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PAA Annual Gala 2011

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Last Updated on Thursday, 12 April 2012 16:11

The Polish American Association will be hosting its Annual Gala on November 12, 2011 at Café La Cave in Des Plaines. The 2011 Presidential Award will be presented to John J. Pikarski, Jr. Past President and Honorary Director of the PAA Board. MC: Charlie Wojciechowski, NBC5

R.S.V.P.

JOIN US AS A SPONSOR

The Annual Gala is supported by over 300 political and corporate leaders and individuals who believe in our mission of service to the Polish community.  This year state funding has been substantially reduced, which makes your support even more critical this year.

Please read (click HERE - Adobe Acrobat required) the enclosed sponsorship information. Your sponsorship will allow us to continue to feed the hungry that come to our food pantry, counsel the abused, and offer job training and placement, educational opportunities, alcohol counseling and immigration and language classes to those in need in the Polish community.

There are various levels of sponsorship which we hope you will consider.  You will be acknowledged in our Program Book which is seen by over 500 people.  Please complete and return the form  (click HERE to download the form - Adobe Acrobat required) by September 30, 2011, or contact us at 773-427-6307 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions. Since 1922 Polish American Association continues to be the only social service agency that has specifically served the Polish community, the second largest ethnic group in Chicagoland. More than 13,000 clients a year are helped through our 28 programs in the areas of education, employment, immigration and social services.

On behalf of the 13,000 clients served by Polish American Association, thank you for your time and consideration.  YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL TO THEM!

HONORING JOHN J. PIKARSKI, JR.

Mr. Pikarski is being recognized for his long standing commitment and generous contributions to the PAA, in addition to the many other charitable causes that he and his family support in Chicago and the Polish American community.

John J. Pikarski, Jr. is the principal and was the founding co-partner of the law firm of Gordon & Pikarski which limits its practice to zoning, real estate taxation, condemnation and related real estate matters. He has made thousands of appearances before local governmental bodies across Illinois and his council has earned billions of dollars in real estate development throughout the state.

Mr. Pikarski has served as Board Chairman of the Polish Welfare Association (now Polish American Association), Secretary Treasurer of the National Advocates Society, (the National Association of Attorneys of Polish Heritage) and Co-Chair of the National Polish American/Jewish American Council. He received the Cavaliers Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. President Clinton appointed him to the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the United States Commission on the Preservation of America’s Heritage Aboard. John Pikarski has been a member of several Presidential & Vice Presidential delegations. He is a consultant to the Democratic National Committee and has been active in many presidential and local political campaigns. Mr. Pikarski was appointed to the Chicago Plan Commission and is the former Chairman of the Cook County Board of Ethics.

John J. Pikarski, Jr. is a life long resident of the City of Chicago. He received his Doctorate in Law from Illinois Institute of Technology-Chicago Kent College of Law in 1969. He is married to Sandra Sliwinski and they have 4 children and 9 grandchildren. He is joined in his law practice by a daughter, two sons and a son-in-law.

Thank you very much for your donation of items for the Gala Silent Auction & Grand Raffle.

Your support is much appreciated. We know that we can rely on dear friends like you.

Add your company or product to this list - call Barb at 773-427-6307 today!

Grand Kickoff Gala 2011

Pictures from the event

“If there ever is a time when we reach out to help the people, now it is the time to do it”, stated Congressman Mike Quigley from the 5th Congressional District of Illinois, at the July 10 fundraiser of the Polish American Association. “Now, more than ever throughout the years, the need to help out the people is the greatest”, he urged the friends and supporters of the Polish American Association gathered at the fundraiser. This informal meeting at the residence of the PAA board member, Michael Traison, was not only a kickoff of our preparations for the largest fundraiser of the year, November 12 Gala, but a launch of an important public awareness campaign. Gary Kenzer, Executive Director of the PAA, noted “We cannot continue to push off supporting organizations like Polish American Association”. With decreased federal and state funding, our agency ability to raise funds is essential now more then ever.

“We have had enough disproportional cuts to human services”, acknowledged Suzanne Franklin, Director of Community Programs, Planning and Development from the Jewish Child & Family Services of Chicago. She encouraged Polonia to charity giving and creating endowment funds, which in a time of crisis would secure the provision of the PAA programs and services.

“We need the community support. It does not just happen; It takes people”, observed Michael Traison, the generous host of the meeting and long-term supporter of the organization.

The Polish American Association thanks all the friends and supporters participating in this fundraiser. We look forward to seeing you at the Gala on November 12, 2011 at Café la Cave in Des Plaines.