St Leopold Bogdan Mandic (1866-1942, memorial day 30th July) was born in Herceg Novi in Boka kotorska, and died in Padova, Italy. Physically malformed and delicate, having height only 1m 35cm, with clumsy walk and stuttering, he developed tremendous spiritual strength. Although he wanted to be missionary in Eastern Europe, he spent almost all of his adult life in Italy, and lived in Padova from 1906 until the end of his life. He spent also one year in Italian prison during the WWI, since he did not want to renounce his Croatian nationality.
Category: Charity
Yoko Nishii's humanitarian concert in Zagreb during the Japanese Culture Week in March 2016
This humanitarian concert of Yoko Nishii, Japan, has been organized by the Embassy of Japan in Zagreb in cooperation with Croatian Society for Training Guide Dogs and for Mobility. She played the works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt i Ferrucci Busonij, Frédéric Chopin, Eric Satie, Dora Pejačević, Kozaburo Hirai, Kosaku Yamada i Tooru Takemitsu. In Tokyo in 2015, she published the first CD in the world, which includes all pianistic compostions of distinguished Croatian female composer Dora Pejačević.
Almae Matris Croaticae Alumni AMCA Toronto published Collection of Documents 1990-1999
AMCA Toronto, an association of students and friends of Croatian Universities, founded in 1990, has become the centre of intellectual life of the Croatian community in Southern Ontario (Canada). During the Homeland Liberation War, AMCA Associations played an important role worldwide by providing systematic help to Croatia. AMCA Toronto concentrated itself on delivering humanitarian aid to Croatia and B&H and on lobbying and spreading the truth about the situation in Croatia. An enormous number of letters and proclamations have been pubished in Zagreb, Jan 2014, in two extensive volumes. The editor is Vladimir Benković, while an associate editor and sponsor is Dr Ivan Hrvoić (on the photo). Both of them are Croatian emigrants in Canada and experts in technical sciences.
The Story of Ilija Letica by distinguished Croatian filmmaker Jakov Sedlar
We present the readers of the CROWN a fascinating documentary by Croatian filmmaker Jakov Sedlar about the life and work of Ilija Letica in the USA, about his very successful LETICA CORPORATION in the USA, with a special emphasis on his ties with Croatia and on his life philosophy. LETICA is a multi-faceted packaging company with diverse talent and technologies to support business on a number of fronts. The company works in multiple technologies such as thermoform, injection mold, paper-forming and sheet extrusion as well as with multiple mediums including paper, rigid and thinwall plastic, reclaimed post-consumer fiber, and other environmentally-friendly materials.
Bring the story of Mia Slavenska home to Croatia and to a worldwide audience
Mia, a dancer’s journey is the story of Mia Eorak Slavenska, Croatia’s greatest ballerina and a pioneer in American dance. The film is voiced by Emmy(R) award-winning actress Blythe Danner and features a daughter’s promise to tell her mother’s story, which becomes a fascinating and moving reflection on historical memory, national identity, and the power of dance. Now, In order to make sure that Mia’s story doesn’t fade away with the last PBS broadcast, we are asking you to help us to raise the funds necessary to take the next step in distribution. Poorhouse International, a prestigious arts films distributor, wants to distribute the film internationally through T.V. broadcast and DVD/Blu-ray and Video on Demand.
Sarma and Bebek in Haiti
Forty-five children- Haitians by birth and origin, and their favourite song is “Sinoć sam pola kafane popio” – transl. Last night I drank half of the bar’ – by Željko Bebek (former lead singer of Bijelo Dugme). They are orphans in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and were rescued by the Croatian Relief Services, Inc. The Children’s Home was founded by reverend Giordano Belanich, a priest with an American address and of Croatian heart. He was five when his family was forced to flee communist Yugoslavia. Fr Belanich oversees the orphanage while servicing three parishes in the United States.
Help Portal Dobrote feed schoolchildren in Croatia
The indiegogo campaign ‘No Child Left Hungry & No Person Left Powerless’ for hungry Croatian school children created by Tajci, has successfully closed. The campaign was created by Tajci after the women behind Portal Dobrote reached out to her for help to raise money for hungry children and to help bring greater awareness to the issue. The results of the campaigns are amazing but unfortunately, there are still some children on the waiting list, and Portal Dobrote are a few thousand Kuna short of helping two other schools who requested help for remainder of this school year – 2014/2015. If you are in Croatia, or can easily donate to a Croatian bank account, please consider donating directly to Portal dobrote’s Croatian bank account.
Help Croatia's Special Olympics Team get to Los Angeles for 2015 Games
Croatia’s Special Olympics delegation of thirty one, including 23 athletes and 8 coaches will be headed to the worldwide Special Olympics 2015 in Los Angeles from July 25th to August 2nd. Croatia will be represented by a volleyball team, soccer team and by two swimmers. As you can imagine, the overall cost for airline travel and flights is very expensive. Please consider making a donation via credit card or by sending a tax deductible check to the Special Olympics in Washington, DC – all donations will be 100% earmarked for Team Croatia. Thank you in advance for any consideration or donations!
Robert Benmosche's family appoints Libertas Foundation to administer donations in his memory
Libertas Foundation is accepting donations honoring Robert Benmosche’s amazing life. The Benmosche family would like to use funds raised to help the Dubrovnik hospital – Children’s Unit and other humanitarian causes in Dubrovnik and Croatia that he cared about dearly. All donations are tax deductible.
Goran Višnjić Joins World Stars in Fight to Protect Elephants
Famous Croatian actor Goran Višnjić has joined a host of stars as ambassadors for one of the largest animal welfare and conservation charities in the world – The International Fund for Animal Welfare – in its aim to protect the world’s elephants. Višnjić, who rose to fame in his role as Dr. Luka Kovač in the American television series ER, has warned the world about the threat to elephants in a video which also features a number of stars.
Diljem Hrvatske prikuplja se pomoć stradalima od poplava
Caritas Zagrebačke nadbiskupije poziva ljude dobre volje na solidarnost i djelotvornu ljubav prema stradalima u poplavama. Svi koji žele pomoći mogu to učiniti na dva načina: uplatom na račun Caritasa Zagrebačke nadbiskupije: IBAN HR1823600001101340277, poziv na broj 05400; donacijom hrane koja može duže stajati, vode, odjeće i higijenskih potrepština, koje su sada najpotrebnije. Donacije je moguće predati sljedećih dana od 8 do 18 sati na ovim adresama: Gajnice (Crnojezerska 20), Trešnjevka (Selska cesta 165), Dubrava (Avenija Dubrava 220) i Rakitje (Ribička 4).
Goran Visnjic in an appeal for the Croatian Scholarship Fund
The Croatian Scholarship Fund recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a dinner in Sacramento. The crowd was surprised with a video message from movie and television actor Goran Visnjic congratulating the Croatian Scholarship Fund on its many years of success. Goran in the video reminds the audience to bid early and often for a special live auction item, which is lunch in Los Angeles with Goran. This item received the highest bid in the live auction with spirited bidding for several minutes before the final winner was announced at the CSF Gala Dinner.
‘Everything is Forever’ biographic film about Nenad Bach wins international filmfest top awards in Houston
The journey of Croatian-American composer/singer and writer Nenad Bach through war and peace, and rock and roll captured in the documentary/feature film ‘Everything is Forever’ won top awards at the 47th Annual Worldfest Houston International Film Festival (April 4-13). The feature film garnered the prestigious Platinum Remi Award for Theatrical Feature Film & Video Award and the Special Jury Remi Award for Music Video Award – Stage Concert/ Performance. Written by Violi Calvert. On the photo Stehanie Silber, Victor Zimet and Nenad.
