PACCF
2020 Online Youth Camp
July
13-24, 2020
The Polish
American Congress Charitable Foundation is sponsoring an Online
Cultural
Program for American teenagers of Polish descent ages 13-17
in cooperation with the
School of Polish Language and Culture Jagiellonian University.
Participation is open to members of the following Fraternals:
First Catholic Slovak
Ladies Association, Polish Falcons of America, Polish National
Alliance and Polish Roman
Catholic Union and to student members of a Polish American Congress
Division or
National. Membership will be verified prior to your acceptance.
Participants will be
selected on a first come first served basis, with preference
being given to students who
have not previously participated in a PACCF sponsored Youth
Trip. Enrollment is limited
to 100 participants. Even though this is an online Program,
a valid U.S. Passport or
Permanent Resident Card is required, due to School regulations.
The program will include 30 hours of Polish language with a
placement test
administered to determine students’ knowledge of Polish
and classes will be structured
accordingly. 20 hours of virtual sightseeing tours, cooking
classes, Polish holiday
traditions, song and dance, games and online quizzes.
The cost
of the Camp is $350.00 U.S. per person. Of this cost, participants
will pay
$150.00 (nonrefundable) and the PACCF will pay the balance of
$200.00 per person.
Applications and Itinerary are available for download on our
website www.paccf.org. If
you have any questions please contact Alina Slomiany (773)763-9942
or Bo Padowski
at (847)420-4070.
DEADLINE
FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATION & FEE IS JUNE 26TH
Mail to: PACCF 6645 N. Oliphant Ave.,
Suite A, Chicago, IL 60631
For
program description and an application please click below
Click
here
Since
1981, the PACCF has been conducting a very active "Relief
for Poland" program through which over 260 million
worth of humanitarian aid was provided to hospitals, orphanages,
rehabilitation centers for the physically and mentally disabled,
the ill and the needy of Poland. Over the years, the PACCF
humanitarian aid has reached over 200 rural hospitals and over
80 homes for disabled children. Each year, the PACCF
helps thousands of children and adults throughout Poland.
The
PACCF also sponsors two special cardiac centers and has
arranged training sessions for doctors and medical staff from
Poland. The PACCF Book Program provides thousands of
books annually to Poland's medical schools, universities, hospitals
and other institutions to provide modern up-to- date literature
and reference materials. Between the years 1992 - 1995 the PACCF
engaged in a special program to help the disabled and the elderly
in homes throughout Poland, and continues a very active program
of providing medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and hospital
equipment.
During
the summer of 1997 as record rains and floods ravaged the Polish
countryside, the PACCF sponsored a flood relief program.
Through its telethons, radiothons and numerous fund drives conducted
across the United States, the PACCF has been able to
fund shipments of relief supplies and medicines valued at over
$10 million.
The next phase of relief assistance was be that
of "Assisting in Reconstruction". The 1998
harvest was lost due to flood. The PACCF worked with
institutions and organizations in the health sector, agriculture
and in education. The PACCF also donated pharmaceutical
drugs, medical supplies and specialized rehabilitation medical
equipment to hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centers throughout
Poland.
Over
the years the PACCF has shipped close to 300 million
dollars relief programs to Poland. These goods, equipment ,
medical supplies, food, clothing, books and farming implements
were distributed throughout various geographic regions in Poland
and included hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centers.
The
PACCF continues to visit and review organizations which
are given donations.
In 2017 Vice-Presidents, Mr. Nowotarski and Mr. Tokarski visited
organizations that receive donations and visits yearly, plus
new ones that requested assistance. The trip was even longer
as one of the new organizations is near Bialystok.
Meeting
with directors of Unicorn in Krakow.
Mr.
Nowotarski and Mr. Tokarski receive thank you plaques at home
for handicapped children in Trzebownisko.
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Exercise
and Massage room at Home for Handicapped Children in Tarnow.
Mr.
Nowotarski and Mr. Tokarski with children.
Mr.
Nowotarski enjoys watching games at Home for Handicapped Children.
Mr.
Nowotarski inspects van donated to Home for Blind and Deaf Children
in Sobieszewo.
Mr.
Nowotarski takes notes during inspection of Fundacja Dzieciom
"Zdazyc z Pomoca" in Warsaw.
For the
first time the Youth Trip was organized through Jagiellon University
in Krakow.
The program was filled with activities including: 45 hours of
language instruction, sightseeing tours of Krakow and the Salt
Mine in Wieliczka, trip to Zakopane, sporting activities, dance
workshops, and film showings. Click
here for magazine from school describing the trip.
Learning
the Polish language.
Learning
to converse in Polish.
Visit
to the Tatry Mountains and Zakopane.
Boating
on the Vistula.
Taking
a break from classes.
JOSEPH
JACHIMCZYK,J.D.,M.D. POLONIA AWARD 2017
On July 29, 2017 the National Advocates Society & National
Medical and Dental Association presented the Polish American
Congress Charitable Foundation with the Joseph Jachimczyk Polonia
Award. The presentation was made at their convention in Bloomington,
IN at a special banquet.
The PACCF was applauded for their continued support of
organizations assisting people in need in Poland, as well as
supporting people of Polish decent in the United States through
scholarships, cultural programs, film projects, and youth trips
to Poland.
Blessing
of new transport van donated by Mr. Raymond Mayer
and the PACCF.
The van will help the Home for Blind and Deaf Children in
Sobieszewo with getting their charges safely to activities.
The 5th Youth Cultural Trip consisting of 24 children and two
adults left for a two week visit on July 5th. This year the
trip was organized by a Polish tour group Almatur making the
trip even more interesting since a guide was with the group
the whole time. The group visited Jasna Gora, Czestochowa, Krakow,
Wieliczka, Warszawa, Torun, Znin, Biskupin, Zelazowa Wola, and
The children learn about the history and culture of Poland,
and were able to do some hands on activities like making pierniki
and learning traditional dances. The highlights of the trip
for the children were the visits to the Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego,
Centrum Nauki Kopernika, a medieval castle, and most notably
Auschwitz. On the last day in the Pienniny Mountains a raft
cruise on the Dunajec River.
Visiting
the Warsaw Uprising Musem.
Admiring
the salt sculptures in the mines in Wieliczka.
In
front of Pope John Paul II statue.
Learning
traditional dances.
Warsaw’s
Old Town.
In
October of 2014 Vice Presidents, Steve Tokarski and Chris Nowotarski,
traveled to Poland for a visit to several organizations the
PACCF supports. Traveling over 1,000 miles they visited organizations
in Warsaw, Krakow, Rzeszow, Tarnow, and Sobieszewo/Gdansk. They
were warmly greeted everywhere they went, with stories of how
much the funds received helped the organization in their charitable
work. In Sobieszewo/Gdansk, Towarzystwo Opieki Nad Ociemnialymi
mentioned that without the donation they received from PACCF
they would have had to close. This would have left around 300
people without local assistance, who would have to travel to
Warsaw for help.
A visit to Stowarzyszenie Pomocy Dzieciom i Mlodziezy Niepewnosprawnych
lntelektualnie in Tarnow, was of great satisfaction. They continue
to do a good job in giving handicapped children a place to thrive
and receive care they would not receive otherwise. The same
was true of Stowarzyszenie Pomocy Dzieciom i Mlodziezy Sprawnej
Inaczej in Rzeszow/Trzebownisko. Here the mayor came personally
to thank the PACCF for the donation made for the school for
handicapped children.
Mr. Nowotarski
and Mr. Tokarski with the staff and residents of Stowarzyszenie
Pomocy Dzieciom i Mlodziezy Sprawnej Inaczej in Rzeszow/Trzebownisko.
One
of the specialized beds purchased with funds from the PACCF,
of which more are greatly needed.
Staff
and residents of Stowarzyszenie Pomocy Dzieciom i Mlodziezy
Niepelnosprawnych Intelektualnie during activities.
A
specialized wheelchair purchased with funds from the PACCF.
The chair helps greatly with mobility.
One
of the young residents of Towarzystwo Opieki Nad Ociemnialymi
learning
some basic skills.
Mr.
Nowotarski discusses plans with the staff at Towarzystwo Opieki
Nad Ociemnialymi.
Representing the PACCF, Alina Slomiany visited Towarzystwo Pomocy
Gluchoniewidomym, an institute our organization has been supporting
for several years. During her meeting with the institute's director
Mr. Grzegorz Kozlowski, Alina presented a donation of $5,000.00.
The donation will help the institute to continue their multiple
activities, which enrich the lives of blind and deaf people.
The institute depends on the work of volunteers with whom Alina
was able to meet and discuss plans for the future.
