William Penn Life, 1993 (28. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)

1993-10-01 / 10. szám

Address Correction Requested WILLIAM PENN UFF. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION, 709 BRIGHTON RD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15233 Volume 28 October 1993 Number 10 Heritage Center saved from foreclosure By Gait Ferguson Jones From The Star-Ledger NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The American Hungarian Founda­tion’s Hungarian Heritage Cen­ter, which had been faced with foreclosure, met a Sept. 15 dead­line for paying off an $850,000 mortgage balance, with help from the city, the estate of a prominent attorney and the William Penn Association. But, shortly after delivering PITTSBURGH — Several promi­nent Hungarian governmental and religious dignitaries will be among the guests at a dinner­­dance Oct. 10 celebrating the 54th anniversary of the Hungar­ian Classroom of the University of Pittsburgh. The event, sponsored by the Hungarian Room Committee, will be held at the university’s William Pitt Ballroom. At press time, the list of digni­taries scheduled to attend in­cluded Pál Tar, Hungarian ambas­sador to the United States. Also scheduled to attend are the Most Rev. Attila Mikloshazy, S.J., bishop of all Hungarian Catholics living outside of Hungary, and the Rt. Rev. Francis Vitéz, bishop the final installment on the loan, Foundation president August J. Molnár was looking toward the future. He said the Foundation will continue with a $1 million fund-raising effort so that it can add staff and expand its programs at the Somerset Street Center. "This means we’ve got a suc­cess on which to build further,” Molnár said of the efforts by which the Foundation made final payment to Leslie E. Goodman, president and chief executive of­ficer of First Fidelity Bank. The Calvin Synod, United Church of Christ. The guest list will also include the William Penn Association’s National Officers and members of the Board of Directors and Auditing Committee. The evening will begin with a social hour at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:00 p.m. After dinner, guests will be treated to a program of Hungarian music and dance performed by some of the area’s finest Hungarian talent. The evening will conclude with open dancing to the music of the popular George Bátyi Continen­tal Ensemble. The Hungarian Classroom is one of two dozen nationality classrooms—each constructed Newark-based bank forgave $500,000 of the initial loan and set the September deadline for repayment of a $850,000 bal­ance. The Foundation, which had been struggling through the reces­sion and dwindling donations, made monthly payments of $30,000 over the past nine months under an agreement reached in December with the bank. The final $580,000 "balloon” and decorated in the traditions of a different ethnic group—which are located in the university’s Cathedral of Learning. The William Penn Association and its predecessors have played a major role in the development of the Hungarian Classroom and its committee. Members of the former Verhovay and Rákóczi associations contributed much of the money used to construct the classroom in the late 1930’s and to install its five stained glass windows depicting important figures and events in Hungarian history. In recent decades the William Penn Association has supported many events benefiting the room’s scholarship fund. payment was to be made Sept. 15. "We felt that this was a situa­tion that was entitled to this kind of commitment,” Goodman said, following a brief meeting at the Center Sept. 15. "We’re pleased that this worked out.” "The good news for them now is that they own this building free and clear,” added Robert S. Keller, an assistant vice president at First Fidelity. The Foundation opened the $2.5 million Center in May 1989. "The bank did not want to foreclose on this situation, given the nature of the borrower,” Kel­ler said, noting the Foundation’s non-profit status. Also coming to the aid of the Center was the City of New Brunswick which contributed $100,000 in federal funds from an Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG), and the estate of longtime attorney Arthur Reich, which established a $100,000 "challenge grant” that generated matching funds from other do­nors. The lobby at the Center is to be named in honor of Reich, a Hungarian immigrant and Rut­gers Law School alumnus who died three years ago, and his late wife, Elizabeth. "I can think of no more worthy project than to help this city,” said New Brunswick attorney Donald Sheil, executor of the Reich estate. Molnár also acknowledged the assistance of the William Penn Association, which has contrib­uted a total of $90,000 to the Center and which helped spear­head a "Save the Center” fund­raising drive earlier this year. HA PPS HALLOWEEN "The Association is proud to have played a part in preserving the Heritage Center for current and future generations,” said National President E. E. Vargo. "What could have been a tragic loss has been turned into a great triumph for the American Hun­garian community.” New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill described the Hungarian community as a "cornerstone” of the city over its 300-year history. "This building will be here forever,” Cahill said of the two­­story, 18,000-square-foot Cen­ter, once a needle factory staffed largely by area Hungarians. With the mortgage paid off, the Foundation now will turn its attention to staff and program­ming, Molnár said. The Center, which operates on a $350,000 annual budget, houses a 40,000- volume library, a museum of Hungarian art, an archive and conference rooms. The Center also hosts seminars and visiting Hungarian dignitaries. It is the only research center of its kind in the nation. As the amount of donations fell, including the loss of $50,000 from the state Council on the Arts, the Foundation was forced to cut five staff positions, in­cluding a full-time museum cura­tor. Molnár said the focus will shift to rebuilding the staff, strengthening the Center’s ar­chives and improving relations with the Hungarian Institute at Rutgers. "We are receiving more and more books and periodicals from Hungary,” he said. "These are gifts that cannot be underesti­mated.” Inside____ ■ Members do well at Miss Magyar contest........Page 2. ■ A look at irrevocable life insurance trusts........Page 2. ■ More of our newest William Penn members...........Page 4. ■ The latest news &. notes from our branches___Pages 5-6. ■ In Memóriám and Donations for August......................Page 6. Next Deadline October 22 The American Hungarian Foundation Sept. 15 presented a ceremonial check for $850,000 paying off its mortgage with First Fidelity Bank, N.A., New Jersey. Pictured (from left) are: Leslie E. Goodman, president and chief executive officer of First Fidelity; New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill; Donald Sheil, executor of the estate of Arthur Reich; and Prof. August J. Molnár, president of the Foundation. (Photo by The Star-Ledger) Dignitaries scheduled to attend Hungarian Room celebration

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