Jan Karski Eagle Award


The Jan Karski Eagle Award was established on 5 May 2000 by Polish professor Jan Karski, war courier of the Polish government in-exile, witness of the Holocaust and Righteous Among the Nations. Karski wanted this award to go to those who "can worthily worry about Poland" and to those who "although aren't Polish, wish good to Poland". The award has an honorary character and there is no monetary award granted with it, because, as the originator argued, "dignity is incalculable in money". It is symbolized by the Eagle statuette, the project of which was approved by Jan Karski. The organisation side of the award was gifted to Waldemar Piasecki.

Committee

The award committee of the Eagle Award is made of people that received this award. Its first chairman was Jacek Kuroń, who was the only one who was honored to get this award directly from Jan Karski's hands. In handing over the award to Józef Tischner, Jan Karski participated via phone. The committee gives out the award yearly on June 24, on Jan Karski's birthday.

Winners

Special editions

Aside from yearly awards, occasionally there are Special Awards given out honoring the achievements and merits of the winners in the longer time schedule, sometimes even over their entire lives. To this day there are only 6 winners: