To instill in people - especially youth - the values of leadership, courage and integrity, as exemplified by the life of Jan Karski.
In the midst of World War II, Jan Karski was dispatched by the Polish Underground to inform Western Allies about the reign of terror in German Nazi-occupied Poland and to seek intervention. Karski’s courageous mission, against all odds in the darkest of hours, qualifies him as Humanity's Hero.
The Foundation grew out of the successful Jan Karski US Centennial Campaign, which placed Dr. Karski's name in nomination for the Presidential Medal of Freedom in December 2011. President Obama awarded the posthumous Medal on May 29, 2012 at a White House ceremony.
The Jan Karski Educational Foundation presents the Spirit of Jan Karski Award to individuals who through their actions have demonstrated the values represented by Jan Karski and have distinguished themselves by defending human rights, speaking out against aggression and on behalf of the integrity of ethnic and religious groups and sovereign nations.
President Emeritus of Georgetown University and Jan Karski’s colleague and friend, Father Leo J. O’Donovan, has been chosen by President-elect Joe Biden to lead the prayer during his inauguration.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and David Strathairn, an Oscar-nominated actor who plays Karski in “Remember This,” were special guests at a virtual event "Bearing Witness: The Legacy of Jan Karski."
The Galicia Jewish Museum in Kraków, Poland, has opened a new exhibition by a Polish-American artist Anna VanMatre, which includes an artwork dedicated to Jan Karski.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Jan Karski's death, the City of Chicago hosted events to honor his legacy.
The 20th anniversary of Jan Karski’s death was commemorated in Warsaw, Poland, on July 11-12, 2020, with several events honoring the emissary of the Polish Underground.
