Marek Michalak

Marek Henryk Michalak (born 07.27.1971 in Swidnica, Poland)- social worker, founder of various associations and organizations.

Married to Adriana Michalak/ socialtherapist, manager of arts/ one daughter Julia Michalak.

Marek Michalak graduated from the Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej in Warsaw, Poland, with an MA Degree in reclamation and social studies. He also has a degree in social therapy and social services.

Founder of a preventive-development program for teenagers and kids called the Child Friendship Center.

Marek Michalak is also a founder of the European Child Friendship Center, which will be situated within a newly renovated building in Swinica at Koscielna 15 Street, known as ‘House of the Heart’. This initiative has been supported financially and honorary by: Jan Nowak-Jezioranski, Henryk Kardinal Gulbinowicz, Danuta and , ks. Jan Twardowski, prof. Andrzej Zoll, Wislawa Szymborska, prof. Magdalena Abakanowicz, Maria Å?opatkowa, Cezary Lezenski, prof. BronisÅ‚aw Chromy, prof. Jozef Sekowski, prof. Adam Myjak, Anna Dymna, Alina Janowska, Agata MÅ‚ynarska, prof. Gustaw Zemla, prof. Teresa Pagowska, prof. Adam Myjak, RafaÅ‚ Olbinski, Jacek Frankowski, Edward Lutczyn, Adam Kilian, prof. Franciszek Masluszczak, prof. Jan Tarasin, Irena Conti Di Mauro and many more.

Graduate of trainings specializing in management for nongovernmental organization leaders/ THIRD SECTOR PROJECTS/ with certificate from THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES.

Marek Michalak wrote lyrics to the songs entitled ‘Order of Smile’ , ‘Word made of Stone’, ‘Dream Capital’ and ‘ Heart Award’ in which TVP produced videos with the Kids Band known as ‘Little Hearts’.

On the 1st of June 1997 during a holy mass entitled ‘STATIO ORBIS’ in Wroclaw, Poland, Marek Michalak along with the President of Child Autonomy Justyna Wodniczak handed the Child Heart Award to Pope John Paul II who told them significantly:…’Keep doing what you are doing, because you are doing the right thing’.

Social Activities:

In 1987 the initiator and co-founder of the Circle of Friends of Sick Children “HEART (SERCE)” – main goal: resistive help for children and youth who are disadvantaged; Between 1987-1990 president of the Circle; 1990, initiated and co-founded the Association of Friends of Sick Children “HEART (SERCE)”; main goals – resistive help to children and youth, promotion of day-care centers, defending and promoting children’s rights, arranging therapy and treatment for children in need, helping children and their families in situations of crises; from the beginning was the President of SPDC “HEART (SERCE)”.

Since 1993 is a patron of the children’s group “SERDUSZKA”, which operates with the SERCE Foundation – European Centre for Child Friendship in Swidnicy, Poland.

As of 19.01.2007 – Chancellor of the International Capital of the Order of Smile; previously was Vice-Chancellor. His successors include; Ewa Szelburg-Zarembina, Radoslaw Ostrowicz and Cezary Lezenski.

Member and co-founder of the National Forum for Children’s Rights.

Member of the National Advocate Group for Children in Krakow, Poland.

President of the Capital of Children’s Awards ‘SERCA’.

President of the Heart (SERCE) Foundation – European Centre for Child Friendship in , Poland.

Awards and Distinctions:

1994:

– Named the most popular citizen of the district of Walbrzyskie in Poland.
- Knighted by the Order of the Smile – the youngest in the history of the Order
- nominee of the Great Wroclawian, an “award for those who remind everybody that every person deserves respect and a place on earth – no matter where they were born, how much money they have, their beliefs or religion” / awarded by the organization “Night of Wroclaw” and the President of Wroclaw
- awarded by the Minister of Labor and Social Politics in a national competition known as “Diary of the Heart”

1995:

-awarded the “Golden Gryf” and the title of Swidnicy Citizen of the Year 1995/ by the City of Swidnica and the weekly magazine “ Swidnica News”

1997:

-awarded the ‘Ordinary-Extraordinary” statuette award presented by TV Polonia S.A. (TVP) and Commercial Union S.A.
-received special award from the Minister of Labor and Social Politics, Longina Komolowski for a high achievement in social works.

1998:

-Humanitarian award ‘Victoria ‘98’ – an award for “outstanding volunteer work towards helping the poor, ill, and orphaned children
-‘Macius ‘98’ statuette – an award presented by the Zarow City Teenage Community for “special involvement and help in causes involving children and youth in Zarow
-Distinction by the Stefana Batorego Foundation and Bankers Trust (New York) for the best Polish non-governmental organization in 1997, for “being consequent in helping the weakest, helping ill children, fighting for children’s rights, and for teaching children self-dependence and love for other people.

1999:

-individual award of distinction for leadership of a non-profit organization by the PM Jerzy Buzek in a Pro Publico Bono competition for the best initiative of the decade (1989-99); “ awarding outstanding personality, keeping an open mind towards the needs of others, and for the ability of making other people care more.” This was presented by the honorary Jan Nowak-Jezioranski and Prof. Andrzej Zoll.

2000:

-Humanitarian award ‘Victoria ’00’ – statuette for “ saving children’s health and life and for the overall humanitarian activities towards children”
-Title of Honorary Member of Developers and Buyers of Swidnice/ previous nominees were, among others: Andrzej Arendarski, Leszek Balcerowicz, Marek Borowski, Anna Dynowska, Jerzy Ignaszak, Jan Litynski, Ernest Skalski, Tadeusz Syryjczyk and Andrzej Sczypiorski
-Independent Foundation of Promoting Polish Culture “POLCUL Foundation” in Australia award for “volunteer work with the Association of Sick Children’s Friends ‘SERCE’ in Swidnica”
-Nominee (laureate) of the “Great Wroclawska” – an award “given to people for proving that nothing is impossible, for being honest, kind, tolerant, open-minded, open to the world, to people, and ourselves” – presented by “ Wroclaw by Night” and the President of Wroclaw, Bogdan Zdrojewski.
-Awarded the “Macius 2000” statuette – the highest recognition given by children and youth of Zarow for constant work in making a childhood the best time of every body’s life.

2001:

-Decorated with the International medal for “ Humanitarian Actions”
-Humanitarian award for helping people who were affected by tragedies of floods in Poland – given by the Centre of Flooding in Wroclaw
-Awarded the highest distinction by the city of Zarow “Golden Oak” – for outstanding services to Zarow

2003:

-Awarded the title “ 1st Gentleman of Winter 2003 in the region of walbrzych”/ by the readers of “the Polish Word”
-Presented with the Silver Cross of Service/#159-2003-6/ by the President of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski
-Awarded the super-statuette “Open-Hearted Person” – given by the Capital of Disadvantaged People and Children in Miastku

2004:

-Nominated by the President of Poland’s award for creating the “Arts for Youth” for children, monetary award was provided by the Polish Mint

2006:

-Received by Pawel Jaros – Polish Children Rights Representative – the “For the Better Future of Children” award
-Awarded by the Minister of Labor and Social Politics, Anna Kalata, for outstanding results in social works
-Received awards in the categories of “Best Non-Governmental Organization in 2006” and “Best Public Initiative in 2006”

2007:

-Gold medal “Heart for Heart” presented by the PROMETEUSZ – PRO PUBLICO BONO Foundation in Krakow for “showing a big heart towards specially disabled children

Michalak, Marek

pl:Marek Michalak

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu