Awards

The Club established the Modjeska Prize for lifetime achievement for the most outstanding Polish actors to honor its patron and appreciate Polish acting talents. 

In 2010, the first award was given to Jan Nowicki. In 2011, the award was received by Anna Dymna in Kraków, and Marian Dziędziel in Los Angeles. In 2012, the winner was Barbara Krafftówna; in 2013 – director Ryszard Bugajski. After a break, the award for 2018 was given to Jadwiga Barańska, and in 2019 two actresses from the Polish Theatre in Toronto were honored (Maria Nowotarska and Agata Pilitowska). For 2020, the award was presented virtually to Andrzej Seweryn (January 2021). A long interview was published in the album of Club history (Album 50-lecia Klubu Kultury im. Heleny Modrzejewskiej). In October 2021, at the 50th Anniversary Ball of the Club, awards were given to Beata Poźniak (in person) and the director of the National Theatre, legendary Jan Englert (virtually). Mr. Englert came to California to receive his prize in the fall of 2022, with his wife Beata Ścibakówna. In February 2023, Modjeska Prizes for 2022 were presented to Marek Probosz and Katarzyna Śmiechowicz in Pasadena. In September 2024, Janusz Gajos received the award for 2023 in Warsaw, during a retrospective of his films. The prize presentation for 2024 was scheduled for 26 April 2025. Piotr Adamczyk received the Modjeska Prize and we are eagerly waiting for the visit of Danuta Stenka. 

The presentations of Modjeska Prizes have become the most important public events of the Club, with honorary patronage and grants from the Polish Consulate in Los Angeles, grants from the Polish Center, and other benefactors. The events often include letters of congratulations from representatives of the local government (California State Senate, officials from Orange County, County and City of Los Angeles) and extensive press coverage in Polish and Polonian media.  

FOR DIRECTORS AND FILMMAKERS 

Since the Modjeska Prizes are limited to actors (although in 2013 they were awarded to Ryszard Bugajski, director), the Club Board decided to create a

new award to honor film and theater directors and other outstanding screen and stage specialists. In order not to crowd the calendar, the new awards will be granted occasionally, not annually. In March 2024, the first Golden Awards were received by Jerzy Antczak, Honorary Member of the Club, and Jacek Bromski, who came to the ceremony from Poland. The magnificent ceremony gathered the cream of the crop of Californian Polonia. The winner for 2025 was the theater director and author of many plays performed in the Club, Kazimierz Braun. The presentation will take place in the fall of 2025.

The activities of the Club and its authorities have been rewarded with many honors, including six awards for the entire Club, and individual awards for presidents and members of the Board of Directors. On the occasion of the Club's 40th anniversary in 2012, medals of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Poland, "Meritorious for Polish Culture," were awarded to 19 members of the Board of Directors, former presidents, founders and activists of the Club. On the same occasion, Leonidas Dudarev-Ossetinsky (1910-1989), founder of the Club, received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The list of decorations and awards for the Modrzejewska Club and members of the Board of Directors who have made serious contributions to the promotion of Polish culture includes 40 items.

Awards for the Helena Modrzejewska Club: 

• 1997 - Medal awarded by the Minister of Culture "Meritorious for Polish Culture". 
• 2009 - Special Award of the Union of Polish Stage Artists ZASP "For promoting Polish culture abroad" for the Helena Modrzejewska Culture Club.
• 2011 - Resolution of the Los Angeles City Council on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Club and Diploma of Honor.
• 2011 - Congratulations from the County of Los Angeles on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Club and a Diploma of Honor.
• 2012 - Congratulations from the County of Los Angeles on the 40th anniversary of the Club and Diplomas of Honor for 28 members of the then and previous Boards of Directors.
• 2021 - Diplomas from the City and County of Los Angeles and Senator Portantino on the occasion of the Club's 50th anniversary. 

Individual awards to Presidents and Board Members: 

• 1994 - Witold Czajkowski (President of the Club in 1990-1993), for services to the propagation of Polish culture abroad, Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
• 1998 - for merits in promoting Polish culture abroad, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Poland, the Knight's Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland were awarded to:

1. Tadeusz Bociański (President in 1983-1989, on the Board for many years). 
2. Zofia Czajkowska (Vice President in 1984-1994, President, 1994-1995).
3. Maria Pilatowicz (Vice President and member of the Board for over 16 years).
4. Edward Pilatowicz (President 1996-1998, on the Board, 1981-1986).

• 2000 - Tomasz Kachelski (long-time Treasurer of the Club) was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for his contribution to the spread of Polish culture abroad.
• 2003 - Jolanta Zych (President of the Club from 1998 to 2006), awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for services to the propagation of Polish culture abroad.
• 2009 - Dorota Olszewska (President of the Club from 2006-2008) received the award of the Union of Polish Stage Artists ZASP "For promoting Polish culture abroad". 
• 2011-12 - Dr. Maja Trochimczyk received Diplomas of Honor and Resolutions from the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles City Council on the occasion of the Club's 40th anniversary and 15 years as a volunteer among the Polish community. 
• 2013 - Medals of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Poland, "Meritorious for Polish Culture" to 19 members of the Board of Directors, presidents, founders, and activists of the Club (listed here in chronological order of work in the Club): Wanda Baran, Dr. Franciszka Tuszyńska, Stephanie Powers, Stefan Wenta, Jan Gąssowski, Tadeusz Podkański, Witold Czajkowski, Zofia Czajkowska, Tadeusz Bociański, Maria and Edward Piłatowicz, Jolanta Zych, Krystyna Kuszta, Krystyna Okuniewska, Andrzej Maleski, Danuta Żuchowska, Dorota Olszewska, Elżbieta Kańska and Dr. Maja Trochimczyk.
• 2013 - Leonidas Dudarev-Ossetinsky (1910-1989), founder of the Club, was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, on the occasion of the Club's 40th anniversary. 
• 2017 - Dorota Olszewska, Medal of the National Education Commission for services to education and upbringing. 
• 2021 - Andrew Z. Dowen, Krystyna Bartkowska, Jan Englert, Maria Kubal, Beata Poźniak and Maja Trochimczyk: Diplomas from the County of Los Angeles on the occasion of the Club's 50th anniversary