“Always remember that by nature, we are all equal, that riches and education constitute the only difference”- Thaddeus Kosciuszko

The Kosciuszko Foundation – The American Center for Polish Culture, is a bridge between Poland and the United States, working on promoting Polish culture in America.  Education and educational scholarships are one of the foundation’s main focuses because according to Thaddeus Kosciuszko knowledge and information allow an individual to advance in society and achieve upward mobility.  This connection is
cultivated on both sides of the Atlantic.  American students may travel to Poland through one of the many scholarships the foundation provides to study the Polish language and heritage and current field of study, while Polish professors visit America to pursue a masters degree in an American university.

Scholarships

Tuition scholarships, ranging from $1,00 to $7,500 are provided annually in all disciplines to Polish-American students and Americans undertaking Polish-studies in the United States.  The foundation also awards American students Year Abroad scholarships to study at prestigious universities in Poland, including Jagiellonian University in Krakow.  The Tomaszkiewicz- Florio Scholarship provides for one student to study at Jagiellonian University.

Polish Culture at the Foundation:

It is very important that the Foundation constantly raises money to fund the scholarships that are the basis of their mission.  This is done in various ways and also establishes the other part of the Foundation’s mission: To be a cultural institution for Polish heritage.  In this way, Poland can be a part of the global world, not just through scholarships for education but also through cultural events that foster an understanding among Polish and Americans of the importance of Poland and its culture in today’s society.

One of the most important social and fundraising events that the Foundation hosts every year is The Annual Dinner and Ball, a festive gala that

Courtesy of thekf.org

honors outstanding individuals and presents debutantes to society. The funds raised support the Foundation’s educational and cultural programs.  The first ball, which occurred 77 years ago, was held at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York, but in 1936 moved to the Waldorf Astoria. As of 1941, young women aged 16 to 25, with a background of scholastic achievement have been invited to participate in the ball as debutantes. Young ladies are accompanied by their fathers and presented to society before an audience of diplomats and community leaders.  Again, the idea of education and achievement, which are the qualifications for a debutante, are championed by the Foundation.

Other Cultural Events

A visit to the Kosciuszko Foundation will afford someone the opportunity to view an art exhibit of paintings by Polish masters. 

The Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition was established in 1949, in honor of the hundredth anniversary of the death of Frederic Chopin. Today the annual Chopin Competition continues to encourage gifted young pianists to further their studies and to perform the works of various Polish composers.

Other programs include various concerts, lectures, and film screenings that reflect on an aspect of Polish culture.  Annual literary conferences are sponsored by the Tadeusz Solowij Literary Fund.  For audiences that are a bit older, the Foundation strives for topics that are both interesting and cultural. There are programs about notable historical figures such as Kosciuszko, Copernicus, and Chopin, and workshops on traditional Polish crafts.

Challenges faced by the Foundation:

One of the challenges of the Foundation is reaching out to young people and ensuring the continued growth of the Foundation’s membership. The KF in conjunction with the Polish American Teachers Association offers special programs for children.  The goal of these programs is to start to foster a bond, understanding, and appreciation among the younger generation of Polish culture, history, and tradition.  All programs are bilingual, and the Polish children are actually encouraged to bring an American friend.  Activities include theater presentations and traditional Polish folk dancing workshops.

In 1959 the Kosciuszko Foundation published its indispensable English-Polish dictionary, and in 1961 a Polish-English volume. Over the past four decades, it has set the standard on both sides of the Atlantic and has been reprinted 13 times, most recently with a CD-ROM and DVD versions. This dictionary is a one of a kind.

Outside the Foundation, to publicize its goals to greater New York City, The Kosciuszko Foundation marches in the Pulaski Day Parade, which is held annually on the first Sunday in October to commemorate Kazimeirz Pulaski, a Polish hero of the American Revolutionary War.

Unfortunately, after we spoke to Polish students on campus and Polish residents of all ages in Greenpoint, many did not know of the existence of the Kosciuszko Foundation.  One young lady in Greenpoint told us that she knew of the Foundation, but that their effort to reach out to the Polish community, their target audience, was a failure.  It was her perception that the Foundation favors more wealthy Polish immigrants and neglects the greater Polish population.  She would like if the Foundation made a stronger attempt to connect with her, personally, through more relatable cultural activities.

There is a split between how the staff at the Foundation presented the organization’s impact on people’s lives, and what we found out through our field research.  While the Foundation has been crucial in advancing Polish education and culture in both the United States and America, they can certainly be doing more to cater to the Polish, Polish-American, and even American, community.

Courtesy of Poles.org

Work Cited:
Storozynski, Alex.  The Peasant Prince: And the age of Revolution.  Macmillan Publishers, 2009. Print
http://www.thekf.org
http://www.poles.org