Ohio - Mission & History
The Ohio Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation was established in August 2007 to promote the Foundation's mission of promoting and strengthening understanding and friendship between the peoples of Poland and the United States through educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges and other related programs and activities.
The idea of establishing a Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation in Ohio originated from one of its members, Mary Kay Pieski, who had volunteered since 1995 as a teacher and American Staff leader with the Kosciuszko Foundation Teaching English in Poland Program. Many of her colleagues and friends volunteered for this program, experiencing the culture and people of Poland firsthand. Ms. Pieski wanted this exchange to continue long after these teachers returned from their summer in Poland. Ms. Pieski was elected to the National Advisory Council in 2006 and expressed the desire to start a chapter in Ohio. The Chapter was founded in Bath, Ohio, at the home of Dr. Wieslaw Binienda and Maria Szonert-Binienda, Esq. Mr. Joseph E. Gore, Esq. was present for the first meeting and election of officers. Originally, the Chapter embraced eight counties in Northeast Ohio, but in 2009 it expanded its boundaries to include the entire state of Ohio.
The office is located in the Cleveland Polish-American Culture Center JP II, 5601 Lansing Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44105.
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