Over 300 guests celebrated the 15th anniversary of The Citi Handlowy Leopold Kronenberg Foundation and the 200th birthday of Leopold Kronenberg on 20 March in Warsaw Fabryka Trzciny Art Center.
The celebration was hosted by Professor Daria Nałęcz - Chair of The Citi Handlowy Leopold Kronenberg Foundation Council, and Sławomir S. Sikora - President of Management Board, Bank Handlowy w Warszawie.
The first part of the ceremony was dedicated to Leopold Kronenberg, the Foundation's patron, founder of Bank Handlowy, Poland's greatest 19th century financier, philanthropist, and culture patron. Guests watched a 2D+ film presenting materials about the life of Leopold Kronenberg, found in Polish libraries, archives and museums, even documents from the Library of US Congress. Then, Jacek Żakowski conducted an "interview with Leopold Kronenberg", with the part of the interviewee assumed by Andrzej Żor - author of the newly published Leopold Kronenberg's biography titled: Kronenberg. History of Fortune.
The second part of the celebration was devoted to the presentation of The Citi Handlowy Leopold Kronenberg Foundation's fifteen-years-worth of work in financial education, protection of cultural heritage, supporting the growth of local communities - projects that have reached over eight million Poles. The Foundation's achievements and current activities were presented by Prof. Daria Nałęcz, and summed up humorously by Stanisław Tym. Sławomir S. Sikora expressed special thanks to those who had contributed to the success of the Foundation. The invitees could also watch a short film recapitulating 15 years of the Kronenberg Foundation's activities.
The next item on the agenda was an official showing of the painting Negress by Anna Bilińska-Bohdanowiczowa. Originally in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw, the canvas was looted in World War II and recovered by joined effort of the Kronenberg Foundation and the Ministry of Culture and Natural Heritage.
The ceremony also included the presentation of a special stamp with a FAD (First Day Cover) envelope issued on the day of the event by Polish Post. The stamp 200th Birthday of Leopold Kronenberg depicts the Warsaw-Terespol railway station founded by Leopold Kronenberg.
The official part concluded with a high-energy concert by Hood Doo Band and the guests continued to celebrate at the jubilee reception until late at night.
