What is the Polanki mission?

It is simple and two-fold:

• Preserve Polish traditions
• Promote Polish heritage

Since its founding in 1953, Polanki has been dedicated to promoting knowledge and appreciation of Polish culture among Milwaukee Poles and non-Poles alike. The College Achievement Awards competition, recognizing college and university students who have demonstrated superior academic ability, was instituted in 1970.

Among its varied activities, Polanki supports public lectures, exhibits and performances in the Milwaukee area. In 2004, Polanki paid for the restoration of a painting of Bishop Piotr Tomicki from the Franciscan monastery in Kraków, which traveled to Milwaukee as part of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s exhibition, “Leonardo da Vinci and the Splendor of Poland.”

Polanki members actively promote Polish culture by giving talks, workshops and demonstrations to schools and community organizations. For over 65 years the club has prepared the Polish cultural booth at the Holiday Folk Fair. Our members have also been responsible for designing and organizing the exhibits, speakers, artists and demonstrators at the Polish Fest Cultural Village.

Polanki supports efforts to preserve the legacy of early Polish settlers. A sizable donation helped to reconstruct the Kruza house, a Polish homestead from Hofa Park, Wisconsin, on the grounds of Old World Wisconsin. Polanki supported the renovation of St. Josaphat Basilica and led a successful fund-raising campaign to restore the Kościuszko monument in Kościuszko Park.

In 2000, Polanki endowed the building of a library at the Polish Center of Wisconsin. Polanki members staff and operate the library, which contains a variety of books and audio and visual media in Polish and English. Polanki has also contributed funds for local libraries to purchase Polish-related books and other resource materials.

Polanki regularly supports the efforts of other organizations to promote Polish culture. In 2005 we contributed a substantial amount to help purchase a Steinway grand piano for the Polish Center of Wisconsin. Polanki has co-sponsored concerts of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra featuring contemporary Polish composers and contributed to Wildspace Dance Company’s performances based on the Polish settlers of Jones Island. Most recently Polanki contributed to the restoration of stained glass windows at St. Josaphat Basilica.

Polanki’s membership has been growing over the last sixty-five years and the organization looks forward to a bright future as interest in Poland and awareness of its rich cultural tradition increases among Milwaukeeans of all ethnic backgrounds.