The Kollar Club Covid-19 Relief Fundraising Drive
Donation protected
The Kollar Club, as we are affectionately known, was founded 108 years ago by Slovak immigrants who came to this country to find jobs in Pittsburgh’s once thriving mines, steel mills, and glass factories, and to raise their families. A primary purpose of the club in those days was to provide volunteers and a location where Slovak immigrants could learn English so they may find jobs, become US citizens, and integrated members of the community. Other purposes of the Kollar Club, as established in its charter, include assisting the membership’s youth to become good citizens, provide for social gatherings, and maintain Slovak customs and culture. It has remained for five generations a place where the hard working South Side community gathers after work to relax, and where families gather to celebrate births, graduations, marriages, and mourn the passing of their loved ones.
The rich heritage and traditions of the Kollar club are continued today including the annual blessing of Easter baskets, and Slovak Heritage Night when the doors are opened to non-members, and Club volunteers prepare Slovak dishes served to the attendees as they listen to a local band, introducing a part of Slovak heritage to a new generation.
The Kollar Club’s membership and attendance flourished during the post-war era and the industrial age with the nearby J&L Southside Works steel mill, and somehow managed to survive the collapse of the local steel industry in the 1980s. Today, with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are facing a financial challenge more devastating than the turmoil of the 1980s. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of our lives, and we sincerely hope all of our members and their families are managing to stay healthy and secure during this troubling time.
As you may suspect, the Covid-19 pandemic has created serious financial challenges for the Kollar Club. Our only sources of income are from membership dues, beverage sales, and hall rentals. State and Health Department mandated closures and restrictions have nearly eliminated income from beverage sales and hall rental, while substantial operating expenses remain to be paid, including monthly utility bills, trash pickup, building maintenance, liquor license expense, taxes and insurance. After seven months with essentially no income to sustain us the Club’s emergency reserve savings are nearly exhausted. Several members have already made modest monetary contributions, and many others have donated time, labor, and materials during the Club’s closure to clean, paint walls, and refinish floors so that when things return to normal the members have a club facility they can be proud of.
We are asking for your help. Please make a donation, in any amount that you can afford, to stabilize our finances until regular club operation and attendance can resume. We realize that many of our members are facing equally difficult finances, and we wish we did not need to request your help at this time. However, without your generous support at this crucial time the future of the Kollar Club is uncertain.
Thank you for your continued membership and dedication to the Kollar Club which has enabled the Club to remain in continuous operation for 108 years. This is an accomplishment we should all be proud of.
Our Sincerest Gratitude.
The Kollar Club Board of Directors
The rich heritage and traditions of the Kollar club are continued today including the annual blessing of Easter baskets, and Slovak Heritage Night when the doors are opened to non-members, and Club volunteers prepare Slovak dishes served to the attendees as they listen to a local band, introducing a part of Slovak heritage to a new generation.
The Kollar Club’s membership and attendance flourished during the post-war era and the industrial age with the nearby J&L Southside Works steel mill, and somehow managed to survive the collapse of the local steel industry in the 1980s. Today, with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are facing a financial challenge more devastating than the turmoil of the 1980s. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of our lives, and we sincerely hope all of our members and their families are managing to stay healthy and secure during this troubling time.
As you may suspect, the Covid-19 pandemic has created serious financial challenges for the Kollar Club. Our only sources of income are from membership dues, beverage sales, and hall rentals. State and Health Department mandated closures and restrictions have nearly eliminated income from beverage sales and hall rental, while substantial operating expenses remain to be paid, including monthly utility bills, trash pickup, building maintenance, liquor license expense, taxes and insurance. After seven months with essentially no income to sustain us the Club’s emergency reserve savings are nearly exhausted. Several members have already made modest monetary contributions, and many others have donated time, labor, and materials during the Club’s closure to clean, paint walls, and refinish floors so that when things return to normal the members have a club facility they can be proud of.
We are asking for your help. Please make a donation, in any amount that you can afford, to stabilize our finances until regular club operation and attendance can resume. We realize that many of our members are facing equally difficult finances, and we wish we did not need to request your help at this time. However, without your generous support at this crucial time the future of the Kollar Club is uncertain.
Thank you for your continued membership and dedication to the Kollar Club which has enabled the Club to remain in continuous operation for 108 years. This is an accomplishment we should all be proud of.
Our Sincerest Gratitude.
The Kollar Club Board of Directors
Organizer
JESSICA CIESLAK
Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA