Good evening, everyone—welcome. Isten hozott titeket! It means so much to see so many of you here tonight—friends and supporters who have traveled from Boston, Texas, Washington, and beyond; longtime allies, new friends, devoted volunteers, Reconnect Hungary alumni, and even former and current colleagues from Toronto and Budapest. The fact that you’ve all come together to be here with us is deeply moving.

A special welcome to István Pásztor, Consul General of Hungary, and his wonderful wife, Melinda. For many years, they have graciously hosted an annual dinner at the Consulate in support of our Reconnect Hungary program. As their tour of duty will soon come to an end, we are especially grateful to have them with us tonight. They will be greatly missed.

Many of you knew our co-founder, László Hámos, whose photo is displayed here this evening. We are honored to welcome his wife, Zsuzsa Erdélyi Hámos, and his son, Daniel, who carries forward his father’s legacy and joined our Board of Directors in 2019.

With us this evening are colleagues and special guests, former colleagues Zsolt Luka from Canada, György Kota and Ferenc Kott from Budapest. I’d like to ask you all to please rise and be recognized.

Yesterday marked exactly 50 years since our very first demonstration on East 93rd Street—an event I attended as a teenager. It was an unforgettable experience that clearly stayed with me. It was our scout troop leader who told us that after our weekly meeting, we were heading to a protest. I share this because the Hungarian Scout movement has played an extraordinary role in shaping so many of us here today.

In fact, HHRF’s internship program would never have grown into what it is today without our partnership with the Scout Association beginning in the 1980s. It is my great pleasure to recognize their current president, István Vajtay, and former longtime president, Imre Lendvai-Lintner.

Over the years, we have had the privilege of knowing and working with remarkable individuals—Congressman Tom Lantos, Senator Chris Dodd, Governor George Pataki, and Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, to name just a few. Yet at our core, we have always remained a grassroots, volunteer-driven organization.

There are far too many unsung heroes to name tonight. Some of their names from our early years appear in your keepsake journal. These are the people who, year after year—no matter the task, no matter the hour—gave their time, their energy, and their belief in our mission. This milestone we celebrate tonight very much belongs to them as it does to all of you gathered here.

As you may have noticed, we have a video loop playing, featuring photos of people and events from the past five decades. I invite you to take part in a little challenge: see how many people you can recognize who are here with us tonight.

I’ll give you a few hints. You might spot Helen Yng Wong—my dear American friend who traveled with us to Transylvania right after the fall of communism. Or Zsolt Luka, who joined us as an intern in the 1990s and, in one memorable moment, found himself sitting in a congressman’s chair while the unsuspecting member was voting on the House floor. And of course, Pál Toldalagi, one of our fiercest and most loyal allies from day one, who is here tonight from Boston with his wonderful wife, Marianne.

Each of you has a unique story and stands as a testament to the strength of this shared mission. I hope you enjoy yourselves tonight, reconnect with old friends, and make new ones.

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