​​​​​​

We celebrated Polish culture at this year’s Polonaise Ball—a truly memorable fundraising gala dedicated to supporting scholarships for Polish-American students in the U.S. and Polish Saturday Schools in the Tampa Bay Area.
This year’s celebration was especially meaningful as we marked two major milestones:
The 43rd Anniversary of the American Institute of Polish Culture in Tampa Bay
The 100th Anniversary of the Kosciuszko Foundation

We gathered to celebrate our shared heritage, values, and community spirit—and what a night it was!  Mr. Marek Skulimowski, President and Executive Director of the Kosciuszko Foundation, was unfortunately unable to attend due to a last-minute flight schedule change, but in his absence, Mr. Wojtek Perkowski—representing The Kosciuszko Foundation's Florida Chapter—graciously accepted a special recognition on his behalf. President Eva Skibicki presented the award, and Mr. Perkowski read Mr. Skulimowski’s heartfelt letter of gratitude.

We were also deeply honored to receive a congratulatory letter from the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, D.C., addressed to all our guests. Mrs. Bozena Gasior, Master of Ceremonies,  had the privilege of reading the message from Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Bogdan Klich aloud during the ceremony.

After dinner, AIPC President Eva Skibicki and her husband, Mr. Christopher Skibicki, led the elegant Polonaise Dance, with many guests joining in to begin the festive dancing portion of the evening.
 

The evening was elevated by unforgettable musical performances by Milosz Gasior Defying Autism with Music, a young pianist on the autism spectrum, enchanted guests during the cocktail hour with a stunning repertoire of classical and contemporary pieces. Maya Mazur with Soundsgood4You, created a magical atmosphere with her powerful vocals and soulful violin playing. She brought everyone to the dance floor—and kept them there all night! Thank you to our dedicated volunteers—former scholarship recipients Patryk Gasior and Gabi Wisz—for helping at the registration table, selling raffle tickets, and warmly assisting guests throughout the evening. Your efforts made the night run smoothly!

 

On behalf of the American Institute of Polish Culture in Tampa Bay, I extend our sincere gratitude to the Ball co-chairs and all the dedicated helping hands who made this celebration possible. This year’s co-chairs were:  Jowita Ahava Esq., Mrs. Bozena Gasior (also our Master of Ceremonies), Dr. Ewa Kolanko-Christian, Dr. Elzbieta Kolanko, and Dr. Izabela Kowal.

 

Thank you to Domanska Photography, Tomasz Urban, and Grzegorz Kapuscinski for capturing the mood and moments of this enchanted evening. A special thank you to Lidia Wisz for donating her talent and time in preparing the beautiful floral arrangements for our tables.

It was a night of unity, culture, and joy—an evening that reminded us all of the power of tradition, community, and giving back.  Please donate to our scholarship fund so that our recipients can become successful contributors to our community.