| The
Piast Institute, named after the legendary founder of Poland, is an
independent, non-profit Institute formed to accomplish the following
tasks:
* Act as a think tank and data resource center for Polonia to develop
policy papers and historical, cultural, political, economic, social,
and demographic studies on Polish and Polish-American topics.
* Provide unbiased information about current political, social and
economic developments in Poland to Polonia and to the general American
public.
* Provide information on Polonia, its role in American society and
politics and U.S. attitudes and policies toward Poland.
* Serve as a source for the collection and dissemination of information
and research findings. The Institute will seek to organize or facilitate
conferences, seminars, publications, public programs, lectures, and
exhibits for the Polish American community as well as for the wider
society.
* Help develop services for the Polish American community particularly
those which grow organically out of the research, data collection,
and historical and policy studies of the Institute.
The work of the Institute will be done through cooperating institutions,
Institute Fellows located in the United States and Europe, as well
as by its own resident staff.
The Piast Institute, its goals, and its program are unique. There
is no independent think tank, center, or institute in North America
devoted to Polish affairs or to the needs of Polonia. The Institute
seeks to be a partner with and supporter of the leading organizations
of the Polish community.
Benefactor
Categories:
Piast Circle
$5,000 and above
Queen Jadwiga Circle
$1,000
Frederic Chopin Circle
$500
Clara Swieczkowski Circle
$250
Kosciuszko Circle
$50 |
|
The
Polish story in Europe and America is one of the most compelling and
important of modern times. It is impossible to understand the course
of World history and the fullness of the American experience without
it. For Polish Americans that story – past, present and future – is
the bond of community. It is the source of our faith, our society, our
values, our ideals and our future. It is also the source of the gifts
we contribute daily to America and its culture.
We cannot, however, expect anyone else to create and interpret our story
and tell it but ourselves. The task to remember and remind and to add
each new chapter to our rich and complex heritage is ongoing and never
ending. To accomplish this we have established the Piast Institute,
named after the legendary founder of the Polish State with whom the
Polish story begins.
We have named the categories of support for those who symbolize the
achievements we hope to emulate. In addition to our namesake Piast we
have chosen the following:
1. Queen Jadwiga – The niece of the last Piast King
of Poland, Casimir the Great, Jadwiga is venerated for her intelligence,
good works and her patronage of learning as the re-founder of the University
of Krakow. Her decision to marry Jagiello united the peoples of East
Central Europe into a prosperous multi-national commonwealth and spread
Polish culture and Christianity throughout the region. The Institute
has chosen St. Jadwiga as our Patron.
2. Frederic Chopin – One of the greatest geniuses of
world music, he translated the Polish spirit into music that will live
forever. He is a universally known icon of Polish culture.
3. Clara Swieczkowski – Miss Clara was a gifted social
worker and reformer who created new structures and institutions to serve
Polish immigrants and the communities they founded. She was honored
by Pope Pius XI as a model of Catholic social action.
4. Thaddeus Kosciuszko – Hero of the Polish and American
Revolutions called “the purest son of liberty”. He was present for us
all at the beginning of the American experiment and set democratic ideals
irrevocably at the heart of Poland’s struggle |
