June 2009
Concordia Trust
The Concordia Trust, Cultivating and promoting the German language and cultural experience Volume 4, Issue 1 created in 2001, is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that focuses on promot- Glancing Back, Looking Forward... ing and subsidizing Ger- man language educa- It’s been a full year since our last annual news- • Marched in a parade of German ethnic pride tion, scholarship and letter was published and a full year of activities cultural programming. it has been. The Concordia Trust continued its • Listened to the sounds of German brass and financial support of the Immanuel German Minnesänger music. School, provided awards to outstanding stu- They were also dents and promoted German cultural program- ming throughout the area. A brief summary of • Entertained by German youth, who pre- our work, which committed and generous spon- sented theatrical and musical productions sors made possible, follows. • Inspired by German worship services . The Concordia Trust’s most ambitious project was its partnership with the German-American This close collaboration with the German- Day Celebration Committee to offer a celebra- American Day Celebration Committee allowed tion of the 325 th anniversary of the arrival of the the Trust to first German-speaking immigrants and their Engage the Keystone State Boychoir to offer founding of the first permanent German settle- • a German-American Day Concert. ment in the new world. We collaborated with such venerable Philadelphia area institutions as • Commission Family Stages Productions to the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia write and perform a theatrical production Museum of Art, Fels Planetarium of the Frank- entitled “Ben (Franklin) and the Germans”. lin Institute Science Museum, Winterthur Mu- seum, Masonic Temple and Library, and Ger- • Co-sponsor the Cabaret-evening with the mantown Historical Society. Philadelphia Museum of Art. Inside this issue: We reached out to other partners – the Key- • Host the German-American Day wreath- stone State Boychoir, German-American Cham- laying ceremony at the monument commemo- ber of Commerce - Philadelphia, German Soci- rating Franz Daniel Pastorius and the 13 Language Awards 2 ety of Pennsylvania, Leo Borchard Musikschule original German-speaking immigrants from of Berlin, Steuben Observance Committee, Krefeld. A luncheon followed at which the Gretz Beer Company, Speaker’s House of Otto Haas family was honored in recognition More Language 3 Trappe, Historic RittenhouseTown, German- of its German ancestry, its founding of the Awards American Committee of Philadelphia, Liberty Rohm and Haas Company and in gratitude Bell Wanderers, Immanuel Lutheran Church, for its generous philanthropy. Mr. John C. New Directors 4 Grumblethorpe, and German Historical Insti- Haas accepted the honor and a gift, a tree tute of Washington, D.C.— which hosted pro- planted at the Cannstatter Club, on behalf of grams throughout the city and suburbs. his family. The award presented in honor of Special Thank You 4 Rohm and Haas is described on page 2. From the 32 events offered over 12 days, indi- viduals As I reminisce about the many events that were German-American 4 offered to entertain and educate the community Immigration Mural • Learned about many significant contribu- about the contributions German-speaking immi- tions made by German-speaking immigrants grants made to our American way of life, I real- Our Benefactors 5 to our country via lectures, films, exhibits, ize just how much work remains to continue the demonstrations and workshops promotion of this rich legacy. The Directors of the Concordia Trust and I look forward to role • Toured art collections created by German German-American we can play in raising awareness of the Ger- 6 and German-American artists and sculptors Day 2008 Highlights man-American treasure we inherited and need to share with others. • Savored German wine and beer
• Enjoyed the tastes of German cooking Marlene H. K. Stocks Page 2 Concordia Trust
Excellence in German Award
Farhad Evoghlian received The Concordia In his thank you note to the Concordia Trust, Trust’s “Excellence in German Award” at the Fahrad wrote “thank you for your generous gift; May 18 Awards Night program for Lower More- it will go a long way in helping me in my contin- land’s graduating seniors. This award, in the ued educational goals.” amount of $250.00, is given to the graduating Lower Moreland High School Principal, Frank senior who has completed six years of German McKee, also expressed his thanks for the Trust’s and has maintained the highest academic aver- support and generosity. “Your dedication to age in Advanced Placement German. Consid- Lower Moreland High School will guarantee a eration goes to students who plan to continue great academic future for our students.” their study of German at the university level.
