The one hundredth Croatian Fraternal Union Scholarship Foundation endowment fund was established with a 250-thousand-dollar donation from Elizabeth Salinger. An endowment fund with the CFU Scholarship Foundation, which marks its 62nd anniversary in June, requires a minimum donation of ten thousand US dollars.
The Croatian Fraternal Union Scholarship Foundation Inc. operates a unique education support programme within the community of ethnic Croatians in the United States of America and their friends. The foundation was launched in Pittsburgh in the month of June 62 years ago.
Speaking for the CHF portal, CFU national vice-president for membership services Franjo Bertović proudly noted that the, “CFU Scholarship Foundation has over seven million US dollars in its account. This sum has seen practically daily growth. Our members, lodges and cultural and sports associations donate funds to provide assistance to young CFU members and their parents on their path through institutions of higher education. The bank account of the foundation is separate from other CFU operations and is managed by a separate board of directors selected at the annual session of the foundation in October. The transparency of the foundation is very important, and the account is separate from the account of our annuities and life insurance products and held at another bank (PNC).”
Bertović also told our portal that, “The annual meeting in October, along with the selection of the foundation officers, also determines the exact balance of the account and reviews all submitted applications from students seeking financial assistance. Every application is considered individually. The amount of scholarship financial assistance awarded depends on social and economic factors and educational results,” Bertović said, pointing out that, “no student application with complete documentation has ever been turned down. Applications for scholarships have very straightforward printed rules on the first page that the foundation officers are required to strictly adhere to when awarding scholarships. The rules have twelve points. Students, for example, must have been members of the CFU for at least three years, one of the parents must be a member of the CFU, the application must be submitted up to the 15th of September in the current academic year, the person must be a regular student and there must be a transcript of grades included.”
This spring saw new funds bolstering the foundation with the one hundredth individual endowment from donator Elizabeth A. Salinger.
Expressing gratitude for the generous donation from Ms Salinger the CFU’s national president Edward W. Pazo noted that, “The one hundredth individual scholarship fund was established not long after the ninety-ninth fund, established by the Peace Among Us Lodge 64 of Des Moines, Iowa. Deposited into this fund on the 29th of January 2020 were funds from the lodge treasury when the lodge ceased operations. The deposited amount was 10,740.10 US dollars. The sum was deposited with the national head office by lodge president Mary Ann Leporte, who worked tirelessly to achieve the wishes of the members of the lodge. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the officers and members of the lodge for their noble donation. The founders of the Iowa lodge had in the past made great contributions to the Croatian community,” Pazo noted, adding that, “the current officers have followed their example donating this money for the education of youth. With the establishment of this fund the name of the Peace Among Us Lodge 64 of Iowa will long be remembered and valued among American families of Croatian extraction who will in the future receive scholarships for the education of their children. It was only a few weeks later that we received written notification of the establishment of our one hundredth Scholarship Foundation fund, the Elizabeth A. Salinger Endowment Fund. The number one hundred has special significance. One hundred years of growth, progress, decisions, challenges and achievements is, after all, a respectable figure. The one hundred milestone deserves to be celebrated for multiple reasons,” Pazo concluded.
The CFU Scholarship Foundation board of directors includes president Edward W. Pazo, executive secretary and treasurer Bernadette M. Luketich-Sikaras, and directors Franjo Bertovic, Dr Marion Vujevich, Robert Luketic, Paul J. Lucas, Derek Hohn and Michael Ricci.
