Tomorrow at the Polish Cultural Center, Ryszard Kott will be awarded the Gloria Artis Medal, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. This distinction recognizes his outstanding contributions to our community and his long‑standing dedication to preserving and promoting Polish culture in Seattle. Please join us tomorrow, Friday, September 4 at 6:00 PM to congratulate Ryszard and celebrate his remarkable accomplishments. This is a meaningful moment not

Seattle stayed cool while Europe and the East Coast baked — so make the most of our perfect summer and head to the Polish Festival at Seattle Center! First‑ever volleyball team parade, great attractions, and a live Polish rock concert by Yaazda. Don’t miss it.

The Seattle Polish Festival is organized and funded by the Seattle Polish Foundation, so in this issue, we’ll be featuring SPF. Keep reading.

Last week we presented the Seattle‑Gdynia Sister City Association and the organizer of the Seattle Polish Film Festival. Today, we continue our series by introducing another important institution shaping our local Polish community: the Polish American Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest (PACCPNW).

Founded in 2012 by a group of local entrepreneurs and volunteers, PACCPNW has become a key resource for Polish businesses exploring opportunities in the United States. Over the years, the Chamber has hosted numerous government and business delegations from Poland and has served as a primary point of contact for companies seeking to enter the U.S. market.

Since 2016, PACCPNW has also partnered with the Indie Games Poland Foundation to support Polish video game studios exhibiting at PAX West—the largest video game trade show in the United States and one of the biggest in the world. This collaboration has helped showcase Poland’s rapidly growing gaming industry and has opened doors for many emerging studios.

More information about the Chamber, its mission, and its programs is available on its website.

We all know this quote, and we all understand that making a difference in the community means getting involved. Seattle has many Polish community organizations that have been supporting people for decades. Over the next few weeks, I’ll highlight some of them. A shared challenge for all these groups is the shortage of volunteers. If you want to connect with fellow community members, give back, learn new skills, or share your knowledge, now is the perfect time to reach out and join.

GiveBIG 2026 wrapped up as another great success, thanks to everyone’s generosity. The Seattle Polish Foundation raised over $6,000 for cultural events, and this humble newsletter received $75. We’re truly grateful for every dollar contributed.

Hope to see you all tonight at the Polish Home Biesiada.