Youth Ball 2022

On Saturday, January 15, the Youth Ball was held at the Il Villagio banquet hall in Carlstadt, New Jersey. Enjoying great popularity among young people and students, it was also attended by representatives of Polish organizations and institutions. About 210 people attended the ball. Among the invited guests were vice-consul Stanisław Starnawski, president of the Polish and Slavic Center Marian Żak and PSC treasurer Zbigniew Solarz, president of the Pulaski Association of Business & Professional Men Grzegorz Fryc, and heavyweight boxer Adam Kownacki.

A lottery with attractive prizes was organized for the participants of the ball, including electronic equipment and a plane ticket to Poland funded by LOT Polish Airlines. The official sponsor of the ball was the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union.

The theme of this year's event was "The Great Gatsby" and the 1920s. Participants could count on fun, a gala dinner, and a lottery with attractive prizes.

First, the official part of the ball was conducted in Polish by Bartek Szymański, Vice-President for Administration, and in English by Natalia Turkiewicz, Vice-President for Social Affairs. After singing the national anthems by Julia Skubisz, the hosts noted that the Youth Ball 2022 is a continuation of the Scholarship Holder's Ball, which was last held in 2018, marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Polish Students' Organization. Addressing the participants of the Ball during his speech, Jakub Staniewski talked about the activities of the Polish Youth Association and emphasized: "We want you, as a young Polish community, to be not only worthy representatives of Poland abroad, but also to have a chance to develop your talents here abroad ". Vice-Consul Stanisław Starnawski also spoke, reading out two letters sent on the occasion of the ball. The first letter read by the vice-consul was from Adam Kwiatkowski, Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, writing on behalf of the First Lady, Agata Kornhauser-Duda - the second was from the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York, Adrian Kubicki, who took the honorary patronage over the event. In a letter to young people, the Consul General described the importance of such events in terms of cultivating national heritage abroad: "Your initiative strengthens ties with Poland, helping young people discover their national identity, but also better people, socially engaged and open to the needs of others." The last speaker of the official part was Grzegorz Fryc, president of the Pulaski Association of Business and Professional Men, which introduced the activities of his organization associating Polish businessmen, encouraging them to participate in the scholarship competition. In his speech, he also thanked for the support of the Polish Youth Association by organizing volunteers in action#PolishAmericanVote . Referring to the contribution of the Polish Youth Association to the success of the initiative, he emphasized: "It best shows that you are serious and ready to act, and that you want to sacrifice soy energy for Poland and the well-being of the Polish community."

After the speeches, the president of the Polish Youth Association presented awards to past and present volunteers who contribute to the active activities of the organization on a daily basis. Adam Kownacki received honorary membership. The conclusion of the official part was the singing by Olivia Bąk of the song "Joy of the most beautiful years" by Anna Jantar.

On the occasion of the Youth Ball and the 30th anniversary of the Polish Students Organization, representatives of many organizations and institutions sent congratulatory letters. In addition to the letters handed over to the President of the Polish Youth Association from the Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, Adam Kwiatkowski, and the Consul General of the Republic of Poland, Adrian Kubicki, letters from the Polish Ambassador to the United States, Marek Magierowski, the Polish Ambassador to the United Nations, Krzysztof Szczerski, Bishop Witold Mroziewski, Mayor of New York Eric Adams, Councilor of New York Robert Holden, President of LOT Polish Airlines Rafał Milczarski, Management Board of the Polish-Slavic Centre, and President of the Headquarters of Polish Supplementary Schools Dorota Andraki, PhD. Letters, available on the website of the Polish Youth Association expressed appreciation for the organizers of the ball, and also emphasized the role of the organization in strengthening the importance of the Polish community abroad. In an interview with Nowy Dziennik, the president of the Polish Youth Association noted: “We are very happy with the support from numerous Polish community and government organizations, because without it our activities would not take place at all. Young people are to some extent limited in what they can do on their own, despite the fact that they have huge amounts of energy, ideas and initiatives dormant in them, which, however, with the support and sponsorship of various organizations and institutions, they can implement” adding that as part of cooperation with other organizations, young people can join the ranks of numerous Polish community institutions. Marian Żak, president of the Polish-Slavic Centre, also emphasized the willingness to cooperate with young people in an interview with a reporter from Nowy Dziennik: “I am very happy that students have resumed their activities, that they meet at various events, from joint trips, e.g. the prom ending. I came here with great pleasure to see what it looks like and I am very impressed. I am counting on the fruitful cooperation of the Polish Youth Association with the Polish and Slavic Center because I have long wanted to introduce young people to our organization.” I came here with great pleasure to see what it looks like and I am very impressed. I am counting on the fruitful cooperation of the Polish Youth Association with the Polish and Slavic Center because I have long wanted to introduce young people to our organization.” I came here with great pleasure to see what it looks like and I am very impressed. I am counting on the fruitful cooperation of the Polish Youth Association with the Polish and Slavic Center because I have long wanted to introduce young people to our organization.”

