Message from our President
Dear Members and Friends,
Back in 1976, as America was observing its bicentennial, a group of visionary German-Americans met at the Cannstatter Volksfest-Verein in historic Philadelphia and agreed that the time had come to recognize and honor the extensive and profound economic, political, scientific, social and cultural contributions of Americans of German-speaking ancestry to the growth, prosperity and success of our country. This founding group formally established our organization the following year, 1977, soon after chartering it as the United German-American Committee of the USA, Inc., now also known as the German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA® (GAHF).
It was with considerable patience and foresight, persistent effort, and prudent stewardship that our organization, thirty years later, under the outstanding decade-long leadership of President-Emeritus Bern E. Deichmann, acquired Hockemeyer Hall, a townhouse built in 1888 in the old Penn District of Washington, DC. The 120-year-old structure was converted into a handsome Foundation Headquarters and the first national German-American Heritage Museum of the USA™, formally opening its doors on March 20, 2010 and thus fulfilling the long-cherished dream of our founding members of establishing a permanent presence in our nation’s capital.
We remain determined and committed to fulfilling the vision and mission of our organization. Thus, it is with great pride that, this year, we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of our inception. This milestone will be the theme of our 2016 Annual Fund Drive to which we hope you will all contribute and help us reach our fundraising goal of $100,000. Significant donors will be named on the Foundation’s Wall of Recognition. Additional information may be found on our website at www.gahmusa.org.
As we advance into 2016, we look forward to the challenges and opportunities the future will bring to further GAHF’s mission to serve, through our exhibits and activities, as a beacon of information and a catalyst in the discussion of issues and ideas of interest and concern to German-Americans. We are proud of the Foundation’s accomplishments and of its increased recognition, nationwide, for the important role it plays.
On behalf of everyone at GAHF, we are deeply grateful for your continued support and involvement that make our programs, aspirations, and achievements possible, and we wish you and your family joy, renewal, and the very best for the spring season.
With sincere thanks and warm regards,
John M. Manoyan, Ph.D.
President