Screening of documentary film "Many Voices One Song" March 8, 2014
“Many Voices One Song” is a 2007 documentary film that follows the journey of one hundred thirty women in the Portsmouth, NH-based women’s chorus “Voices from the Heart” who make a life-changing connection with Croatian villagers who live surrounded by landmines left from the war of the 1990’s. Through the universal language of music this community of American women raised funds to clear the mines in their adopted Croatian village and sang their way across Croatia.
Karlo J. Mirth 1917-2013 distinguished Croatian writer and lifetime president of Croatian Academy of America
Karlo Mirth was born in Otoeac in Croatian region of Lika, where also Nikola Tesla was born. He studied Forestry and Civil Engineering at the University of Zagreb. Forced to leave Croatia after 1945, he studied Journalism at the University of Rome. He later studied at the Universities of Barcelona and Madrid, and the Library Sciences at Columbia University. Karlo Mirth was a prolific writer of many articles related to Croatian culture and history. He was very active in Croatian Academy of America, and in 2013 published his autobiographical book (R)ivot u emigraciji (Life as an Emigree).
Fr. Ante Gabric, S.J. – An Apostle of the Sundarbans, Croatian missionary in Bengal, India
Many among those who worked and lived with Fr. Ante continue to give witness to the holiness of this great missionary they knew, and some are convinced that ‘God visited us in the form of Fr. Ante Gabric’. The work started by Fr. Ante and other missionaries is being continued today among the Santals, who are much more deserving and are still in the periphery, but witnessing to the faith by their lives. The Calcutta Jesuit province while thanking the Lord for giving a worthy and zealous missionary to Bengal thank also the Croatian Province and the people Croatia for their continued prayerful support for the ever growing mission today. The article was written by Fr. Irudaya Jothi SJ of the Calcutta Jesuit Province.
Don Wolf author of autobiographical photo monograph Croatian Love Story
Long before Don Wolf was born, the outline for A Croatian Love Story was formed in the 1900’s. An ethnic neighborhood was the site where determined women and men struggled to build, to educate and to become citizens. These Croatian immigrants formed the strong shoulders supporting cherished traditions as they learned to live in and to love their new country. Don’s photographs depict Croatian life both in the United States and in Croatia. His writing preserves generations of memories. This book is a tribute to those who came before and a blessing to those who are yet to come.
Concert broadcast of Nenad Bach Band and Friends in Croatia Feb 17th at 0.15 am & 6:15 pm EST on HTV2
Respected Croatian musician and world promoter or Croatian culture, Nenad Bach and Friends, entertained us all with his charity concert in Zagreb for the abandoned children of Nazor street, November 2012. They say Nenad is an artist with a Croatian soul and an American passport. The footage of the Zagreb concert will be shown on February 17th 2013 on HTV2 at 0.15 a.m. in Croatia and 6:15 p.m. EST on HTV2.
Nenad Bach Band in Zagreb at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall on Friday 30 November 2012 20pm
We are pleased to announce the forthcoming concert of Nenad Bach and the Nenad Bach Band in Croatia’s capital Zagreb, on Friday 30th November 2012, 20 pm. His special guests will be distinguished Croatian musicians Arsen Dedić, Klapa Sinj, Radojka Šverko, Miroslav Škoro, and Marko Tolja. It is for the first time that Nenad Bach has a soloist concert in his native city of Zagreb, after about thirty years of very successful career in the USA and worldwide. Through his singing and songwriting, Nenad’s goal is to spread the message of joy and universal peace.
Drago Stambuk a samurai poet connecting Japan and Croatia
Dr. Drago Štambuk, Croatian ambassador to Japan until 2011, is an expert in medical sciences, and a haiku poet of international reputation. His book From Nowhere has been published in Japan in 2011, prepared by Mr. Shokan Tadashi Kono, in three languages: original Croatian, Japanese and English. The book was published in time when the earthquake, followed by disastrous tsunami, shook Japan.