DJ Kamil and the disco presenters who supported him provided great hours of fun. The theme of the ball was the 1920s in reference to the situation that took place a hundred years ago. “During our meetings and discussions, we came to the conclusion that the 1920s is the best and most appropriate topic because we are – hopefully – at the end of the pandemic that hit us two years ago. It was the 1920s that were characterized by great partying, because then the Spanish flu epidemic came to an end. I think that we are currently experiencing a similar situation as it was a hundred years ago, and that is why we would like to say goodbye to the pandemic in a similar way,” Jakub Staniewski explained in an interview with Nowy Dziennik.

The participants of the ball did not hide their admiration and appreciation for the organizers, expressing a clear willingness to participate in the next edition of this event and other events organized by the Polish Youth Association. At the end of the Youth Ball, participants had the opportunity to participate in a lottery with attractive prizes, including Apple electronic equipment and two plane tickets to Poland funded by the sponsor of the ball, LOT Polish Airlines.

Where did the idea for the Youth Ball come from? Sometimes called the Student's Ball, the Scholarship Ball has been a permanent part of the Polonia calendar since 1991, organized annually for over 18 years. The Scholarship Holder's Ball was hosted by the Polish Students Organization, which has been active in the Polish community for students since 1991.

In 2014, the Polish Students Organization suspended its activity, and its last president was Monika Dziewa. After almost seven years of inactivity, the Polish Students Organization joined forces with the newly established Polish Youth Association (PSM) in 2021, appointing PSM founder Jakub Staniewski as its next president. Given this combination of forces, the board of the Polish Youth Association decided to quickly incorporate PSO initiatives into the youth events calendar, including the initiative to organize the Student/Scholarship Holder Ball. The Polish Youth Association officially continues the legacy of the Polish Students Organization as its heir, and thanks to the two organizations joining forces, the 30-year legacy of the Polish Students Organization has a chance to survive.

The Polish Youth Association, founded by Jakub Staniewski in 2019, includes among its projects: "Heroes of Two Generations" (in cooperation with the Centrala of Polish Supplementary Schools), during which young people had a chance to meet Polish veterans virtually; “Finance101” workshops (in cooperation with the PSFCU and led by Dorota Ciszewska) thanks to which young people learned how to manage their finances; workshops "Youth Among Art", thanks to which young people discovered their painting talents by creating delightful paintings under the supervision of instructor Angelika Mojsa, and many others. in 2020, The Polish Youth Association organized the 1st Conference of Polish University Clubs, during which the organization was recognized as an official association of over 30 Polish student clubs operating in the USA and Canada. The wide range of activities and program offer offered to young people and students by the Polish Youth Association also includes numerous skiing, hiking and rafting trips, thanks to which young people participate in active forms of recreation in the open air. Many of the above programs are financially supported by the Polish & Slavic Credit Union, and in return emphasizes its presence in the environment of young people, students and graduates. and rafting, thanks to which young people participate in active forms of recreation in the open air. Many of the above programs are financially supported by the Polish & Slavic Credit Union, and in return emphasizes its presence in the environment of young people, students and graduates. and rafting, thanks to which young people participate in active forms of recreation in the open air. Many of the above programs are financially supported by the Polish & Slavic Credit Union, and in return emphasizes its presence in the environment of young people, students and graduates.

The Youth Ball 2022 serves as a great introduction to a year full of interesting projects organized by the Polish Youth Association, on which the association cordially invites you to cooperate.