Along with the general fund the CFU scholarship endowment fund includes the following individual funds: Peter Obad Endowment Fund; John Drazick Endowment Fund; Charles Koval Endowment Fund; Croatian American Home of Los Angeles Fund; CFU 100th Anniversary Fund; William Blazevich Fund; St. Nicholas Lodge 47 Anna Rescic Endowment Fund; New York City Seamen’s Club Fund; John D. Kosovec & Teresa Gazboda Kosovec Fund; “Bratska Sloga” CFU Lodge 566 of Masontown, PA Fund; John P. Plesh Fund; Emil Hanzevack Family Scholarship Endowment Fund; “Croatian Sons” CFU Lodge 170 Scholarship Endowment Fund; Lodge Fund; “St. Joseph” CFU Lodge 43, Braddock, PA Fund; “St. Rochus” CFU Lodge 5, Johnstown, PA Fund; George P. Radosevich Rodwick Endowment Fund, Merrillville, IN; “St. Joseph” CFU Lodge 192, Painesdale, MI Fund; Ann Pollitt Fund – Kenneth H. Pollitt & Frances Ann Miller Memorial Fund; “Progress” CFU Lodge 202, Chicago, IL Fund; “Holy Family” CFU Lodge 305, Gloversville, NY – Frank Stefic, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Grant; “St. Mary’s” CFU Lodge 26, Gunnison, CO – In Memory of Officers & Members of CFU Lodge 26; Vlado Govic Scholarship Endowment Fund; “Sveto Trojstvo” CFU Lodge 146, Versailles, PA Fund; CFU Lodge 720, Ahmeek, MI Fund; CFU Lodge 42, Wilmerding, PA Fund; Louise & Joseph M. Brigich Fund; Louis Z. Marohnic, Esq. Scholarship Fund; Stephen L. Zegura Scholarship Endowment Fund; Damian Family Fund; Monessen Croatian Social & Educational Society Sloga Fund; “St. Mary’s” CFU Lodge 75, Waukegan, IL Fund; Martha & Bernard M. Luketich CFU National President’s Scholarship Grant; Mr. & Mrs. Franjo Vicevich Memorial Music Endowment Fund; William Laurence Cumpanas Fund; CFU Lodge 548, Slovan, PA Fund; CFU Lodge 72, Uniontown, PA Fund; CFU Lodge 205, Adah, PA Fund; Helen & Ronald Wood – In Memory of Katherine & Ignac (Bilicic) Billick Fund; “Hrvatska Vila” CFU Lodge 141, East Pittsburgh, PA Fund “Croatian Sons” CFU Lodge 15, Chicago, IL Fund; “Harborites” CFU Lodge 856, East Chicago, IN Fund; Danica & Anton Kasunic of Cleveland, OH Fund; Robert C. Antich, Merrillville, IN Fund; “Sts. Peter & Paul” CFU Lodge 506/Nest 194, Titusville, PA Fund; Julie Dixon Scholarship Fund, San Diego, CA; John G. Luksich Scholarship Fund, Midland, PA; “Vanguards” CFU Lodge 261 of Milwaukee, WI Fund; Thomas Radulovic, Los Angeles, CA Scholarship Fund; Mary M. Campbell Scholarship Fund – In Memory of Parents, Peter & Mary Pavlinac; CFU Lodge 530, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada Fund; Matthew Mavretich Fund – In Memory of Parents, Matija & Barbara Muzar Mavretic of Steelton, PA; Joseph & Josephine Angelos Family of Waukegan, IL Fund; Bezich Fund; Richard & Katherine Jordan Family Fund; “St. Vidas” CFU Lodge 80 of Smoke Run, PA Fund; American-Croatian Waukegan Tamburitzans CFU Scholarship Fund; “St. Ann” CFU Lodge 29, Pittsburgh, PA; American Hrvatska CFU Lodge 89, Butte, MT; “Svi Slaveni” CFU Lodge 388 of Midvale, UT; Merle Fund; Edward J. Verlich Fund; Jennifer Elizabeth Lucas Family Memorial Scholarship Fund, Marquette, MI; “Gospa Rozaria” CFU Lodge 374, Rock Springs, WY; “Sloga Rudara” CFU Lodge 306 Rock Springs, WY; Ontario Federation of CFU Lodges; United CFU Lodges of Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland and Washington Counties; “Zrinski i Frankopan” CFU Lodge 403; John H. & Frances M. Rogan Family Scholarship Fund, Youngstown, OH; “Sv. Kriz” CFU Lodge 523 and Nest 248, Moundsville, WV; John J. & Sarah Javor Family Endowment Eva Kovacich Scholarship Endowment; The Steven J. Pavlic Scholarship Award; Zora CFU Lodge 345 Scholarship Endowment; Mary and Pepa Sostarich Scholarship Fund; Nikola Spoljar Scholarship Fund; “Ban Jelacic” Lodge 2 and “Croatian Mountaineers” Lodge 745 Scholarship Fund; Mary E. Roper Fund; “St. Vid” CFU Lodge 307 West Brownsville Pennsylvania Fund; Mary Krilich Joyce Fund; Zumberak Lodge 859 James & Goldie Malone Endowment Fund; Charlotte Muzar Endowment Fund; Joseph Rukavina Family Scholarship Fund; Milan J. & Mark S. Pavlovich Memorial Scholarship Fund; Mrkonic Family Fund; Heritage Benevolent and Pleasure Club; Louise Bert Scholarship Endowment Fund; Jeannette Mance Sharpe Fund (In Memory of Parents John & Cecilia Mance); Mr. & Mrs. Vincent & Helen Maljevac Fund; Ignac & Lucille Stiglich Scholarship Fund; Joseph M. Ivcevich Family Endowment; George and Barbara Baine Fund.
Judging by the education programme providing financial assistance to young Americans of Croatian ethnic background, the future of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America certainly offers great perspectives for one of the most developed countries in the world, the United States of America, home to Croatian immigrants and the many generations of their descendants.
By: Vesna Kukavica