Fraternity-Testvériség, 1978 (56. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1978-04-01 / 2. szám
The Federation’s Student Aid & Loan Fund Gained Tax Exempt Status It is a bitter experience to observe the turning away of the third and fourth generations from our churches, fraternal organizations and our nationally founded institutions. As they readily give up their ethnic identity we are surprised to observe that the new immigrants are zealously searching for ways and means to preserve their ethnic roots and heritage. Many attempts were made in the past to inspire the third and fourth generations to join the organizations founded by the previous generations with little success. The HRFA discovered that the youth is not interested in words and promises but rather in facta and action. Financial aid received in time of need is more meaningful to them than the most beautiful words spoken in any language. When they experience a helping hand as a grant of aid toward their education or a student loan to help them to pay the escalating costs of registration, tuition, room and board in most cases they turn out to be proud of their ethnic background and proudly proclaim their ethnic identity. In view of these thoughts Mr. László Eszenyi, Executive Vice-President made a motion at the 1968 Convention to establish a separate Student Aid and Loan Fund. The delegates voted $30,000 toward the fund. Unfortunately, until 1978 the donations received for the fund were not tax deductable. Mr. Eszenyi was authorized by the Board of Directors to have the fund incorporated and petition the I.R.S. for a tax exempt status. We are happy to report that this was accomplished. A report and audit must be submitted within 90 days to the I.R.S. In the report the officers and directors must convince the I.R.S. that the fund is generously supported by the members and friends of the H.R.F.A. Within the next three months please mail your tax exempt donations in any amount to: Student Aid and Loan Fund of the HRFA P.O. Box 34917, Washington, D.C. 20034 From this fund we give grants to aid college and university students up to $100.00; non-interest loans up to $500.00 and we sponsor our annual scholarship contest. All contributors will be sent tax exempt receipts stating the amount of donations made toward the fund. The Executive Committee. The Committee of Human Rights in Rumania organized a demonstration on April 13th in Washington, D.C. for the human rights of the Hungarians living in Rumania. Mr. Nicholas Ceusescu, the President of the Socialist Republic in Rumania visited the United States and was the guest of President James Carter. Branch 300 of the HRFA, the Washington branch of the American Hungarian Federation and the Kolozsvár Chapter of the Transylvania World Federation coordinated their meetings in order to appeal to their members to inspire them to participate in the demonstration for human rights of the Hungarians living in Rumania. 500 invitations were mailed to the Hungarian families residing in the greater Washington metropolitan area encouraging them to take part in the demonstration. I am happy to report that approximately 300 persons of the 1,000 demonstrators were from the Washington area. I give recognition and thanks to the sponsors and the participants. Before God and men we can say with good conscience that the HRFA and Branch 300 fulfilled their respective share of responsibility. The four National Officers took part in the demonstration and our Home Office employees were also present. The president of the HRFA opened the demonstration with an English prayer and Bishop Zoltán Beky followed it with the Hungarian opening prayer. 3 From the OFFICE of the PRESIDENT ARPAD GEORGE:
