William Penn Life, 1998 (33. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1998-12-01 / 12. szám
WILLIAM PENN LIFE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION, 709 BRIGHTON RD, PITTSBURGH, PA 15233 Volume 33, Number 12 Address Correction Requested December 1998 fG hristmas brings to mind memories along with deep abiding hopes. It seems tbat tbe Christmas spirit gives strength to us all. Christmas gives us all the opportunity to think of those we love and how better to express that love than through the many traditions of Christmas. May we all try to carry this seasonal attitude into our daily lives during the coming year. We are pleased to see that 44 branches will he having family Christmas and that many branches will be distributing Holiday Baskets, re membering the spirit of caring, sharing and, most importantly, fratemalism. We are certainly proud of the many fraternal efforts offered by our members throughout the year and we look forward to your continued support and assistance in the new year. We at the William Penn Association have done our very best to fulfill our mission to our membership with honor and prudence. Our faith has always been in you, and we hope our efforts will result in greater glory. The whole world awaits Christmas, the birthday of Christ, to give new hope and love and peace to all humanity. May a part of each day for the rest of our lives be devoted to the spirit of Christmas, renewing our Association’s purposes and concerns for each other, and may our love and friendship never cease to grow. V George S. Ckarles, Jr. National President As Chairman of the Board, it is my duty to oversee the operations of the Association. The last three years have been very productive in fulfilling our mission to serve our members. We continue to operate on the goals of our forefathers, to provide financial assistance to those in need, and to support our Hungarian cultural heritage in America. I would like to thank the Board of Directors, National Officers, Home Office staff and field force without whose dedication and support we would not be able to continue our work to serve you better. To you, our loyal members, on behalf of the Board of Directors, Auditing Committee and Home Office staff, I wish you and your family a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas. May we never cease to grow in friendship, and may you keep His love in your heart throughout the new year. AHF presents George Washington Awards NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Rabbi Arthur Schneier, internationally known advocate for religious freedom and human rights, and distinguished architect László Papp were honored by the American Hungarian Foundation at its 36th annual George Washington Awards Dinner Nov. 17. The dinner was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. In name and symbolism the George Washington Award was inspired by the statue of Washington erected in the City Park of Budapest, Hungary, 92 years ago through funds raised by Hungarian immigrants living in America. The award honors persons who have made eminent contributions in the arts, commerce, industry, science or the promotion of understanding among men and nations. Past recipients include numerous Nobel Prize winners, such as Elie Wiesel, as well as other well-known figures, including author James A. Michener, journalist Chet Huntley, Antal Dorati, Michael Korda, actor Tony Curtis, and Kati Marton. In receiving the Washington award, Mr. Papp was recognized as both a leading architect and a business and civic leader. He began his studies at the Technical University of Budapest before emigrating to the United States in 1956. He continued his architectual studies at Pratt Institute and became a designer with the firm of Harrison and Abramovitz. He is currently chairman of Papp Architects, P.C., in White Plains, N. Y. He was regional director of the American Institute of Architects and president of the New York State Association of Architects. Among his many honors are the Matthew W. Del Gaudio Award and the Sidney L. Strauss Memorial Award, both from the New York State Association of Architects, and the Memorial Citation from the American Institute of Architects. In addition, he serves as chairman of the Board of the Westchester County Chamber of Commerce, regional president of the World Federation of Hungarians, and a councilman for the city of New Canann, Conn. His fellow Washington award recipient, Rabbi Schneier, has been the spiritual leader of the Park East Synagogue in New York City since 1962. He is founder and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation; as such he has met with many U.S. presidents, foreign prime ministers and religious leaders from more than 20 countries. Most recently, President Clinton appointed him to be one of the three U.S. religious leaders to examine the life of religious communities in China and Tibet. The delegation met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and produced the first official dialogue on religious freedom between China and the U.S. In 1978 Rabbi Schneier was a member of the U.S. Presidential Delegation for the return of the Crown of St. Stephen to Hungary. He was deeply involved in the peace process in the former Yugoslavia, convening a religious summit in 1992 and the conflict resolution conference in Vienna in 1995 which planted the seeds for the Dayton Peace Accord. Bom in Vienna, Rabbi Schneier later lived under Nazi occupation in Budapest during World War II. He now serves as the spiritual leader of the World Federation of Hungarian Jews. Continued on Page 3