Certificate of Merit Award
At the Immanuel German School’s Awards cash award. Robert was not present to person- Ceremony on May 2, high school junior Robert ally accept his award because he was on a study Scheffler received a “Concordia Trust Certifi- trip to Germany. This total immersion into Ger- cate of Merit” for enthusiasm consistently dis- man life will certainly reinforce the language played in learning German. Robert has been and culture foundation he received at the Im- enrolled at Immanuel for many years and is a manuel German School. Herzlichen Glück- dedicated student of German. He received a wunsch, Robert!
Rohm and Haas Company Achievement Award
On October 6, 2008, in the halls of the Union The plaque read: League of Philadelphia, the 325 th anniversary of the arrival of the first German-speaking immi- The Rohm and Haas Company Achievement Award grants in America culminated with a luncheon is presented to Daniel Sergeyev that recognized the vast contributions made by for exhibiting strong scholarship and all German-speaking immigrants to this coun- possessing outstanding qualities of try. Symbolic of these contributions, a promi- character, service to the community, nent Philadelphia German-American Family, responsibility and leadership the Otto Haas family, and the company they on the occasion of the 325 th anniversary founded a century ago, the Röhm and Haas of German-American Day Company, were honored. October 6, 2008.
John McKeogh, Rohm and The German-American Day Celebration Com- Daniel acknowledged his award in this way, Haas Company Vice mittee, which organized the event together with “thank you for the beautiful plaque and recogni- President receiving a the German-American Chamber of Commerce— tion of my work concerning the German- plaque honoring his com- Philadelphia and the Concordia Trust, honored American Day celebration 2008. I am proud of pany’s German ancestry this Fortune 500 company’s German ancestry. my roll as (a) student ambassador within the from Barbara Afanassiev, It presented a plaque to Rohm and Haas Vice German-American Day Celebration Committee.” Honorary German Consul President, John McKeogh, standing in for CEO and Dr. Christina Frei and Board Chairman, Raj Gupta. This plaque (left), principal of the would be presented later to an Immanuel Ger- Immanuel German man School student, who exhibits the same School. characteristics for which Rohm and Haas was known. A second honorary plaque along with a $500 cash prize were presented to Daniel Sergeyev by Marlene Stocks, Head of School, and Chris- tina Frei, Principal, during the Immanuel Ger- man School’s award ceremony on May 2. Page 3 Volume 4, Issue 1
2009 Kalmus Scholarship Presented to Immanuel German School Students at School’s Award Ceremony
The Gerhard W. Kalmus Scholarship, funded The inscription on the plaques reads: for the fourth year by Prof. Dr. Kalmus and his wife, Karin, was presented to Jessica and Alexandra Harris , Abington High School sen- The Concordia Trust proudly presents iors. Prof. Kalmus, a resident of North Caro- the Gerhard W. Kalmus Scholarship lina, personally presented these scholarships on May 2, the final day of the Immanuel German to Alexandra and Jessica Harris School’s 34th school year. in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement in German The $1,000 scholarships will be used to help and their interest in German language fund Jessica and Alexandra’s education at education . Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Howard University in Washington, D.C. Jessica plans on a biology or pre-med course of study. Alexandra is planning on a career in medical research. The career aspirations of Jessica and Alexandra clearly met with Prof. Kalmus’s approval, who was a biology professor at East Carolina Uni- versity until his recent retirement. Prof. Kal- mus, a former Immanuel German School teacher, served ECU as Director of Under- John Scholtz, Christina Frei, Jessica Harris, graduate Studies for Biology and then Director Alexandra Harris, Prof. Kalmus, Marlene Stocks, of Graduate Studies. and Karin Kalmus
New Award Created to Recognize German Language Learning and German Cultural Participation
Inspired by his own personal connection to his these students was presented to club president, German-Hungarian ancestry, Mr. Wolfgang William Galgon. Each student received a gift Klepper, a resident of Frankfurt, Germany, and certificate. Dr. Christina Frei endowed an award that
“recognized a commitment to learning the German language at the Immanuel German School and enthusiastic participation in preserving the German culture at the United German Hungarian Club.”
