Dr. Kerényi Tamás
Szülész-nőgyógyásznak a magyar tudományos együttműködés, a tehetséges fiatal magyar orvosok kutatómunkájának elősegítése a "Kerényi Perinatális Ösztöndíj" létrehozásával, valamint 1956 szellemének és örökségének ébrentartása érdekében végzett munkássága elismeréseként a Magyar Köztársasági érdemrend lovagkeresztje kitüntetést adományozták

Dear Friends and Guests,

I am very honored to receive this medal of the Hungarian Republic which the Consul General bestowed upon me.

For many years I felt, that for the great foundation in my education, received in Hungary before I left in 1956, I should give back something, when I can, someday.

The opportunity finally came when a grateful patient donated substantial funds towards my pet project. It was then, in the late 80's, when I was able to set up the Kerenyi Perinatal Research Foundation to sponsor a Fellowship. After the initial years when the Fellowship needed to be refunded, three friends stepped forward each helping for 2-3 years. First George Soros through his Open Society Institute, then Tamas Peterffy of NY and in the last couple of years Paul Josefowitz of London.

The Fellowship made it possible, between 1990 and 2002, for 10 young Hungarian obstetricians to spend one year each, at the Mount Sinai Hospital in NY, studying, observing, participating in research and learning English. After they returned to Hungary, I was pleased to see them prosper and advance in their carrier faster than expected, thanks to the enriching experience here in New York in this great City. Now they are leaders in their various academic communities in Debrecen, Pécs and Budapest, and I am very proud of them.

The project was regretfully terminated when I had a serious heart attack in late 2001 and had to concentrate on my recovery. I used that time to write a book about my experiences before and after 1956. The book was Titled: Ice Chips in English and Szívügy in Hungarian.

Click here to read Dr. Kerényi's full speech in English

Szarvasy Mihály
Műtárgy- és régiségkereskedőnek, a New York-i Magyar Ház ideiglenes igazgatójának, művészeti szaktanácsadónak az egyetemes értékű magyar művészeti kincsek külföldi bemutatásáért, a kulturális szakmai kapcsolatok építéséért és a pozitív Magyarország-kép fejlesztéséért végzett tevékenysége elismeréseként a Magyar Köztársasági érdemrend lovagkeresztje kitüntetést adományozták

Győrffy Gabriella
A magyar kultúra értékeinek, valamint a New York-i és New York környéki magyar kulturális események megörökítéséért és terjesztéséért az általa létrehozott www.gimagine.com honlapon közzétett fotóriportok segítségével
Pro Cultura Hungarica kitüntetésben részesült

I am not used to be on the stage, but taking photos there or there…

Anyway, imagine a big metropolis called New York and its neighborhoods. Then imagine a little community which is really small in number, but big in achievements. And maybe most of the achievements and events created by our Hungarian community in the New York area would fade away like an old photograph.

Then the digital age came, to imagine I added a "g" and created gimagine. And as I look around in this room I can hardly find somebody who would not be on my web site. So please, visit my web site www.gimagine.com and you will see yourself, your friends, our achievements and events.

But before I leave the stage, I would like to thank you for recognizing my eleven years of work, and I would like to thank my friends who started with me, who have been helping me to keep this web site alive, especially Feri (Frank Deak) and Laci (Kerkay László), recently Lily (Érdy Lily) and all of the others who have helped me so much - there you are - and all those who created these beautiful, memorable events. I will never forget the 50^th Anniversary of our Revolution - by the way my father left the country in 1956 and I joined him here in 1987 - it was a great, great event. And I will never forget - just let me remember one memory - when Ádám György, one of our greatest young Hungarian pianists had a rehearsal at Carnegie Hall. He was testing two pianos and in Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage) there was nobody else only Ádám playing on the pianos and myself taking photos; I will remember it forever. Then something happened. He asked me "What do you think, which piano should I play?" Surprised, I told him, just select that one. He of course selected the other one… In the evening we went to the concert and I remember that my friend Maria could not stop crying, it was so beautiful.

Thank you so much and enjoy www.gimagine.com …

...and now please say cheeeeese!