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 Karski My Hero website shows a fascinating map of European locations that were part of Karski's life and missions, along with pictures from places where many of his adventures took place. Its main goal is to promote the values of courage, respect for human dignity, responsibility, and inter-cultural dialogue.
Polish-American artist, Anna VanMatre, who befriended Karski in late 1990’s, talks to JKEF about her installation devoted to Karski. It is on display at Int’l Youth Meeting Ctr. in Oswiecim/Auschwitz.
Karski's passion for chess is being recognized through a chess project created by the City of Warsaw and initiated on the Karski Boulevard.
A former student of Dr. Jan Karski hosted a book club meeting devoted to Karski biography "How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust" by E. Thomas Wood and Stanislaw M. Jankowski.