Dr. Frei proudly presented this Outstanding
Achievement Award on behalf of the Concor- dia Trust to Karina Fricker, Michael Fricker, Joseph Reiter and Fallon Weyershaeuser, who A second presentation will be made to Imman- are students at Immanuel and members of the uel German School students, Stefanie and Kris- UGH cultural and folk dancing group. The tin Schwab, members of the G.T.V. Almrausch, presentation was made during the 99th anni- for their dedicated participation in learning versary banquet of the United German Hungar- German and preserving the German culture. ian Club on March 28, 2009. A plaque honoring Page 4 Concordia Trust
The Concordia Trust Welcomes Two New Directors
Dr. Christina Frei is affiliated with the Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann is the author and University of Pennsylvania in many ways. editor of numerous books on German-American She is the Academic Director of the Penn history and culture; he has received many awards, Language Center, Adjunct Assistant Profes- including the Federal Service Cross from Ger- sor in the Graduate School of Education, Sen- many and the Ohioana Book Award. He recently ior Lecturer and Director of Language In- retired as Curator of the German-Americana Col- struction in the Department of Germanic lection and Director of the German-American Languages and Literatures. Each summer, Studies Program at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Frei directs the department’s summer- As President of the Society for German-American study-abroad program and the German lan- Studies he called for the celebration of the Ger- guage program at the Freie Universität Ber- man-American Tricentennial in 1983, marking lin international Summer and Winter Univer- the establishment of the first German settlement sity (FUBiS) . Awarded for excellence in in America at Germantown, PA, and in 1987 led teaching, she is an enthusiastic and experi- the national campaign to establish October 6th as enced teacher. national German-American Day, earning him the title of “Father of German-American Day.” Upon accepting her board position, she wrote “vielen Dank für die Möglichkeit kreativ und Currently, he serves as Book Review Editor for inspirierent im Rahmen des Concordia Trusts German Life magazine, and writes for a variety of mitwirken zu können .” other publications.
Congratulations and Thank You to Tammy Sergeyev
We extend our sincerest congratulations to profession. Mrs. Sergeyev has generously donated incoming Immanuel German School Execu- her cash award to the Concordia Trust. Her con- tive Director, Tammy Sergeyev, for receiving tribution will be matched by means of a corporate the Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children’s TYLE- matching program and thereby double the dona- NOL ® National Child Care Teacher Award™ tion to $1,000. We are indebted to Mrs. Sergeyev on April 1, 2009. This award is presented and thank her for her generous gift, which will annually to child care teachers from around benefit the Immanuel German School. the country pursuant to an application proc- ess that attracted 250 applicants. The 50 winners were selected based on an educa- tional, age appropriate project they designed for their classroom.
