Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1998 (15. évfolyam, 51-54. szám)
1998 / 51-52. szám
of the American Hungarian Foundation, which was established in 1954. Joining these events will be a host of celebrities. $10 Million Challenge Fund PHASE TWO challenge fund currently is seeking to raise $10 million for the endowment and capital funds of the Foundation. This sum is needed to carry on the expanding programs of the library, archives and museum. The annual budget of the Foundation requires $550,000. The expanding programs of the Foundation require additional staff. In September, 1997, the Foundation appointed a museum curator. Currently, the library is seeking to add a librarian-archivist to its staff. In 1999 as part of a fellowship exchange agreement with the Fulbright Commission of Hungary, a librarian will join the Foundation's library for five months. In 2000 under the same agreement, an archivist from Hungary is expected to be on the staff of the Foundation’s archives for one year. The three million dollar facility, which opened and was dedicated on May 21, 1989, was made possible by major bequests and donations from many generous contributors. Through a concerted fund drive after the facility was opened, the First Fidelity Bank, N.A. mortgage on the building was paid off with a close-out payment of $850,000 on September 15, 1993. The original mortgage was $1.4 million. Participating in this successful fund raising effort were the William Penn Association and the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. In 1993 among the major donors of $100,000 each were the Estate of Arthur Reich, Nicolas M. Salgo Charitable Trust, and an Urban Development Action Grant by the City of New Brunswick. Earlier, from the Estates of both Gregory M.Z. and Margareta Z. Olah of Michigan the American Hungarian Foundation was bequeathed $350,000, and the Conference Room of the Foundation is named for them. Other rooms and areas in the Museum, Library and Archives building honor the following: Clara and Paul Kellner, Dr. Alexander and Elisabeth Kasser, William Penn Association, Richard H. Putnoky, Charles E. Sigety, and Zsolt Harsanyi. Recent Major Bequests Received Since 1993 major cash bequests received by the Foundation were from the Estates of lohn W. Gracik, Margaret N. Kovell, Joseph J. Takacs, Arnold Kovács, Stephen Firsing, Clara F. Day, and Helen Csiszár. A number of legacies are pending, and among these several are in amounts of over six figures. The Priscilla B. Molnár Fund of $ 100,000, established in her memory by her family, supports the library and archives of the Foundation. Additional special gifts to this fund have provided for acquisitions to the Priscilla B. Molnár Collection in the museum of the Foundation. Recently, members of the Foundation's board and others made major gifts to honor the memory of fellow board member Paul Kovi. Other funds of the Foundation that provide for fellowships, publications and museum acquisitions are named: Elizabeth Halasi-Kun, Robert F. Kennedy, Imre de Vegh, Marion Mill Preminger Mayer. The William Penn Association deposited its archives with the Foundation and awarded a second $100,000 grant for the cataloging and development of that material. The Bethlen Archives and Museum, Inc., shall be providing $120,000 during the next four years to catalog its collection, which is to be deposited in the archives facility of the Foundation. Each of these collections, PRESIDENT’S REPORT (Continued) TO EDITORS, DIRECTORS, CHAIRPERSONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS: Please consider this new beginning of the Hungarian Studies Newsletter as an additional opportunity to expand your information network. We would like to have you consider the Newsletter as your forum. We invite all fellow Hungarian related newsletters, studies centers, institutes and programs to share information with us and to subscribe to the Newsletter and/or establish and ongoing exchange of our publications. a.l. along with other archival collections in the Foundation’s holdings, focus upon the past 200 years of the life and contributions to America of Hungarian immigrants, their offspring and their institutions . August J. Molnár GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARDS DINNER On December 4, 1997, the American Hungarian Foundation held its 35th annual George Washington Awards dinner at The Waldorf- Astoria in New York City. Bruce S. Gelb, eminent diplomat, government official, business leader and corporate executive, was honored as the 1997 George Washington Laureate. He was recognized for his contributions to international understanding and distinguished leadership and achievements in business, healthcare, humanitarian and civic service both nationally and internationally. He is former vice chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. The 1998 George Washington Awards will be presented on November 14, 1998, in New York City at The Waldorf-Astoria. In name and symbolism the George Washington Award was inspired by the statue of Washington erected in the City Park of Budapest in 1906. It was a gift from Hungarian immigrants living in America. For these immigrants the statue served as an expression of gratitude to the memory of Washington and their adopted country, while not forgetting the land of their birth. The George Washington Award of the Foundation honors persons whose eminent contributions are in the broad field of human knowledge, the arts, commerce, industry, the sciences and understanding among men and nations. Among those who have been honored since 1961 by the Foundation with the George Washington Award are: Dr. Theodore von Kármán, General Robert Wood Johnson, Marcel Breuer, Dr. Peter C. Goldmark, Antal Dorati, Chet Huntley, James A, Michener, Dr. John C. Kémény, Zoltán Merszei, Ladislas Faragó, Yehudi Menuhin, Eugene M. Lang, Ambassador Nicolas M. Salgo, Raoul Wallenberg, Dr. Robert E. Fuisz, Robert Halmi, Elie Wiesel, Dr. Andrew S. Grove, Tony Curtis, Dr. Francis L. Lawrence, Peter Munk, Dr. George A. Olah, Governor George E. Pataki, Paul Kovi, Joseph Pulitzer and Charles E. Sigety. 1998 ABRAHAM LINCOLN AWARDS The American Hungarian Foundation presented the Abraham Lincoln Award in 1998 in three different cities to laureates of the Award. George K. Haydu, Sr., born in Hungary and a former (Continued on page 4) NO. 51-52, SPRING-SUMMER, 1998, HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER 3
