Polish Women, Mark Lesniewicz, Geraldine Lichterman, Chester Lizak, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation,
Jerome & Chris Long, Richard Lorenc, LOT Polish Airlines, Caroline Lyczko, Catherine Lyczko, Mario Machnicki, Thaddeus
Makarewicz, Mark & Grazyna Maneykowski, Marion, Inc., Target, Ted & Barbara Martin, Aleksandra Mazurek, Jozef Mazurek,
MBB Enterprises of Chicago, McCormick Tribune Foundation, John & Bozena McLees, Conrad Miczko, Midwest Bank and Trust
Company, Lucyna Migala, Miller Canfield, Eva Mogilnicka, Montrose Deli & Cicero Deli, Inc., Eugene& Jane Mroz, Marta
Muszynska, New Age Photographers, Leo Niemiec, Sarah Nixon, Norridge HealthCare & Rehabilitation Centre, Conrad & Klara
Nowak, Stan Nowak, Oak Mill Bakery, Radek Oleksiewicz, Kenneth & Barbara Olendzki, Juanita Olmos, William O’Neill, Lynn
Orawiec & Lawrence Eldridge, Most Rev. Thomas Paprocki, Robert & Sandra Paszczak, Peoples Gas, Rosanna Peterson, Cynthia
Piech, Robert Piech, Daniel Pikarski, Malgorzata Pilichowska, PNA Bank, Polamer, Inc., Polish American Contractors & Builders
Association, Polish American Police Association, Polish National Alliance, Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, Polish
Women’s Alliance of America, Polish Women’s Civic Club, Polk Bros. Foundation, Polonia Ensemble, Polskie Radio 1030AM,
Polvision, Karen Popowski & Peter Neuman, Rev. Henry Pozdol, Progressive Driving Schools, Quantum Foods, Inc., R. A. Zweig,
Greg Randby, Realty Services, Inc., Court Rejman, Miroslaw Rogala, Dr. Izabela Roman, Marek Rudnicki, Jolanta Santocka, Sara
Lee Corporation, Sara Lee Foundation, Ronald Sarbieski, SEIU Local 1, Caroline Shoenberger, Rev. Edmund Siedlecki, Halina
Sienkiewicz, Sincerely, The Experts, Corp., Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, Stanley & Grazyna Skoczen, Henry & Isabel Smogolski,
Dr. Mark & Anna Sobor, Bogna & Walter Solak, Zofia Solak, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Jeanne Sowa & Craig Mitchell,
St. Joseph Church, Stahl Cowen Crowley, Stawski Distributing Co., Inc., Agatha Szewczyk, Anna Szpindor, Laurence & Dawn
Szumski, Tawa Flooring, Inc., The Retirement Research Foundation, The Seneca Hotel & Suites, The White Eagle, Alicia Tru,
Truefitt & Hill, Thomas Tylka, U.S. Money Express Co., Washington Mutual Bank, WDT, Western Union, Mitchell & Frances
Wiet, Richard & Jamee Wiet, Bryanna & Paul Wilczynski, William A. Panek & Associates, Ernest & Mimi Wish, Barbara
Witkiewicz, Wito Electrical Engineering, Robert & Barbara Wojda, Wolf & Company LLP, Women First Specialists, S.C., WRM,
Inc., Piotr Zasowski, Jim Zielinski, Raymond & Diane Zmaczynski, Clifford Zolna, Bozena & Arie Zweig, Krzysztof Zybert,
Andrew Zych . . and to all those not mentioned here, but who have given to PAA in time, money or prayers, Dziekujemy bardzo!
Polish
American
Association
Serving Polonia Since 1922
Help PAA Combat Hunger
for food assistance to increase. In
As you are already well
fact, this past August we served an
aware of, the cost of food and other
average of 170 households per week
basic living expenses have risen drawhich represents an increase of about
matically over the past year. Many
52 households per week when
families and individuals in our comcompared to the number of
munity are finding it increasingly
households served in August of 2007.
difficult to put food on the table and
without our help,
having to turn to food
many of these
pantries, soup kitchindividuals would
ens and other instituhave nowhere else
tions in search of
to go… Without
emergency food assisyour help, we
tance. For over 25
would not be able
years Polish Amerito provide them
can Association’s
with the help they
(PAA’s) Food Pantry
need. Please, help
has been making sure
us continue to
that people who
provide
these
struggle with poverty,
Nearly 52% of those
families and indihunger and food inse- served by our food pantry
viduals with the
curity get the nutri- are senior age 60 and over
help they need.
tional support they living on extremely limited
Support PAA’s
need. However, we
incomes.
