The Polish American Congress Charitable
Foundation, Inc., (PACCF) is a not-for-profit
organization under Section 503(c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code with offices in Chicago and Washington.
Established in 1971 by the PAC, the Charitable Foundation
supports cultural, educational and humanitarian efforts
which emphasize Polish-American heritage. A major
component of the PACCF’s work has been charitable
assistance to Poland.
Cardinal Jozef Glemp and
Honorary President of
PAC-NJ Feliks S. Bruks
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In 1981 the PACCF initiated the
"Relief for Poland’ project. It
launched this effort at the direct request of
Lech Walesa, then chairman Of Solidarity and
former President Of Poland, as well as the
Charitable Commission Of the Polish Catholic
Bishops’ Conference (CARITAS). Thanks to the
generosity of individuals, business,
governmental, and corporate donors, the PACCF has
been able to date to ship countless transports of
medicines, hospital equipment, baby food,
pediatric vitamins, clothing, medical supplies,
rehabilitation equipment, books, agricultural
tools, and disinfectants to Poland. And we make a
dollar stretch: since 1981, the PACCF has sent
over $200,000,000.00 worth of humanitarian
assistance to Poland at a cost of Just $a
8,000.00! You can be sure that the money and
goods which go into the PACCF are stretched and
matched to their max !!!
In 1990 the PACCF received a $1.5
million grant from the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) to support a
project of "Assistance to Rural Hospitals in
Poland". This grant provided was matched in
such a way as to provide over $15,000,000 worth
of supplies to more than 140 rural hospitals.
Since 1991 the PACCF has been working with USAID
on "Special Assistance for Disabled Children
and Elderly".
Right after the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster we shipped over 130
tons of baby food and milk and 3 million
vitamins. The PACCF has regularly sent medical
supplies and equipment to the Cardiology Center
in Katowice-Ochojec, where over 1,000 heart
operations occur annually. The PACCF cooperates
with the Deborah Heart and Lung Center in New
Jersey, bringing over 300 Polish children for
needed cardiac surgery to the Garden State.
Polish doctors come to Deborah to learn the
latest in lifesaving techniques. The PACCF has
donated five specially equipped buses to
transport children in wheelchairs to
rehabilitation centers in Poland.
New Jersey has been very active in
the PACCF's work. Numerous transport containers
have been loaded in the Garden State. The
"Solidarity Express Train "of 1980-81,
organized by the national PAC, included lots of
donations of used clothing, shoes, and other
supplies collected in New Jersey. New Jersey
hospitals and pharmaceutical companies have been
generous in donating supplies.
With the vast changes taking place
in Poland today, the need for help still remains.
Great changes for the better are taking place
but, as is often the case, the impact on the
poor, elderly, disabled, and children is always
the greatest. We continue to try to Provide
assistance buffering the challenges of this new
era, but we need your help.
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