THE SUMMIT TIMES

Vol. 9, Issue No. 27/2002

 

Karski Award for Valor and Compassion Committee deadline

The Jan Karski Award for Valor and Compassion Committee has set June 15, 2002 as the deadline for the receipt of applications at the offices of The American Center of Polish Culture in Washington, DC. Members of the Award Committee are encouraging the public to submit applications.

Many applications been distributed to organizations around the world, seeking nominations for the first annual award, which will honor the late Dr. Jan Karski. Anyone or any organization can submit an application to nominate a person whose substantial life work best exemplifies Karski's valor and compassion, including selflessness, a profound sense of humanity, extraordinary courage and willingness to accept a burden, pain and suffering to save or help others. The Committee is seeking to make the award to a person, who throughout his or her everyday life, continues to utilize the same ideals that motivated Dr. Jan Karski.

The person selected for this award will receive $10,000 in cash and a statuette designed by the internationally acclaimed artist, Andrzej Pitynski, at an award dinner on September 25, 2002 in Washington, DC.

The applications for the award are available through the American Center of Polish Culture and they are an uncomplicated nomination form that requires an essay of not more than 200 words and materials substantiating the statements made in the essay.

The dinner will attract national and international media attention and the winner will be honored by many dignitaries from around the world. The dinner will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.

The Awards Committee, led by Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick and Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski will review all applications and select a group of finalists. From this list, a winner will be selected and will be announced at the gala dinner. Various speakers, who knew Dr. Karski personally, or admired his work, will include people such as Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Dr. Karl Cerny, Dr. Ken Adelman, Dr. Kaya Mirecka Ploss and others.

The committee has a goal of raising at least $100,000, which will go directly into the Jan Karski Scholarship Fund. It is hoped that this dinner can become an annual event to help perpetuate Dr. Karski's ideals and as a means of providing financial support to the scholarship fund. The Jan Karski Scholarships are awarded to deserving recipients, who demonstrate a commitment to carrying forward Dr. Karski's message of tolerance.

Applications are available from:
The American Center of Polish Culture
2025 O Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-785-2320
Fax: 202-785-2159

All Applications must be received by The American Center of Polish Culture by June 15, 2002.

---

Vol. 9, Issue No. 27/2002