Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDChicago, IllinoisPermit No. 5789

Pol

Polish American Association

3834 North Cicero AvenueChicago, Illinois 60641Phone: (773) 282-8206Fax: (773) 282-1324

WWW. POLISH. ORG

Serving Polonia Since 1922

AmericanPolish

Association

Volume XXII, Number 1, October 2008

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 whohelped make the Holiday’s more special for PAA’s clients, and to the foundations and corporations that provided support for our programs...AllTemp Heating & A/Cond., Inc., Alphawood Foundation, Altman Dermatology Associates, Anonymous, Anthony M. Slawniak, AonCorporation, Archer Gold Jewelry, Mitchell Asher, AT&T, Citi Handlowy w Warszawie, Ted Baranowsk, Irving Barr, BenjaminB. 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, CianciaraArchitects, Citibank, ComEd, An Exelon Company, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland, Copernicus Foundation, CrownePlaza Chicago Metro, Cukierski & Kowal, L.L.C., CVS/Pharmacy, Benjamin DeHayes, Divine Mercy Polish Mission, LawrenceDyjak, Camille Einoder, Emil J. and Marie D. Kochton Foundation, European Cultural Foundation, First Bank, Florida DistillersCompany, Foundation for Health Enhancement, Gift From the Heart Foundation, Gordon and Pikarski, Dolores Grantz, MarkHauer, 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 & SusanJozefiak, JP Morgan Chase, Clem Juris, Adam Kamieniak, Krzysztof Karbowski, Karol Uryga-Nawarowski Foundation, Karyn’sInner 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, ThaddeusMakarewicz, 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 TrustCompany, Lucyna Migala, Miller Canfield, Eva Mogilnicka, Montrose Deli & Cicero Deli, Inc., Eugene& Jane Mroz, MartaMuszynska, New Age Photographers, Leo Niemiec, Sarah Nixon, Norridge HealthCare & Rehabilitation Centre, Conrad & KlaraNowak, Stan Nowak, Oak Mill Bakery, Radek Oleksiewicz, Kenneth & Barbara Olendzki, Juanita Olmos, William O’Neill, LynnOrawiec & Lawrence Eldridge, Most Rev. Thomas Paprocki, Robert & Sandra Paszczak, Peoples Gas, Rosanna Peterson, CynthiaPiech, Robert Piech, Daniel Pikarski, Malgorzata Pilichowska, PNA Bank, Polamer, Inc., Polish American Contractors & BuildersAssociation, Polish American Police Association, Polish National Alliance, Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, PolishWomen’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, SaraLee Corporation, Sara Lee Foundation, Ronald Sarbieski, SEIU Local 1, Caroline Shoenberger, Rev. Edmund Siedlecki, HalinaSienkiewicz, 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 & DawnSzumski, 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 & FrancesWiet, Richard & Jamee Wiet, Bryanna & Paul Wilczynski, William A. Panek & Associates, Ernest & Mimi Wish, BarbaraWitkiewicz, 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!

Help PAA Combat Hunger As you are already well

aware of, the cost of food and otherbasic living expenses have risen dra-matically over the past year. Manyfamilies and individuals in our com-munity are finding it increasinglydifficult to put food on the table andhaving to turn to foodpantries, soup kitch-ens and other institu-tions in search ofemergency food assis-tance. For over 25years Polish Ameri-can Association’s(PAA’s) Food Pantryhas been making surethat people whostruggle with poverty,hunger and food inse-curity get the nutri-tional support theyneed. However, wedon’t just provide freefood, we also provide our pantryguests with access to the educational,employment and supportive servicesthat will help them improve theirquality of life. Last year, we pro-vided groceries to 792 households;257 of them also received interpre-tation services, emergency rental andenergy assistance, English-as-a-Sec-ond-Language and computer skillsclasses, and other valuable servicesthrough PAA. These services arecritical because they equip partici-pants with the skills and resourcesthat will enable them to overcomepoverty and hunger.

Given our current economicconditions, we only expect requests

for food assistance to increase. Infact, this past August we served anaverage of 170 households per weekwhich represents an increase of about52 households per week whencompared to the number ofhouseholds served in August of 2007.

without our help,many of theseindividuals wouldhave nowhere elseto go… Withoutyour help, wewould not be ableto provide themwith the help theyneed. Please, helpus continue toprovide thesefamilies and indi-viduals with thehelp they need.Support PAA’sSecond Annual

Food Drive and SolicitationCampaign which will take placeduring the months of October andNovember of 2008.Bring nonperishable food items toour offices at 3834 North CiceroAvenue in Chicago or send a checkor money order in support of PAA’sFood Pantry. Since we can purchasefood at discounted prices from ourlocal food bank, your financialcontribution will help us buy at leasttwice as much food than you couldbuy from your local grocer. Asalways, your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed bylaw. For more information call (773)282-8206 extension 315.

From The Board ofDirectors...

“Fundraising is sputtering at big localcharities, forcing some to tighten their belts at atime when more people need their help,” states arecent front page story in Crain’s ChicagoBusiness.

As friends of the PAA, we cannot let thistrend 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 theresources for changing lives. The Polish AmericanAssociation is often the last resort for many ofChicago’s Poles and others in need. Basic needs arenot being met; entire families are going to bedhungry. Our Food Pantry served 600 families in2006, 800 families in 2007 - this week, 240families came to PAA for food! Now, more thanever, we need your help to continue to provide theresources.

Help us today with a tax-deductible gift tothe Polish American Association. Review our list ofservices and dedicate your donation to the oneclosest to your heart or apply it to the general fund.You can drop off food for our Food Pantry to bothsouth side and north side locations.

Nearly 52% of thoseserved by our food pantryare senior age 60 and overliving on extremely limited

incomes.

Yes! I want to help combat hunger… Here’s my contribution of:

[ ] $25.00 [ ] $50.00 [ ] $100.00 [ ] Other: ______

Name:______________________ Address:____________________ ___________________________ e-mail______________________

Make checks payable to: Polish American

Association, and mail to PAA 3834 N. Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60641.

2008 Chairman’s Brunch On April 27, 2008, PAA held the 2008 Chairman’s

Brunch at Bucktown’s most famous art hub - The WoodenGallery – owned by a world-renowned Polish artist, JerzyKenar. Geraldine Gedroic Lichterman, PAA’s Chair of theBoard, hosted the event attended by nearly 100 prominentmembers of Chicago’s Polish American community who raisedmore than $30,000 for immigrants struggling with languageand cultural barriers. The Wooden Gallery provided a beautifulsetting for an elegant afternoon that featured a multimediapresentation of Jerzy Kenar’s artistic journey.

Also at the brunch, PAA honored Frances and MitchellWiet, the eminent members of the Polish American communitywith the 2008 Solidarity Award in appreciation of their lifetimegiving to support the mission and work of the organization.

(left to right) Geraldine Gedroic Lichterman, President ofKenard Management Corporation and PAA’s Chairman of theBoard presents 2008 Solidarity Award to Mitchell and FrancesWiet at the PAA’s Annual Chairman’s Brunch on April 27, 2008.This dynamic duo received the award for their dedication andoutstanding investment of time and resources in the empowermentof the Polish community and others in need served by PAA.

Bringing hope to broken homes20th Anniversary of the Programfor Victims of Domestic Violence

October is DomesticViolence Awareness Month(DVAM) and for the PolishAmerican Association this yearmarks the 20th anniversary of itsProgram for Victims of Domes-tic Violence. During this month,across thecountry, ac-tivists team upwith non-profits, healthcare provid-ers, corporateleaders, legis-lators, andfoundationsto build do-mestic violence awareness, to em-phasize the need for communityinvolvement in efforts to reducedomestic violence, and to increasecommunity support for agencieshelping those who are victims. AtPAA, we continue our mission ofending violence and empower-ing our clients to break free fromthe devastating cycle of fear andabuse. For many Polish immi-grant wo-men who face enormouslanguage, financial and culturalbarriers, PAA is often the onlysource of help they can turn to.

One of those women isZofia who came to the U.S. inAugust of 1998 to join her father,and in 2002 she met her partnerwho dramatically transformed herimmigrant life.

Shortly after they movedin together, Zofia experienced hisfirst violent outburst, but histemper grew worse after shebecame pregnant. Zofia was aneasy target for her partner’sfrustrations, and he began to usedomestic violence as a way tocontrol her. He forbade her tocontact family and friends and

shattered her life withconstant rampages thatbecame more and moreviolent.

