Washington, DC – The Ambassadors of the Future (AF) hosted a benefit Gala honoring Doris Buffet and women in philanthropy on December 15, 2018 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel’s Champagne Room (Beverly Hills, CA). The event successfully raised $10,000 for the Bognár Family Hungarian Scholarship Fund (BFHSF), a project administered by the Hungarian American Coalition (Coalition).

Board Member Dr. Eva Voisin and Program Coordinator Ms. Noémi Bánhidi attended the event on behalf of the Coalition. After dinner and entertainment, featuring a performance by the USC Ballroom and Latin Dance Team and Duo Smirnov Piano Show, Master of Ceremonies Rosalie von Wendt greeted the distinguished gathering and special guests. The welcoming remarks were followed by a video message from Ambassador László Szabó and his wife Dr. Ivonn Szeverényi, who complimented the Board of the Directors of the AF on organizing the Holiday Charity Gala and expressed their support for the noble cause of raising funds for intellectually gifted but financially challenged international students.

Ambassador Szabó’s greetings were followed by a salute by Adam Beres, Founder and President of AF, who thanked the donors for their support and said: “Since early childhood I have been aware of the significance of philanthropy, observing my parents’ enthusiastic support for many noble causes. As I grew older, I better understood this great tradition: that many people who prosper in society feel obliged to give back and fund worthy projects where our government’s limited ability cannot reach. Two years ago, I decided to do something good for the less fortunate members of society and started a new organization with a few friends who were sharing my passion. I selected the name Ambassadors of the Future for the charity, referring to the fact that we as teenagers will all be representing different fields of life in the future of global interest in society. As I was only 16 years old at that time, without my parents’ devoted help, we would not stand here today.” In his remarks, Mr. Beres also announced that AF raised $35,000 for the charity benefitting education without borders this year.

Coalition Internship Program alumna Luca Mórocz, who helped organize the event, was also called to the podium to say a few words. She said: “A year ago, I was chosen by the Hungarian American Coalition to participate in one of their scholarship programs that gave me the chance to work in the United States for the Global Entrepreneurship Network as a digital marketing trainee. It was an amazing experience to learn the American style of business and networking, especially in Washington DC, only a few blocks away from the White House. As part of my internship, I attended multiple speeches and hearings, and met numerous incredible people. This program opened my horizon, and I cannot be thankful enough to those who supported me. I was very excited to join as a volunteer the Ambassadors of the Future this year, because through this charity, I can help others to reach their dreams.”

Next on the program was the presentation of the Woman in Philanthropy Award and the Bognár Family Scholarship Award. A brief video presentation was shown by Dr. Béla Bognár, founder of the Bognár Family Hungarian Scholarship Fund, who told the story of his friendship with Ms. Doris Buffet, one of the major supporters of BFHSF, who was recognized with the Woman in Philanthropy Award for her efforts in “exemplifying the best of humanity’. Adam Beres and Board Member Eva Konkoly then presented the AF Certificate of Recognition to the Bognár Family Hungarian Scholarship Fund and a check for $10,000 in support of their mission of international education. Both of the recognitions were accepted by Dr. Eva Voisin, member of the Board of Directors of the Coalition.

Adam Beres announced the establishment of the Ambassadors of the Future Scholarship Award that will benefit five international students at the University of Southern California (USC) in need, each receiving $5,000 to help pursue their education. Dr. Robert Aniszfeld, Managing Director of Business and Administration at USC Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute (LHI) accepted the award on behalf of Mrs. Judith Olah, widow of Nobel Laureate Professor George Olah. Dr. Aniszfeld, who was trained as a physical organic chemist under the tutelage of Professor Olah, delivered a message from Mrs. Olah: ”As a lifelong advocate of collaborative learning and global intellectual exchanges, I am so impressed with the mission of the Ambassadors of the Future. I am humbled that you have chosen me to be honored and only wish my health would allow me to be with you this evening at your gala. I wish the organization much success with your noble endeavor on behalf of international education for deserving youth. With organizations like yours, the future is definitely brighter.”

The holiday-spirited evening concluded with ballroom dancing and a raffle.

The Hungarian Scholarship Fund (HSF) was established in 1999 by Dr. Béla and April Bognár to help outstanding Hungarian students finish their educations in their own countries or in the United States, and to remain or return to their home countries to provide leadership in their communities. In 2014, the Hungarian American Coalition (Coalition) renamed the fund and took over administrative duties for this program, including fundraising, selecting scholarship recipients and program evaluation.

Since its inception, the scholarship fund has awarded more than $650,000 to 228 Hungarian students in the US and the Carpathian Basin raised from members of the Hungarian American community, churches, organizations, and the Sunshine Lady Foundation (SLF), directed by Mrs. Doris Buffett.

Scholarship recipients must have an excellent academic record, outstanding recommendations from teachers, mentors, clergy or community leaders, and a proven financial need.

Ms. Doris Buffett, sister of famed businessman and philanthropist Mr. Warren Buffett and daughter of businessman Mr. Howard Buffett, is one of the major supporters of the BFHSF. The mission of her private family foundation founded in 1996, the Sunshine Lady Foundation (SLF) is to invest in organizations and programs dedicated to providing opportunities for the advancement of education, well-being and new life choices for disadvantaged people with special empathy for the working poor and families in crisis.

The Ambassadors of the Future is a registered 501©3 charitable organization that was formed last year by Adam Beres, along with his parents, Zsuzsa Pekarovics, MD, and Attila Beres, Ph.D., and many other community members in Los Angeles, CA, to encourage young people to participate in philanthropic activities, to foster international student exchanges and to help disadvantaged children coping with diabetes and obesity.