New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. with honorees and co-sponsors at his Polish-American Heritage Month celebration at Surrogate’s Court on October 30, 2008.  Photo credit: Marla S. Maritzer.

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. honored four leaders at his Polish-American Heritage Celebration at Surrogate’s Court in Manhattan last night. The event was co-sponsored by the General Pulaski Memorial Day Parade Committee, Inc., Kosciuszko Foundation, Inc. and the Polish American Congress-Downstate New York Division.

“Tonight, we pay tribute to the memory of the Polish New Yorkers who—in many cases—literally built this city,” Thompson said. “Polish-Americans have played an essential role in building our nation and our city into what they are today. There simply is no New York without Polish New York. The history of this city, and the history of the Polish-American community here, are deeply entwined.”

“From the city’s earliest days, New York offered hope and opportunity to immigrants from Poland. The men and women who came here worked long and hard to build better lives for their families. The new immigrants, in turn, helped build a better future for our city.”

“Tonight,” he said, “we honor a special group of men and women who are continuing that tradition of achievement, community, and leadership today.”

Thompson presented the first award to Vincent Brunhard, Jr., who serves as Executive Vice President of the Polish American Congress-Downstate New York Division, and First Vice President, Pulaski Association of Business and Professional Men, Inc.

“In addition to his business interests, Vincent has been a tireless civic leader for the Polish American Community,” Thompson said. “He also served as Executive Vice President of the General Pulaski Memorial Parade Committee where he instituted a program of corporate sponsorship that raised tens of thousands of dollars.”

The second award was presented to journalist, Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, who was born and raised in Warsaw, Poland, and moved to the United States in 2001, settling in Queens. In 2003, she began working full-time for the Polish Daily News, where she covers stories about Polish immigrants in the United States.

Kern-Jedrychowska, who currently is studying Anthropology at Hunter College, has won four Ippies from the Independent Press Association. She also reports for the radio program “Feet in Two Worlds,” for which she tells stories about immigrant lives.

Thompson honored her “in recognition of a truly impressive record of achievement that augurs a great body of work still to come.”

Helen Mary M. Tyszka, a Trustee and Corporate Secretary of the Kosciusko Foundation, received the third award. Thompson noted her work as the Foundation’s Treasurer, and volunteering on the annual fundraising ball. Tyszka also is affiliated with the WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals, Ladies Auxiliary of the General Casimir Pulaski Post 24 of the Polish Legion of American Veterans, Polish Children’s Heartline, and as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at the Parish of St. Joseph on Long Island.

“Truly an exemplary member of the business, church and the city communities, Helen Mary M. Tyszka is a recipient of our Distinguished Service Award,” Thompson said.

The final honoree was Joseph Wieczerzak, who serves as Professor Emeritus at Bronx Community College and Editor Emeritus of The Polish Review. Wieczerzak is past President of the Polish American Historical Association, a member of the board of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences, and past Chair of the Polish National Catholic Church Commission on History and Archives.

The Comptroller called Wieczaerzak “an educator, thinker, preservationist and archivist of some of the most important aspects of the Polish American experience.”

The Wianek Polish Folk Dance Company performed at the event.

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