In March 2025, the Board of the Helena Modjeska Art and Culture Club in Los Angeles awarded to Prof. Kazimierz Braun its most recently established Golden Award for lifetime achievement in theater and film. The award, presented for the second time in the Club's history, was presented to Prof. Braun as an eminent playwright (author of 23 plays in Polish and English) and theater director. The Golden Award consists of a statuette and an honorary certificate. The award presentation took place via Zoom, the Award itself and the Diploma were sent by mail, and the interview with the winner featured actors Agata Pilitowska from the Polish Theatre in Toronto and Marek Probosz from Los Angeles. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Maja Trochimczyk, President of the Modjeska Art & Culture Club.
Nominated by President Maja Trochimczyk, Professor Braun was awarded the Golden Award for his outstanding theater work, including plays about Helena Modrzejewska (Modjeska, the patron of the Club) and other important Polish historical figures. The award was established in 2024, when it was jointly received by Jacek Bromski and Jerzy Antczak - nominated by the Golden Award's initiator, Vice President of the Modjeska Club, Katarzyna Smiechowicz. Kazimierz Braun is a director, writer, and theater scholar. He has run and directed theaters in Poland, as well as in America, Ireland, Canada, Germany, and other countries. He has taught at universities in Poland and the USA. He has published numerous books on the history and theory of theater. His writing also includes novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. His plays have been performed in Poland, Ireland, Canada, and the USA. He has won numerous awards, including the Literary Award of the Association of Polish Writers Abroad in London.
The Golden Award was presented by Dr. Maja Trochimczyk, president of the Modrzejewska Club, with the participation of two actors who appeared in Braun's plays. Agata Pilitowska with Maria Nowotarska perform for the Polish Theater of Toronto that has presented numerous plays in Los Angeles, including plays about Helena Modjeska ("Emigrant Queen"), Tamara Lempicka ("Tamara L"), Hanna Ordonowna, and Pola Negri ("Pola Negri Tales"), and Maria Sklodowska-Curie ("Radiation"). Marek Probosz portrayed Cyprian Kamil Norwid in Braun's play entitled "Norwid's Return" and is currently working on the role of Ignacy Jan Paderewski for a solo play written especially for him. The ceremony also included the first presentation of the four-volume Collected Dramas in Polish and English, published by Moonrise Press (published by M. Trochimczyk).
Prof. Kazimierz Braun stated: "I am immensely grateful for this extremely valuable award, especially since I received it from the community that cherishes the memory of Helena Modrzejewska, at the request of President Maja Trochimczyk. Modrzejewska has always been a role model for me – in theatrical passion, diligent work, and impeccable patriotism. I studied her life and artistic achievements, wrote about her, and once, it even seemed to me that I met her in person and had a long conversation when I toured her home in the Modjeska Canyon in California... And now I feel as if Mrs. Helena herself has awarded me this prize. I thank you very warmly and sincerely!"
The President responded: "It is a great honor for our Helena Modjeska Club that such an outstanding and distinguished writer, director, and patriot, Prof. Kazimierz Braun, has agreed to accept our modest, albeit "Golden" Award. Prof. Braun's plays are a true national treasure – they contain invaluable lessons in history and culture, instill pride in native traditions, spread knowledge about great Polish women and men, and teach respect for traditional moral virtues and character traits. He is a writer, poet, author of numerous scholarly treatises on the history of theater, and he teaches this history – passing on his erudition and wisdom to future generations."
Upon the initiative of its President, Dr. Maja Trochimczyk, in the autumn of 2010, the Modjeska Club first established the Helena Modjeska Prize for the Most Outstanding Polish Actor to honor its star actress - patron and recognize the talents of other eminent Polish actors. In October that year, this first Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jan Nowicki. In 2011 the recipients were Anna Dymna in Krakow, and Marian Dziędziel in Los Angeles. In 2012, Barbara Krafftówna was the winner, and in 2013, the Prize was presened to director Ryszard Bugajski - as an exception. After a hiatus from 2014 to 2017, the 2018 Prize went to the legendary Jadwiga Barańska, and in 2019, it was presented to two émigré actresses from the Polish Theatre in Toronto (Maria Nowotarska and Agata Pilitowska).
In 2020, the award was presented virtually to Andrzej Seweryn, and in 2021, on the occasion of the Club's 50th anniversary, the awards were presented in person to Beata Poźniak and virtually to Jan Englert. In September 2022, Jan Englert came to accept the award and perform in "Polish Flowers" with his wife, actress Beata Ścibakówna. The 2022 winners were Katarzyna Smiechowicz and Marek Probosz, who live in California and have performed in both countries. The 2023 Modjeska Prize was presented in Poland in 2024, and Janusz Gajos was the winner. The 2024 Prize was awarded to Danuta Stenka and Piotr Adamczyk.
Since the Modjeska Prize is intended exclusively for actresses and actors, the Board decided to establish a second award recognizing the lifetime achievements of filmmakers and theater professionals—directors, screenwriters, novelists, cinematographers, composers, and others. The new Golden Awards for 2024 were shared by film directors Jacek Bromski and Jerzy Antczak. The award will not be presented annually, but rather occasionally.
Congratulations to the three winners!
From June 1 to September 5, 2025, Jolanta Zych served as Interim President of the Helena Modrzejewska Cultural Club. On September 6, 2025, Katarzyna Smiechowicz was elected as the Club's new President for another two-year term. The Board again included all women: Danuta Zuchowska as Treasurer, Krystyna Bartkowska DDS as Vice President, Ewa Kolakowska as Secretary, and Anna Zalewska and Anna Dudek-Dabrowska DDS as Board Members.
During the General Meeting in September 2025, the following Club members were awarded the titles of Honorary "Distinguished" Members - Past President from 2013-28 Andrew Z. Dowen, former Treasurer for many terms until 2018 Donna Zuchowska, former Vice President from 2013-18, active members of the club who often provide a home for club meetings Helena and Stanley Kolodziey, and past president from 2010-12 and 2018-25 Dr Maja Trochimczyk.
