Hungary Foundation

To celebrate America 250, we are launching a fundraising campaign to honor Colonel Michael Kováts, a Hungarian hero of the American Revolution who helped found America’s cavalry tradition and gave his life for liberty in Charleston in 1779. 

His courage and sacrifice are a lasting bridge between Hungary and the United States, and I believe his legacy deserves a visible, lasting memorial where all can learn and remember.

We are raising support for a bronze equestrian statue to stand in Charleston, celebrating Kováts’s bravery and the shared ideals that bind our two nations. This monument will do more than mark a spot on a map. It will tell a story of transatlantic friendship, inspire new generations to learn about this remarkable life, and deepen ties between Hungary and America.

Creating a public work of art requires many hands and many hearts.

Your support will help fund the statue’s design, casting, placement so that visitors and residents can connect with Kováts’s story for years to come. Every contribution brings us closer to honoring his memory with the dignity it deserves.

All donors contributing $250 or more will be recognized as America250 Founding Supporters of the Michael Kováts Memorial and listed on the project website (www.MichaelKovats.com) unless they prefer to remain anonymous.

Please join us in making this vision a reality.

Donate today to support the bronze equestrian statue of Colonel Michael Kováts in Charleston and help ensure his sacrifice and the bond between our nations are remembered and celebrated.

The Hungary Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions to the Michael Kováts Memorial Campaign are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Donors will receive an acknowledgment letter for tax purposes.

The American Hungarian Federation

https://americanhungarianfederation.org is proud to support the Hungary Foundation in honoring Colonel Michael Kováts, a Hungarian patriot who co-founded America’s cavalry and gave his life for liberty in Charleston in 1779. His courage and sacrifice stand as a profound link between Hungary and the United States, and we want his legacy visible and remembered where he fell. A bronze equestrian statue will create a lasting place of memory, education, and friendship for generations to come.

The Hungary Foundation’s mission to strengthen understanding and cooperation between our two nations makes this project about more than a monument. It is about telling a shared story of sacrifice and values, inspiring people to learn the true depth of our historical ties, and reminding us how brave individuals changed the course of history. This statue will be a meeting point for history, culture, and community, and it will honor the bravery of one man whose life bridged continents.

Your support will help bring this tribute to Charleston, ensuring Colonel Kováts is no longer a forgotten hero but a visible symbol of transatlantic friendship and commitment to liberty. Each contribution brings us closer to a public work of art that will educate visitors, strengthen cultural ties, and celebrate the ideals we share.

Please join us in supporting the Hungary Foundation to make this statue a reality. Donate to honor Michael Kováts, celebrate our shared history, and help keep the memory of his courage alive for future generations.

The American Hungarian Federation is proud to support the effort to build a permanent statue honoring Colonel Michael Kováts de Fabriczy, the Hungarian cavalry officer whose military service and sacrifice during the American Revolution helped establish the traditions of the United States Cavalry.

In furtherance of this effort, the AHF participated in the official S.C. 250 commemorations in Charleston, South Carolina. This included delivering a public speech on the life and military service of Colonel Michael Kováts during the December 14, 2025 Victory Day commemoration.

The delegation also visited the historic Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, where a plaque commemorates Colonel Kováts, and The Citadel to view the Colonel Kováts Memorial, which was dedicated by the American Hungarian Federation in 1955.

I am raising funds to bring a lasting tribute to Colonel Michael Kováts, the Hungarian hero of the American Revolution, by helping build a bronze equestrian statue in Charleston.

Kováts helped found America’s cavalry tradition and gave his life for liberty on Charleston’s soil in 1779. As we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary, this monument is a chance to share his courageous story and the deep bonds between Hungary and the United States.

This project matters because monuments teach history and inspire future generations.

A dignified statue in a public place will ensure Kováts’ bravery and sacrifice are remembered, and it will celebrate the friendship and shared ideals between our two nations. The Hungary Foundation is leading this effort to strengthen understanding and cooperation between Hungary and the United States, and every contribution moves us closer to honoring a true patriot.

I am personally passionate about this because stories of courage deserve a visible place in our communities.

Your support will help fund design, casting, installation, and educational materials so visitors of all ages can learn about Kováts and the principles he defended. Whether you give a little or a lot, you become part of preserving a meaningful piece of history.

Please consider donating and sharing this campaign with friends and family.

Together we can bring this beautiful equestrian statue to Charleston and ensure Colonel Michael Kováts receives the recognition his legacy deserves.