Washington, DC – On October 7, 2021, the Hungarian American Coalition (Coalition) will host its 30th Anniversary Virtual Gala. At this year’s special online event, the Coalition’s Board will honor the organization’s founding members. This year’s program will include mini concerts by Levente Molnár, Hungarian baritone and the Béla Bartók Choir and Chamber Orchestra, cultural performances the Coalition has proudly sponsored over the years. In addition, Gala participants will look behind the scenes at the 1956 Freedom Fighter statue as it nears completion.
Admission to the event is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. All proceeds benefit our internship and scholarship programs.
Click on this Save the Date graphic to access link to R.S.V.P.
The Coalition’s annual Gala tradition is to recognize those individuals and/or institutions, who have made significant contributions to strengthening transatlantic relations, assisted the Coalition’s educational and cultural programs, and helped our organization support our brethren in the Carpathian basin. During this special anniversary year, we honor our founding members – 5 individuals and 15 organizations – who recognized both the historic opportunity and the compelling need to create an organization that could identify and promote the interests of the Hungarian American community in the US. Foremost among those interests was providing assistance to the historic Hungarian minority communities in the Carpathian Basin and helping in the transformation of Hungary into a democratic, free-market society.
The founding members were:
- Judy Balogh, Hungarian Club of Toledo
- Rev. Imre Bertalan, Hungarian Reformed Federation of America
- Ildikó J. Bodoni, Hungarian American Human Rights Council
- Paul Fekete, Hungarian Alumni Association-Bessenyei Kör
- Bishop Andrew Harsányi, Hungarian Reformed Church in America
- Geza Kadar, Jr., Individual
- Frank Koszorús, Jr., American Hungarian Federation of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
- Rev. Paul Kovács, Bethlen Home
- Edith Lauer, Individual
- Prof. Andrew Ludányi, Individual
- Prof. August Molnár, American Hungarian Foundation
- Father István Mustos, American Hungarian Catholic Clergy Association
- Prof. Peter Pástor, Atlantic Research and Publications, Inc
- Dr. Balázs Somogyi, Hungarian Communion of Friends
- Szabolcs Szekeres, Hungarian Scouts Association Abroad
- Zsolt Szekeres, Hungarian Human Rights Foundation
- Bishop Zoltan Szűcs, Calvin Synod of the United Church of Christ
- Sándor Taraszovics, Committee for Danubian Research
- Paul G. Teleki, Individual
- Péter Újvági, Individual
The proceeds of the Virtual Gala will support the Coalition’s three educational programs, which have benefitted more than 500 students over the past 30 years:
• John N. Lauer Leadership Training Program (LTP):
The LTP provides an opportunity for young Hungarians to gain first-hand experience working in Washington DC-based institutions. The customized program motivates interns for public service and helps them create a professional network in the US. The LTP has provided invaluable internship experiences in Washington DC for more than 100 talented young Hungarians from Hungary, the Carpathian Basin and the US.
• Dr. Elemér and Éva Kiss Scholarship Program (EEKS):
Established in 1997, this scholarship program provides partial scholarships to outstanding Hungarian students who pursue full-time studies in the US. The EEKS has been awarded to 148 students to attend US university programs over the past 24 years.
• Bognár Family Hungarian Scholarship Program (BFHS):
Established in 1999, this program provides financial assistance to qualified Hungarian university students studying in Hungary or the surrounding region. The BFHS has helped 268 students – some of them multiple times – from across the Carpathian Basin attend local colleges.
For more information on how to obtain the link for the event, please contact Noemi Banhidi, Program Coordinator at hac@hacusa.org or R.S.V.P. here. To contribute to the Gala’s success, you can donate via PayPal by clicking here or by sending a check to the Coalition’s mailing address (P.O. Box 57135, Washington, DC 20037). Please indicate ’30th Anniversary Virtual Gala’ on your donation or online.