Washington, DC – The Hungarian American Coalition (Coalition) received a $400,000 grant from the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for the Arts and Sciences. The grant will be disbursed to the following four programs and institutions: $50,000 will be donated to the Schönherz’ Association of Electrical Engineers and Computer Scientists (Schönherzes Villamosmérnökök és Informatikusok Egyesülete); $100,000 will go “For the Employees and Students of Károly Simonyi Vocational and Technical School” Foundation (“Simonyi Károly Szakközépiskola és Szakiskola Dolgozóiért és Diákjaiért” Alapítvány); $200,000 will be given to Foundation for Károly Simonyi Primary School and the Students of the Village (Simonyi Károly Általános Iskoláért és a Falu Diákjaiért Alapítvány); and $50,000 will be provided to the John von Neumann Computer Society (NJSZT).

About the recepients:

The Simonyi Károly Collegium is a student-based professional organization, which operates at the Schönherz Dormitory of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and  Informatics (VIK) of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The College took the name of Károly Simonyi, after Charles Simonyi’s father, the Faculty’s admired professor, in 2003. It plays an important role in advancing the engineering culture and intellectual development of students. The Collegium builds on the legacy of the Schönherz Collegium, founded in 1997. It offers a dynamic environment where students enhance their education through professional courses, conferences, and hands-on workshops. The College aims to provide its members and the students of the Faculty with the opportunity to acquire knowledge complementary to their university education. To this end, it organizes courses, conferences, and other professional events and provides infrastructure to support students’ independent professional work. The College aims to publish the results achieved by its members as widely as possible and to make the work of the College known to other units of Hungarian higher education and to professionals. They also organize the so-called ‘Simonyi Conference’, Hungary’s largest annual technology conference organized by university students. More information: https://simonyi.bme.hu/

The Károly Simonyi Technical and Vocational School is named after Charles Simonyi’s father and is located in Pécs, Hungary. It offers a wide range of programs from the Hungarian National Training Register, supported by modern facilities including computer-equipped classrooms, a video system, a studio, and a language lab, ensuring all students acquire essential computer skills. The school is home to a fourteen-thousand-volume library, periodicals, and phonographic collections, enriching students’ understanding of science and culture. Through its foundation, the school actively supports academic and cultural excellence by rewarding high-achieving students, organizing professional, artistic, and sports events, funding the school newspaper, and recognizing teachers for their outstanding work in talent development. It also honors retiring staff and community contributors with commemorative awards, promotes language learning, physical activity, and healthy lifestyles, and assists students and teachers in leveraging EU grant opportunities. With its commitment to innovation, professional development, and cultural enrichment, the school continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of its students and enhancing its community. More information: https://simonyi.edu.hu/

The Simonyi Károly Általános Iskoláért és a Falu Diákjaiért Alapítvány, located in the small village of Egyházasfalu, Hungary, near the Austrian border, has been granted $200,000 by the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for the Arts and Sciences. This significant donation will be used to fully rehabilitate the school, modernizing its facilities and ensuring that it continues to serve as a cornerstone of learning and opportunity for the local community. The foundation honors the legacy of Charles Simonyi’s father, Károly Simonyi, a celebrated physicist, engineer, and educator who was born in the village in 1916. Founded on the grounds of a rich educational history that dates back to 1631, the school has grown to serve as a symbol of intellectual pursuit and community pride. Today, the foundation is dedicated to the school’s complete rehabilitation, ensuring a modern, vibrant learning environment for future generations.

Lastly, the John von Neumann Computer Society (NJSZT) has been at the forefront of Hungary’s digital transformation since its establishment in 1968 as the nation’s first professional computer science organization. With over 50 professional groups and approximately 2,000 members, NJSZT serves as a vital bridge between information and communication technology (ICT) professionals and everyday users of digital solutions. Guided by the mission to act as a “GPS of the digital world,” NJSZT plays a significant role in advancing digital literacy, fostering innovation, and supporting talent development. The organization oversees key initiatives like the ICDL program, which has equipped over 500,000 Hungarians with essential digital competencies, and hosts IT-related competitions and talent management programs for students, including international Olympiads in informatics. In addition to talent cultivation, NJSZT is committed to preserving Hungary’s ICT heritage through its world-class IT History Museum in Szeged. This museum showcases the evolution of technology, offering visitors a chance to explore iconic artifacts and participate in hands-on learning experiences. More information: https://njszt.hu/en