Bethlen Almanac 1997 (Ligonier)

The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America

Causes Underwritten by the Federation in 1997

Habitat for Humanity; Immigrant Wall of Honor; Flag Protection Amendment; United States Census 2000.

The Federation and its Scholarship Program

Throughout its history, the Federation was always involved with its youth, not only through the foster home, which was established in 1921 in Ligonier, Pennsylvania (where we raised and provided for more than 1500 children from 1921 to 1978), but also through the summer school programs which started in 1931.

In 1968, the 18th Convention resolved that the Federation establish its own youth camp, and directed the Executive Committee to transfer $30,000 from its surplus for this purpose. The motivation behind this move was to re-establish and widen our contact with our juvenile members. Several proposals and recommendations followed, i.e., to buy or not to buy new premises; to rebuild and develop the bam area on the grounds of the Bethlen Home, etc. None of the proposals, however, were carried out.

Therefore, upon recommendation of the Comptroller and some Board Members, the next Convention in 1972 transferred the money, originally earmarked for the youth camp, to the Student Aid and Loan Fund.

The Federation incorporated its Student Aid and Loan Fund in 1977.

Section 501(C)(3) of the IR Code of 1954 reads: “.....to give financial

aid and assistance to deserving, needy students entering or attending college or other types of professional institutions above the high school level, provided such institutions are accredited by their state educational authorities.”

Through the years the requirement to receive student aid changed. Presently, we grant $500 to all applicants who are members of the Federation for at least 5 years. They must be enrolled in an accredited college or professional institution, and they must be in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of college.

In the past 25 years, we disbursed approximately one-quarter million dollars through the Student Aid and Loan Program of the HRFA, benefiting more than 590 applicants.

This benefit of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America was granted to the following students in 1997: Julie E. Balog; Annabella I. Batiz; Michael A. Csernak; Jeffrey John Eldredge; Herbert Ennsmann; Dani Greenstreet; Andre N. Koleszar; Kathryn Lococo; Kristine Miloser;

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