Ryszard Kott, President

Polish Home Foundation

www.PolishHomeFoundation.org

Mar 5, 2006

 

Polish Home Foundation

2005 Report Summary

 

 

Dear Friends of the Foundation,

 

This is a brief summary of PHF activities and finances in 2005.  For the Foundation itself the important moment of the year came in March, when the IRS granted the permanent 501(c)(3) tax exemption status to the PHF.

 

The main focus for the Foundation was fundraising for the Polish Home expansion project through the Polish Home Fundraising Committee chaired by Ryszard Kott. The Committee ran a very successful campaign in 2005. By the end of the year, over 100 people pledged about $255,000 to the project, with about $54,000 in actual donations.

 

Events the Foundation was involved with in 2005

As the PHF focused on the Polish Home fundraising activities, it was involved in smaller number of events in 2005.

 

The Foundation was involved directly in the following events: fundraising at the spring and fall Bazaars at the Polish Home and mass mailing for the Polish Home expansion project. The Foundation was helping with the following fundraisers: for the Polish School, for the Polish Museum in Rapperswil, Switzerland in memory of Ms. Jadwiga Golubiec and for the ventilation project at the Polish Home. PHF supported financially the Polish Wings in WWII Exhibition accompanying a public lecture organized by the UW Polish Studies Endowment Fund at the University of Washington. The Foundation also participated in the Polonia conference organized by the Polish Consulate General from Los Angeles in Stockdale, Arizona.

 

Donations

Fundraising for the Polish Home Expansion Project increased the overall number and value of donations to the Foundation. In 2005, the Foundation received about 180 donations and matching gift donations in cash for a total of $58,846, including about 80 related to the expansion project. This compares to about 130 donations totaling $18,761 in 2004. PHF also received several donations in kind: folk art, books and jewelry sold at the spring bazaar and the fall bazaar, as well as a magnificent historical Polish National Alliance flag from 1899 from Wilkeson, WA.

 

The Fundraising Committee was soliciting not only donations but also pledges of support for the PH expansion project. By the end of the year, there were about 100 pledges for the benefit of the Expansion Project with a total value over $255,000 and with some pledges spanning up to 5 years. All signs indicate that the number of donations in 2006 will increase again.

 

Grants

In 2005, the Foundation issued the following grants:

·        $400 to the Polish School in Seattle, January

·        $250 to Radio Wisla, March

·        $228 to the Polish Wings in WWII exhibition, April

·        $1000 to the Seattle Polish Film Festival, April

·        $400 to Gazetka Polonijna, May

·        $3,120 to the Polish Museum in Rapperswil, June

·        $5,140 to the PHA for the ventilation project at the Polish Home, September

·        $300 to prof. Pietrzyk towards the cost of printing the Solidarity history booklet

·        $8,250 to the PHA for the Polish Home Expansion project (Conditional Use Permit costs), October

·        A historical PNA flag from 1899 to the PHA, December

The Foundation has also bought a total of $648 worth of ads as means of supporting Radio Wisla.

 

Financial Summary

 

PHF revenue for 2005 was $59,873, grants and expenses totaled $22,603; the income was $37,270.

 

Plans for 2006, invitation to supporters and volunteers

The main focus of the Foundation activities in 2006 will be again fundraising for the Polish Home expansion project. The Foundation enjoys wide support in our community. Everybody can become a PHF member or volunteer. If you would like to help in PHF activities such as raising money for the Polish Home expansion project or with events organized by the Foundation, please contact Ryszard Kott or other officers. We need your help and support for our common good and invite everybody to join our efforts!