Polish Center in Los AngelesCharitable organization acquired Polish Cultural Center (Polish Home)
by Chris Ciesiolkiewicz-Kolski
The Polish Center in Los Angeles was founded on February 24,1967 as a charitable organization with one of its major goals being the acquisition of a Polish Cultural Center (Polish Home) in the Los Angeles Area. Initiative to form the Center originated from existing Polish - American Organizations, which included the Polish Fraternal Association - Samopomoc, the Polish Combatants Association - Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantow (SPK), and the Polish Air Force Association. Its prime mover was the late Tadeusz Zielinski.
The primary purpose of the Polish Center was to keep Polish traditions alive among Polish - American groups in Southern California. It also wanted to promote, among the young generations of Polish - Americans, awareness of their cultural roots and achievements of their predecessors. To achieve these goals, it was imperative to have a place where members could meet and work effectively.
Thus the decision to buy a "Polish Home" was made. Initial funding for the project came from several Polish fraternal organizations. Later, individual members, who strongly supported the concept of a central meeting place, contributed financially. Several buildings and sites were examined. Finally in June, 1970 the Polish Center acquired the River's End Recreational Park in Saugus. Samopomoc transferred its funds to the Polish Center (Osrodek Polski). A formal merger followed in 1975 to form the Polish Center Fraternal Association of Los Angeles, Inc. (Osrodek Polski - Samopomoc).
The activities at River's End suffered a serious setback in February 1971, when a major earthquake caused considerable damage to the Recreation Park. Subsequently, with the assistance of loans from the Federal Government, the Polish American Congress, "POLAM" Credit Union and individual members, the damage was repaired and full activities at the park were restored. The park was again damaged when a flood washed away a part of the river bank and deepened the river bed. Although the park recovered after each disaster, it struggled financially until recently when the Polish Center and River's End Park benefitted from new management. Under the leadership of Mr. Stanislaw Grzanka, first as treasurer and then as president, the Recreational Park was improved and expanded and put on sound financial footing. Today it is in an excellent financial position, and regularly supports many cultural and educational activities and organizations. Picnics are held regularly, which help many organizations financially. Each year the Polish Center holds a new Years Eve Ball at a major Los Angeles hotel.
A merger between the Polish American Congress, Southern California Division and the Polish Center to build a Polish Community Center in Southern California was recently proposed but, after examining various options, it was decided that a new organization should be founded and that both organizations would then donate financial resources to this new organization.
The Executive Board for 1994 consists of Stanislaw Grzanka, Chris Ciesiolkiewicz - Kolski, Jozef Nowicki, Andrzej Kozlowski and Ryszard Dudek.
From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.