Orchard Lake, MI – As the Polish Institute of Culture & Research emerges in Polonia, it is already making a difference through the creation of its Polish Mission—Ukrainian Relief Fund. “When our organization began planning our art collection reemergence within Polonia, we were touched by an international crisis,” said Ania Bieciuk, Administrator for Polonia Affairs, “and we knew we could help make a difference for Ukrainian refugees seeking safety in Poland from Russian aggression.”
The Polish Institute created the Polish Mission—Ukrainian Relief Fund to help agencies in Poland with much needed funds for food, clothing and shelter, and placing these refugees with Polish households. “This fund evolved from the efforts of so many within our campus community,” said Richard Walawender, Chairman. Donations to it will be sent to the charitable organizations in Poland that are listed below.
“When the uprising in Ukraine started, I wanted to help too,” said Michal Adamski, a junior at St. Mary’s Preparatory whose family resides in Poland. “I came up with this idea for our students organizing and helping the Ukrainians. They’ve lost everything. And anything is precious to them. We have over 115 Prep students who’ve volunteered, working on dress down day details to raise money and at the benefit concert by assisting guests and sharing stories of the struggles of some of those displaced by the uprising.”
Initially, the Polish Institute introduced this fund at a Benefit Concert for Ukrainian Refugees on Sunday, April 3, 2022. “We hosted the Lira Singers Quartet of the Lira Ensemble of Chicago, Artist-in-Residence at Loyola University, who performed a classical folk music program narrated by Lucyna Migala, Founder and Artistic Director,” said Bieciuk. “We are incredibly blessed to have such extraordinary support for the Polish Mission—Ukrainian Relief Fund! Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the fund has exceeded the initial goal of $50,000!”
The Orchard Lake Schools was established in 1885 by Fr. Józef Dąbrowski, a Polish immigrant. It has been a prestigious center of faith, education and tradition and has played a major role in Polonia for over 137 years. Our family builds on the individual strengths of our campus community, including the Polish Institute of Culture & Research and St. Mary’s Preparatory.
We are incredibly grateful for the amount collected at the Benefit Concert, the dress down day spearheaded by the Students Aiding Ukrainians at St. Mary’s, and the donations we continue to receive. However, we would like to especially thank our donors who exceeded $1,000: Mr. Thomas Colis,
Mr. Richard Morton, Pfizer Foundation, Mr. Leonard Suchyta, The June & Cecil McDole Charitable Fund, Ms. Teresa Rybczynski, Mr. & Mrs. Wallace M. Ozog, Mr. & Mrs. M.B. Healy, Mrs. Maria Kula Vanderplog, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Trefethen, Dr. C.R. Talbert Jr., Mr. Jeffrey Sienkiewicz.
Donations to the Polish Mission—Ukrainian Relief Fund will help the following relief organizations extend their aid to Ukrainian refugees in Poland:
Polskie Centrum Pomocy Międzynarodowej (PCPM) (Polish Center for International Aid), Polska Akcja Humanitarna (PAH) (Polish Humanitarian Action), Caritas Polska (Caritas), Fundacja Ocalenie (Ocalenie Foundation), Polski Czerwony Krzyż (PCK) (Polish Red Cross), Polska Misja Medyczna (Polish Medical Mission), Parish of St. Joseph (Zorawina, Poland; Funds raised from Prep dress down day were given by parish directly to Ukrainian refugees; Zorawina is also the hometown of St. Mary’s Prep student Michal Adamski).