Second Annual
don’t just provide free
Food Drive and Solicitation
food, we also provide our pantry
Campaign which will take place
guests with access to the educational,
during the months of October and
employment and supportive services
November of 2008.
that will help them improve their
Bring nonperishable food items to
quality of life. Last year, we proour offices at 3834 North Cicero
vided groceries to 792 households;
Avenue in Chicago or send a check
257 of them also received interpreor money order in support of PAA’s
tation services, emergency rental and
Food Pantry. Since we can purchase
energy assistance, English-as-a-Secfood at discounted prices from our
ond-Language and computer skills
local food bank, your financial
classes, and other valuable services
contribution will help us buy at least
through PAA. These services are
twice as much food than you could
critical because they equip particibuy from your local grocer. As
pants with the skills and resources
always, your contribution is taxthat will enable them to overcome
deductible to the extent allowed by
poverty
and
hunger.
law. For more information call (773)
Given our current economic
282-8206 extension 315.
conditions, we only expect requests
Volume XXII, Number 1, October 2008
From The Board of
Directors...
“Fundraising is sputtering at big local
charities, forcing some to tighten their belts at a
time when more people need their help,” states a
recent front page story in Crain’s Chicago
Business.
As friends of the PAA, we cannot let this
trend become part of our personal giving pattern.
Now more than ever, with the lack of state funding,
PAA needs your support to continue to provide the
resources for changing lives. The Polish American
Association is often the last resort for many of
Chicago’s Poles and others in need. Basic needs are
not being met; entire families are going to bed
hungry. Our Food Pantry served 600 families in
2006, 800 families in 2007 - this week, 240
families came to PAA for food! Now, more than
ever, we need your help to continue to provide the
resources.
Help us today with a tax-deductible gift to
the Polish American Association. Review our list of
services and dedicate your donation to the one
closest to your heart or apply it to the general fund.
You can drop off food for our Food Pantry to both
south side and north side locations.
Yes! I want to help combat hunger…
Here’s my contribution of:
[ ] $25.00
[ ] $50.00
[ ] Other: ______
[ ] $100.00
Name:______________________
Address:____________________
___________________________
e-mail______________________
Make checks payable to: Polish American
Association, and mail to PAA
3834 N. Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60641.
Jewel-Osco helps PAA
fight
hunger and poverty
The Polish American Association received a $25,000 grant
from Jewel-Osco to be directed toward social services offered by the
agency to Chicago’s Polish Americans and others in need.
PAA’s Chairman of the Board, Geraldine Gedroic Lichterman,
and Acting Executive Director Magdalena Dolas, accepted the check
from Juanita Kocanda, Public Affairs Manager at Jewel-Osco. The
ceremony took place on Sunday, August 31, 2008, during annual Taste
of Polonia at the Copernicus Cultural and Civic Center in Chicago.
The grant will be used to help PAA’s clients with limited
economic resources to overcome hunger, poverty, and homelessness.
“Jewel-Osco continues to demonstrate best corporate stewardship, and
we thank the company for being such a good corporate neighbor for so
many years,” said Magdalena Dolas, Acting Executive Director.
From left:
Geraldine Gedroic
Lichterman, PAA’s
Chairman of the
Board; Juanita
Kocanda,
Public Affairs
Manager, JewelOsco; Magdalena
Dolas, PAA’s
Acting Executive
Director.
For more than a decade, Jewel-Osco has provided generous monetary
and in-kind donations in support of PAA’s Food Pantry and homeless
day shelter, enabling individuals and families obtain desperately needed
help in times of crisis.
2008 Chairman’s Brunch
On April 27, 2008, PAA held the 2008 Chairman’s
Brunch at Bucktown’s most famous art hub - The Wooden
Gallery – owned by a world-renowned Polish artist, Jerzy
Kenar. Geraldine Gedroic Lichterman, PAA’s Chair of the
Board, hosted the event attended by nearly 100 prominent
members of Chicago’s Polish American community who raised
more than $30,000 for immigrants struggling with language
and cultural barriers. The Wooden Gallery provided a beautiful
setting for an elegant afternoon that featured a multimedia
presentation of Jerzy Kenar’s artistic journey.
Also at the brunch, PAA honored Frances and Mitchell
Wiet, the eminent members of the Polish American community
with the 2008 Solidarity Award in appreciation of their lifetime
giving to support the mission and work of the organization.
(left to right) Geraldine Gedroic Lichterman, President of
Kenard Management Corporation and PAA’s Chairman of the
Board presents 2008 Solidarity Award to Mitchell and Frances
Wiet at the PAA’s Annual Chairman’s Brunch on April 27, 2008.
This dynamic duo received the award for their dedication and
outstanding investment of time and resources in the empowerment
of the Polish community and others in need served by PAA.
Embrace PAA. Become a Volunteer!