For her winning project, Mrs. Sergeyev re- ceived the funding to implement the project and an individual cash award of $500 as an acknowledgement for her dedication to the
Support of German-American Immigration Mural
The Concordia Trust is proud to have contributed to the mural entitled “Building America: German-American Immigration and Contributions to the New World.” It is located at 605 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia (next to the German Soci- ety of Pennsylvania). The mural, created by the artist, Michael Webb, was sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and dedicated in October 2008. Additional funding was provided by the German Society of Pennsylvania and other private donors. Page 5 Volume 4, Issue 1
The Concordia Trust thanks its generous Benefactors*
ARC Manufacturing Dr. Deborah Hung & Marlene & Robert Stocks Dr. Walter Kraft, Jr. Liselotte & Dieter Superfresh/A&P Ballmann Dr. Nikola Juhasz and Inge and Harry Tillmann Dr. Michael Vogeley Bavarian Club of Phila. Liesel & Hans Trustorff Karin & Dr. Gerhard Cynthia and Todd Bertsch Kalmus UGH Werner Fricker Robin & Stefan Birkel Memorial Fund Kristin & David Karcher Ella & Ulrich Both Verizon Foundation Margaret & Tom Klueber Marleen Brown-Knaebel & Warsteiner Beer Ernst Knott Milton Brown Agnes Wenstrup Gottliebe & Erwin Koch Dr. Frido Buschmann Regina & Andy Anita & William LaCoff Consulate General of the Weyershaeuser Federal Republic of Renate Losoncy Peggy & Glenn White Germany — New York “Thank you for your Dr. Eva Luegmayr & Margot & Karl Wilhelm DeGrouchy, Sifer & Dr. Helmut Glantschnig efforts in the Company Dr. Birgit Wiswe & Ida & Frank Macri celebrations of Victor Turcios Dietz & Watson Rosalie & Ross Matico German-American Joan & Hans Wolf Ester Eichler Helen & Julius Menhardt Days and securing Joanne & Harry Yutzler Karen & Robert Eppinger Dr. Bettina Oxenius & corporate funds for Mabel & Elmar Zanforlin Dr. Christina Frei & Martin Kampfer its success.” Wolfgang Klepper Ani Parladé Marlene Fricker & Erwin & Libby Koch Margot & Wilhelm William Galgon * donations received since Purucker Spring, 2008 Kristen Gardner Pierre Rausch Marianne & Fred Gauss Barbara & Joseph Reiter Dr. Jean Godsall-Myers & Petra & Finn Rieker “Anbei eine Rev. Stephen Godsall- Myers Dawn & William Ritzler Kleinigkeit für den Dr. Erica Golemis & Dr. Margret & Fritz Rommel Corcordia Trust mit Michael Ott Tammy and Alexander vielen guten Bertram Gottbrecht Sergeyev Wünschen für einen Helen & Otto Graf Andreas Scherffel weiteren Erfolg.” Mary Grebner Gloria & Manfred Schurer Gretz Beer Company William George Shuster Hans-Dieter and Ingeborg Steinke Susan & Joseph Hartmann Marianne & William Sifer Drs. Jeanette & Delbert Linda & William Simon Hausman Jacqueline & Kile Smith Karin & Michael Hazzard Starbucks Coffee Donna & Paul Hoffmayer Ingeborg & Hans Steinke The Concordia Trust Experience the German Language and Culture 3408 Hillside Drive Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 Phone: 215.947.5490 The Concordia Trust Fax: 215.947.5787 E-mail: [email protected] invests in the future of German language Website: www.concordiatrust.org instruction and scholarship by …
Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. • Providing financial support to the Immanuel German School A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained • Presenting language awards to deserving high school students from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free within the Com- of German monwealth 1-800-732-0999. Registra- tion does not imply endorsement. • Promoting German cultural programming
German-American Day 2008: Highlights
October 3: The Philadelphia Museum of Art Art After Five program featuring the German cabaret scene of the early 1920s in the Museum’s Great Stair Hall. Photo courtesy of S. Moyn
The Keystone State Boychoir performed a German-American Day Concert on Septem- ber 28. Photo courtesy of Robin Odland
October 6: Keynote speaker, Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann, with Bonnie Schepers, a direct descendant of German-American Fest for high school stu- Franz Daniel Pasto- dents of German on October 1. The event rius at the Pastorius concluded with the premier performance of monument in Ben and Germans , written by Steve Germantown. Seyfried especially for this celebration.
John C. Haas accepting a gift, on behalf of the Otto Haas family, from Marlene Fricker and Marlene Stocks, Co-Chairs of the German-American Day Celebration Committee. In honor of the Haas family, a birch tree was planted in the park of the Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, because the Haas family originated from Württemberg.
Mr. Bernd Scheelen, the Mayor of Krefeld, and a member of the For a complete pictorial summary, please German Parliament, extending words visit: www.germanamericanday.org of greetings.