Stripped of all hope,coincidentally Zofia met awoman who directed her to

PAA forb a t t e r e dw o m e n ’ ss e r v i c e s .She finallycould tellabout hers i t u a t i o na n dfeelings topeople who

wanted to help her. Zofiaattended mental healthcounseling and a supportgroup for battered womenwhere she was able to gainconfidence and restore herpeace. Through relatedservices at PAA, Zofia founda permanent job andaffordable housing. Zofia nolonger lives in fear of herhusband and most im-portantly, is in charge of herlife that is free of violence.

Embrace PAA. Become a Volunteer!

2008 Annual Gala &Benefit Auction

Mark your calendars now for

Saturday, October 25, 2008!

This fall the Polish American Associationinvites you to the 2008 Annual Gala & BenefitAuction 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. The2008 Presidential Award recipient being honoredat this year’s event is Jewel-Osco, a combined grocery

and pharmacy retail chain with an extraordinarycommitment to the communities it serves, including

Polish American.

Escape for the evening of celebrationand 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 thefestivity home with silent auction items, including

exotic getaways, balloon rides, unique sportsmemorabilia, restaurant extravaganzas, Chicago

outings, and many more!

The proceeds from the gala will benefithundreds of Polish Americans in need who come toPAA 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 GALASPONSORS:

I’m excited to share my PAAvolunteer experiences with you, especiallybecause I have such fond memories of mytime there. I had the opportunity to workwith wonderful people in many differentareas of PAA. I helped prepare for thesilent auction at the annual gala, and thenattended the gala where I got to dress upfor a fun evening of eating, drinking andauctioning with PAA staff and supporters.In addition, I helped with a citizenshipworkshop at the Southwest office, whereI met PAA employees and clients that Inever would have met otherwise. PAAalways encouraged me to spend timeworking on things that interested me, andthe variety of services they provide meantthere was always much to explore. I also

learned a lot about the changing nature ofPolish immigration and the opportunitiesand challenges ahead of PAA. PAA is theonly social services agency of its kind in

The Polish American Association received a $25,000 grantfrom Jewel-Osco to be directed toward social services offered by theagency 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 checkfrom Juanita Kocanda, Public Affairs Manager at Jewel-Osco. Theceremony took place on Sunday, August 31, 2008, during annual Tasteof Polonia at the Copernicus Cultural and Civic Center in Chicago.

The grant will be used to help PAA’s clients with limitedeconomic resources to overcome hunger, poverty, and homelessness.“Jewel-Osco continues to demonstrate best corporate stewardship, andwe thank the company for being such a good corporate neighbor for somany years,” said Magdalena Dolas, Acting Executive Director.

Chicago, which makes it a unique, excitingplace to work. For all of these reasons,now is an exciting time to become involvedwith PAA.

I have volunteered for otherorganizations in the past but haven’t feltconnected to them in the same way. Mypositive experiences at PAA were becauseof the wonderful, dedicated, generouspeople who work there, and the fun,professional work environment. PAA istruly concerned about the Polish

community in Chicago, and its employeesare passionate about their work. I hope tostay connected to PAA for many years tocome, and I encourage all of you to becomeinvolved in PAA too.

Sarah Beehler

Jewel-Osco helps PAAfight

hunger and poverty

The Link is a publication of thePolish American Association.

Editor: Ana Cruz, Agnieszka LipowiczDesign: Barbara Sobecka

From left:Geraldine GedroicLichterman, PAA’sChairman of theBoard; Juanita

Kocanda,Public Affairs

Manager, Jewel-Osco; Magdalena

Dolas, PAA’sActing Executive

Director.For more than a decade, Jewel-Osco has provided generous monetaryand in-kind donations in support of PAA’s Food Pantry and homelessday shelter, enabling individuals and families obtain desperately neededhelp in times of crisis.

While we celebratethis remarkable milestone,which is the 20th anniversaryof our Program for Victimsof Domestic Violence, weare reminded of its enormousimpact on the hundreds oflives and how it has broughtempowerment, wellness andsafety to the Polish Americanwomen who know that theycan turn to PAA for help intimes of the worst life crisis.Thank you to all supporterswho have helped us throughtthe years remain a lifelinefor those in need!

Sarah (second from the top right) with PAAstaff and volunteers at the gala