I’m excited to share my PAA
volunteer experiences with you, especially
because I have such fond memories of my
time there. I had the opportunity to work
with wonderful people in many different
areas of PAA. I helped prepare for the
silent auction at the annual gala, and then
attended the gala where I got to dress up
for a fun evening of eating, drinking and
auctioning with PAA staff and supporters.
In addition, I helped with a citizenship
workshop at the Southwest office, where
I met PAA employees and clients that I
never would have met otherwise. PAA
always encouraged me to spend time
working on things that interested me, and
the variety of services they provide meant
there was always much to explore. I also
Sarah (second from the top right) with PAA
staff and volunteers at the gala
learned a lot about the changing nature of
Polish immigration and the opportunities
and challenges ahead of PAA. PAA is the
only social services agency of its kind in
Chicago, which makes it a unique, exciting
place to work. For all of these reasons,
now is an exciting time to become involved
with PAA.
I have volunteered for other
organizations in the past but haven’t felt
connected to them in the same way. My
positive experiences at PAA were because
of the wonderful, dedicated, generous
people who work there, and the fun,
professional work environment. PAA is
truly concerned about the Polish
community in Chicago, and its employees
are passionate about their work. I hope to
stay connected to PAA for many years to
come, and I encourage all of you to become
involved in PAA too.
Sarah Beehler
Bringing hope to broken homes
20th Anniversary of the Program
for Victims of Domestic Violence
October is Domestic
Violence Awareness Month
(DVAM) and for the Polish
American Association this year
marks the 20th anniversary of its
Program for Victims of Domestic Violence. During this month,
across the
country, activists team up
with nonprofits, health
care providers, corporate
leaders, legislators, and
foundations
to build domestic violence awareness, to emphasize the need for community
involvement in efforts to reduce
domestic violence, and to increase
community support for agencies
helping those who are victims. At
PAA, we continue our mission of
ending violence and empowering our clients to break free from
the devastating cycle of fear and
abuse. For many Polish immigrant wo-men who face enormous
language, financial and cultural
barriers, PAA is often the only
source of help they can turn to.
One of those women is
Zofia who came to the U.S. in
August of 1998 to join her father,
and in 2002 she met her partner
who dramatically transformed her
immigrant life.
Shortly after they moved
in together, Zofia experienced his
first violent outburst, but his
temper grew worse after she
became pregnant. Zofia was an
easy target for her partner’s
frustrations, and he began to use
domestic violence as a way to
control her. He forbade her to
contact family and friends and
shattered her life with
constant rampages that
became more and more
violent.
Stripped of all hope,
coincidentally Zofia met a
woman who directed her to
PAA for
battered
women’s
services.
She finally
could tell
about her
situation
a
n
d
feelings to
people who
wanted to help her. Zofia
attended mental health
counseling and a support
group for battered women
where she was able to gain
confidence and restore her
peace. Through related
services at PAA, Zofia found
a permanent job and
affordable housing. Zofia no
longer lives in fear of her
husband and most importantly, is in charge of her
life that is free of violence.
While we celebrate
this remarkable milestone,
which is the 20th anniversary
of our Program for Victims
of Domestic Violence, we
are reminded of its enormous
impact on the hundreds of
lives and how it has brought
empowerment, wellness and
safety to the Polish American
women who know that they
can turn to PAA for help in
times of the worst life crisis.
Thank you to all supporters
who have helped us throught
the years remain a lifeline
for those in need!
The Link is a publication of the
Polish American Association.
Editor: Ana Cruz, Agnieszka Lipowicz
Design: Barbara Sobecka
2008 Annual Gala &
Benefit Auction
Mark your calendars now for
Saturday, October 25, 2008!
This fall the Polish American Association
invites you to the 2008 Annual Gala & Benefit
Auction celebrating the agency’s long-standing
service to Chicago’s Polish American community.
The gala will be held on October 25, 2008,
at 6:30 p.m., in the Donald E. Stephens
Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The
2008 Presidential Award recipient being honored
at this year’s event is Jewel-Osco, a combined grocery
and pharmacy retail chain with an extraordinary
commitment to the communities it serves, including
Polish American.
Escape for the evening of celebration
and glamour as the Stephens Ballroom will be filled with
great entertainment, exquisite food and fine cocktails.
Boost your philanthropic spirit to take a piece of the
festivity home with silent auction items, including
exotic getaways, balloon rides, unique sports
memorabilia, restaurant extravaganzas, Chicago
outings, and many more!
The proceeds from the gala will benefit
hundreds of Polish Americans in need who come to
PAA for support, healing and empowerment. We invite
you to help us make a difference in their lives!
You are important!
Tickets On Sale Now!
$165 per person
Please RSVP by October 20 at
(773) 282-8206 ext.304 or al@polish.org
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS 2008 GALA
SPONSORS: