The Kosciuszko Foundation Dinner celebrates Polish culture & history, while speaking out for justice and equality for all
The Kosciuszko Foundation held their KF Fundraising Gala Dinner at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC. During the evening, the organization honored Jan Karski, a Polish WWII soldier and member of the resistance, for his courage and bravery. The Kosciuszko Foundation’s mission is to strengthen cultural and educational bridges between the United States and Poland, and to celebrate and honor Polish culture and History.
While the organization is dedicated to embracing and celebrating Polish history, the event used Kolski’s values of courage, integrity, justice, and equality to emphasize the importance of these values for all people in all situations throughout the world, including support of moral issues like Black Lives Matters and women’s rights.
It was truly admirable to see their broad appreciation and celebration not only for their dynamic culture and history but also their unwavering appreciation for all people.
The evening honored the creators of the play and film, “Remember this. The Lesson of Jan Karski”. The event featured historical snapshots of stories of Jan Karski’s experience, and his integrity, sacrifice, and commitment to helping stop the torture and persecution of Jews during World War II. Karski witnessed atrocities Jews faced at the hands of Nazis, and was tortured himself; he ultimately prevailed in risking his life to in attempt to save others by sharing his truths all the way to President Roosevelt himself.
“Not only are we paying tribute to a great hero, Jan Karski, but we attempt to show how relevant, valid, and timely his actions are for us today in our divided, conflicted, world. ”
Jan Karski, Polish solider, resistance-fighter, and diplomat during WWII
What was most fascinating during the event, which was attended by many distinguished guests from Poland and United States, was that nearly all speakers spoke of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and of Poland’s unwavering support of the occupied nation.
They emphasized that Jan Karski remains a symbol of the importance of standing up for the oppressed, and speaking out against atrocities. I learned that today, the Polish embassy sends emails with a Ukrainian Flag at the bottom. They emphasized that everything Poland does today is aligned with the values Karski stood for, and that Poland stands in solidarity with Ukraine - noting that no other country in the world sends more military help to Ukraine than the US, and no other country sends more humanitarian help than Poland.
There was an incredible artistic performance of Babboshki - a Polish-Ukrainian Jazz Ensemble by Carolina Beimcik, Dana Vynnytska, and Rafal Sarnecki. Dana Vynnystka, a Ukrainian singer, emotionally thanked the audience and KF Foundation for their support, stating, “Thank you for your support during wartime. Actually it’s not wartime, it’s genocide.”
Understanding Jan Karski’s experiences and honoring his sacrifices keeps alive his values, which allows us all to better respond to challenges we face today.
The KF Foundation’s work in evangelizing the Poland’s rich history and culture was an extraordinary display of their commitment to justice, equality, empathy, courage, and speaking out for the oppressed, both in their honoring of Jan Karski, their unequivocal support for Ukraine, and their broader support for ethical issues all over the world. Understanding culture and providing enriching educational experiences allows us to be better humanitarians today, and the KF Foundation does an extraordinary job of achieving this.