Alina Slomiany of PACCF during visit with director Grzegorz
Kozlowski, Bozena Wieckowska(center left), and volunteers for
Towarzystwo Pomocy Gluchoniewidomym.
During
her visit to Poland, Alina Slomiany also met with Artur Kolosinski
of Diagnos Sp, a manufacturing firm specializing in medical
equipment. The main focus of this meeting was the purchase of
an ambulatory respirator for Szpital Specialistyczmy in Sanok
located in the Bieszczadzki Region. The hospital covers a wide
area and their ambulance up to now did not have a respirator.
The PACCF covered the full cost of the much needed respirator.
Artur
Kolosinski of Diagnos Sp receives donation for purchase of respirator
for
Szpital Specialistyczmy in Sanok, from PACCF representative
Alina Slomiany.
For
the 4th Annual Youth Cultural Trip a group of 13 children and
one adult left for a two week visit on June 19th. As in previous
years the Summer Program was funded by PACCF, Wspolnota Polska
and the fraternals to which the children belong. Using the Dom
Polonii in Pultusk as a homebase, the group visited Jasna Gora
in Czestochowa, Krakow, Wieliczka, Warszawa, Torun, as well
as smaller villages and nature preserves in the surrounding
area of Pultusk. The children learn about the history and culture
of Poland, and were able to do some hands on activities like
making pierniki. The highlights of the trip for the children
were the visits to the Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego and Centrum
Nauki Kopernika.
Children
from United States and Canada at the Bazylika Kolegiacka from
the 16th century during 2011 Youth Trip.
Learning of Polish history, traditions, and
architecture in Torun.
Making traditional pierniki
Trying out science experiences during visit
to Centrum Nauki Kopernika.
PACCF
DELEGATION IN POLAND, JULY 2010
A
Meeting with Caritas Polska
Warsaw --
On July 20, 2010, the PACCF delegation visited the headquarters
of Caritas Polska, the largest Catholic charity in Poland. PACCF
President Virginia Sikora, PACCF Vice Presidents Christopher
Nowotarski and Steve Tokarski, and PACCF Director Bo
Padowski presented a donation of $10,000 to Caritas for a program
called "Backpacks Full of Smiles" or "Turnister
pelen Usmiechow." The funds will be used for back-to-school
supplies for Polish children who were affected by the recent
floods in Poland. Over 5000 backpacks have been filled with
supplies -- and with smiles -- so far.
Other programs
discussed during the meeting that the PACFF will continue
to support in the future include sending aid to children in
Poland suffering from childhood diseases. Father Marian Subocz,
Director of Caritas Poland, expressed his gratitude to Polish
Americans for their generosity and for their continued support
of the people of Poland, especially its youngest citizens, whose
lives are often the most affected by economic hardships.
A
Meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Warsaw --
On July 21, 2010, the PACCF delegation visited the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and met with Undersecretary
of State Grazyna Bernatowicz, who is responsible for political
matters and policy development within the EU and for North and
South America. Present at the meeting were PACCF President
Virginia Sikora, PACCF Vice Presidents Christopher Nowotarski
and Steve Tokarski, PACCF Director Bo Padowski, and Aleksander
Sielicki, President of the Polish Cultural Center in Krasnodar,
Russia.
The PACFF
and the Polish Women's Alliance of America offered financial
support for a joint effort to send Polish children from areas
affected by the recent floods to Krasnodar for a summer camp.
Undersecretary of State Bernatowicz expressed her thanks for
the donation of $8,500 ($6000 from the PACCF and $2500
from PWA) which will underwrite the program. Other possible
areas of cooperation between the East and West were discussed
as were the efforts of Poles living around the world to bring
aid to the flood victims in Poland. The PACCF, along
with the PWA and PNA, have donated $23,500 so far and the fundraising
continues. The PACCF delegation also met with the Marshal
of the Senate Bogdan Borusiewicz.
The first
group of young Polish Americans left for Poland on Sunday, July
18, 2010. Here is a group photo taken at Chicago's O'Hare International
Airport shortly before departure. The group has arrived safely
in Warsaw and will spend the next two weeks traveling across
Poland, visiting her cities, exploring her historical treasures,
and getting to know her people. The second group leaves for
Poland on August 1st. The Summer Program is funded by the PACCF,
Wspolnota Polska, and by the fraternals of which the students
are members.
Youth
Group gathers at O'Hare International Airport on July 18, 2010
