MBK [3]

On Saturday, February 16th, 2008, the MBK [4] will kick off our ninth biennial Reménység Bál [5] at the Woodbridge Hilton [6] in Iselin, New Jersey.

Originally founded by young members of the Magyar Baráti Közösség (Hungarian Communion of Friends), the Reménység Bál [7] now enjoys the co-sponsorship of the American Hungarian Folklore Centrum [8], the American Hungarian Foundation [9], the Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut [10], the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation [11] and the Bessenyei Kör [12], as well as the MBK [13]. Our goal has always been to create an event dedicated to the celebration and advancement of a shared culture and heritage.

Our mission to assist youth oriented charities in regions where Hungarians live as ethnic minorities has led to contributions to youth initiatives in Délvidék (present day Serbia), Kárpátalja (present day Ukraine), Felvidék (present day Slovakia), Erdély (Transylvania), as well as the New York Tri-State area.  Proceeds from the 2008 Reménység Bál [14] will benefit the Hungarian Language Schools in the tri-state area.  Specifically, these are the Arany János Iskola in New York, NY, the Fairfield Magyar Iskola in Fairfield, CT, the Széchenyi Magyar Iskola in New Brunswick, NJ and the St. István Magyar Iskola in Passaic NJ.

For more information about the Reménység Bál [15] please call Mikolt Banyai (201 349 8209) or Tibor Dani ((862) 208-9362), or email tibi@remenysegbal.org [16].