On June 3, 2016 the Michigan Division of Polish American Congress held a fundraiser at the PNA Council 122 Hall in Hamtramck. It was called “Pierogi Palooza” and its purpose, aside from raising funds for this umbrella organization, was to offer the area public an opportunity to come together to taste some popular Polish food, enjoy Polish American music, be entertained by Polish folk dance groups, view displays about our beautiful culture and legacy, be informed about Polish American Congress and its member organizations, and purchase Polish and Polish American merchandise which expresses pride in our rich heritage. It was a culinary and social-cultural event. The response, to everyone’s surprise, was phenomenal. If we counted all the entry tickets, and added the young children, the volunteers, and the performers, the number would approach 900 persons in attendance in one evening. We thought, but never suspected, that “pierogi” would explode into such a huge attraction.
Not only has this venture been successful in raising funds for our division, money that will greatly help in covering our ongoing operational office expenses, but also in enabling us to pursue updates to our website and in reaching our goal to improve better electronic communication with the community and beyond, something that needs to be addressed as we keep up with today’s rapidly changing technology. Another positive outcome of our successful event was the contact we had with such a large part of Polonia, those Polish Americans who may not have a current close experience with their heritage, but who do identify and are proud of it. We’ve been hoping to do so for some years now. This event was a start. We hope to build on it to enable our division to reach beyond our largely insular organized community. We think it has significance for the future of the organization- to keep a larger part of the population informed and, in time, to bring them in to be involved as well. We believe this improved contact will work for the benefit and future of Polonia.
Pierogi Palooza 2016 Sponsors and Donors
These are the individuals, organizations, and businesses that contributed monetarily to the Pierogi Palooza event, ensuring that we have a nice venue and such good entertainment all evening.
Raymond Okonski /Farmington Hills, MI
Polish American Federal Credit Union/Troy, MI
George Lukowski/Troy, MI
American Polish Cultural Center/Troy, MI
Polish National Alliance Council 122
Friends of Polish Art
Polish Century Club/Troy, MI
St Faustina Parish/Warren, MI
Michael and Christine Wilk/Hamtramck, MI
Zdzislaw and Genowfa Jurek/Riverview, MI
Polish American Congress Polish Day Parade
Filarets Club
Polonaise Chorale
Michael Lacey/Mount Clemens, MI
Whisky in a Jar (Tom Jankowski)/Hamtramck, MI
Dr. Ted Radzilowski/Hamtramck, MI
Irena Bankowska/Hamtramck, MI
Polish American Congress Seniors Club / Hamtramck, MI
The following are donors of their time and talents, delicious food and desserts, attractive merchandise featured at the event, as well as for planning and advertising, set up, items for the gift baskets of “Polish Cheer”, food prep and service, entertainment, raffles, and all efforts in making it an all-around successful fundraiser for Polish American Congress of Michigan:
Pierogi Palooza Committee: Barbara Lemecha, Barbara Gronet, Stella Szczesny, Donna Bielecki, Christine Kuczara, Jacqueline Kolowski, Teresa Wiacek, Helena Zmurkiewicz, Jolanta Bujny, Sebastian Szczepanski, Amelia Pietraszak, and Ann Bankowski
Carolyn Wietrzykowski- owner of Polish Village Café Hamtramck, MI
Rodney Srodek and Srodek Family of Srodek’s Campau Quality Sausage
PNA Council 122- Members and Club Manager Tadeusz Palac
Bar service: Kasia Schemanski and Anna Chrin
Kielbasa Kings Polka Band
DJ Accent
Stanislaw Smigielski- accordion entertainment
Zamek Dancers of the Polish Women’s Alliance
Wawel Folk Dance Ensemble
Czarny Dunajec Folk Dance Ensemble
Anna Brozda- face painting
Sweet Dreams Bakery- Warren, MI
Srodek’s Deli and Bakery- Shelby Twp., MI
Natalie’s Bakery- Madison Hts., MI
New Palace Bakery- Hamtramck, MI
Polish Art Center- Hamtramck, MI
Doreen and Craig Geml of Warren, MI
Katherine and Robert Joseph of Canton, MI
Stanislawa Rogal- main cook of pierogi
Hamtramck Police Reserves
Bronco Printing, Copy Copy, and PBS Printing
PNA Lodge 1758
PNA District X
PAC-MI board, directors, members, and other volunteers: Tom Schemanski, John and Joan Baritche, Marcia Lewandowski, Ed and Francine Nizienski, Rick Lapham, Walt Bankowski, Tom Wolski, Anna Huk-Glaeser, Krzysztof and Grazyna Adamczyk, Irena Bankowska, Stanislawa Jakobek, Tony and Christine Kryszko, Nancy Szczotka, Carol Bennett, Miroslaw and Michal Halon, Pat Bargowski, Norm Golembiewski, Marianna Konrad, Jim Kaczor
We appreciate all media that helped to advertise and cover the event, including Channel 7, WWJ- 950-AM radio, Detroit Free Press, Telewizja Detroit, Polish Varieties Radio, Polish Weekly, Hamtramck Review, Queen of Apostles (parish bulletin) and the many Facebook participants who enthusiastically spread the word.
Of course we thank everyone who came to support and enjoy the food and our fundraiser event. We invite you and others to come back next year. We hope to make it an even more improved Pierogi Palooza for everyone’s enjoyment.
Ann Bankowski, President
Polish American Congress-Michigan
The Polish American Congress (PAC) is a U.S. umbrella organization of Polish-Americans and Polish-American organizations. Its membership is composed of fraternal, educational, veterans, religious, cultural, social, business, and political organizations, as well as individuals.