05/12/2017 – AHF receives “Friend of Hungary” award: The Friends of Hungary Foundation held its 4th World Conference from May 5th to the 7th in Budapest. The Foundation is a non-profit organization formally established in 2011 with the aim of promoting the successful activities of Hungarians worldwide. Over 200 notable Hungarian expatriates, leaders, and friends of Hungary from 24 countries attended this conference. The Hungarian President János Áder hosted members of the Friends of Hungary Foundation with First Lady Anita Herczegh at the presidential palace.
During his welcome speech at the Sándor Palace, János Áder thanked the guests for their loyal friendship, and for raising interest in Hungary while boosting its reputation. “A country is more than just an area that can be identified on a map,” Áder said in his address to the Foundation’s members. “It has a spiritual aura that can impact our economic, cultural and political lives… You believe in the destiny-shaping power of direct experiences, excellent performances and personal aura, and you know that mutual respect is the key to trust in cooperation in work and sober understanding in disputes. And the more respect we can give one another, the greater its strength,” President Áder said.
Sylvester E. Vizi, Széchenyi-award winning neuroscientist and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of the Hungary Foundation, followed President Áder in addressing the audience assembled in the Sándor Palace’s Hall of Mirrors. The former chairman of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences spoke about the fact that conference attendees had arrived from all over the world, on their own dime, in order to show their friendships, and to show their love for Hungary and Hungarian culture. Dr. Vizi also emphasized the fact that, for the first time, in addition to visitors and Foundation members with Hungarian roots, the Friends of Hungary have the opportunity to welcome those who have simply fallen in love with Hungary and its culture.
In Budapest’s stunning Vigadó Concert Hall, the Friends of Hungary Foundation presented its first “Friend of Hungary Award” to two individuals and to the American Hungarian Federation.
Sylvester Vizi presented the award to Co-President Gyula Elemér Balogh who accepted the award on behalf of the Federation and to 5 other Board and AHF members who were on the podium including AHF Chairman Ferenc Koszorus, Jr., Zsuzsanna Dreisziger-Stricz, Katalin Kádár Lynn, Prof. András Ludányi, the Honorable Anikó Gáal Schott, and chair of the AHF Youth Committee, Bertalan Kolus.
AHF established the Colonel Commandant Michael Kovats Medal of Freedom to honor outstanding individuals and recognize their life’s achievements, dedication to freedom and democracy, promotion of transatlantic relations, and meritorious contribution to society
Mr. Balogh gave thanks to the Foundation for this wonderful award and opened his remarks with a moving quote from a letter sent by Viktor Orbán at the 100th Anniversary of AHF which talked about faithfulness to your country, Fidelissimus ad Mortem. He then described the mission that AHF’s Founders had, about working and sacrificing together, about helping immigrant Hungarians adjust to life in the US. He described ten major accomplishments and events in the life of the Federation, starting with building and donating the George Washington statue to Hungary (in Budapest) to show the warm relations between Americans and Hungarians.
He mentioned the millions of dollars in donations that AHF gave to Hungarians to reconstruct after World War II and and to help relocate to the US in 1956. He mentioned the support AHF gave to the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington DC.
In 2010-2013, together with the Amerikaiak a Magyarokért Alapítvány (AMKA) in Hungary, AHF contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to help the farmer and individual victims of the floods and Red Sludge. In 2013 AHF helped to build the Hungarian Roots to Revival Festival, which was part of the Smithsonian Institution’s popular annual Folklife Festival visited by over 1.4 million persons and over 40 million on TV.
In 2014 AHF sponsored the Peace Forum to improve American Hungarian relations which was held at the 5th anniversary and Thanksgiving celebration of AMKA, and had over 225 attendees. In 2016 on the 60th anniversary of the 1956 revolution against the Soviet Communist dictators, AHF spoke out against former President Clinton’s outrageous remarks about Hungarians liking dictatorships.
He concluded with remarks about the importance of involving young people in the Federation, about collaborating with the Foundation on creating and sponsoring future 3rd and 4th generation Hungarian EXPOs, and about selflessness and giving back to the country of our ancestry. He then introduced Ferenc Koszorus, Jr. the past President and current Chairman of the Board, and lauded him on his extensive work on behalf of the Federation.
![Mr. Koszorus thanked [magyarul] the Foundation for the award given to the American Hungarian Federation, a 110 year old NGO, for its decades of work on behalf the Hungarian community.](/wp-content/uploads/legacy/images/friendsofhungary/ader_koszorus.jpg)
Mr. Koszorus thanked [magyarul] the Foundation for the award given to the American Hungarian Federation, a 110 year old NGO, for its decades of work on behalf the Hungarian community. He described the wide range of activities, including: teaching and preserving Hungarian culture; standing out for democracy, human and minority rights (including the right to autonomy); objecting to discrimination (such as the Benes Decrees); standing up for the good name and image of Hungarians in various fora; objecting to false statements about history; helping to improve American-Hungarian relations; supporting NATO, considering Russia’s policies. As our web site demonstrates AHF is a unique and independent organization that remains true to its principles and proud traditions, which have served the Federation well for 110 years.
The presentation of awards was followed by a Gala dinner and concert. The concert, titled “Let Music Belong to Everyone!,” was an homage to famed composer and ethnomusicologist Zoltán Kodály in honor of the 135th anniversary of his birth, and the 50th anniversary of his passing. The concert was arranged by Róbert Velkey in consultation with Kodály’s widow, Sarolta Péczely, who was also in attendance.
On May 4, representatives of the American Hungarian Federation along with other American participants to the Friends of Hungary Foundation Conference were invited to a briefing at he U.S. Embassy by David Kostelanick, Charge d’Affaires. The Honorable Aniko Gaal-Schott, Frank Koszorus, Jr., and Professor Andras Ludanyi, members of AHF, attended the briefing that focused on U.S./Hungarian bilateral relations, the continuity of U.S. policy toward Hungary, and steps that can be taken to strengthen ties between the two NATO allies.
- Special thanks to the Friends of Hungary Foundation and Hungary Today for additional photos and text.
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