Home / Newsroom / Washington, DC celebrated KF’s Centennial with Awards for Dr. Marek M. Pienkowski and Local Leaders

Washington, DC celebrated KF’s Centennial with Awards for Dr. Marek M. Pienkowski and Local Leaders

Kosciuszko Foundation awards ceremony Washington DC Dr. Marek Pienkowski Pioneer Award recipient

A Historic Evening in Washington, DC — The Kosciuszko Foundation Awards Celebrated at Our Centennial Ceremony

The Kosciuszko Foundation gathered on December 7, 2025 with audience of friends, supporters, alumni, community leaders, and longtime partners to honor 100 years of service, scholarship, and cultural impact. Held at The Society of the Cincinnati, Inc. in the heart of Washington, DC, the celebration radiated with warmth, shared history, and an sense of unity.

Together, we honored not only the Foundation’s century-long legacy but also the thousands of individuals whose lives have been transformed through our scholarships, cultural initiatives, and community programs. For generations, the KF has opened doors in education, advanced careers, nurtured artistic talent, and shaped the personal journeys of countless people.

Highlights & Honorees of the Evening

KF Trustee Dr. Marek Maria Pienkowski

We proudly presented the 2025 Kosciuszko Foundation Pioneer Award to Dr. Marek M. Pienkowski, whose extraordinary dedication has shaped and strengthened the KF community. His visionary leadership, commitment to our mission, and contributions in the fields of medicine, cultural advancement, philanthropy, and the arts embody the very spirit of the Foundation.

Marek Maria Pienkowski (born 8 September 1945) is a Polish-American medical researcher, clinician, and biotechnology innovator whose work has advanced immunology, genetic engineering, and Polish-American cultural relations. He has published over fifty scientific papers and two books, contributed early research on allergic disease, viral oncogenesis, tumor biology, and therapeutic protein production in transgenic animals, and founded Piengen Biomedical Corporation to develop cloning and transgenic technologies. Since 1984, he has applied cutting-edge immunologic research in his clinical practice, including innovative desensitization therapies for allergies and asthma.

Born in Poland, Pienkowski earned his M.D. and Ph.D. in immunology in Warsaw, conducted cancer-virus research at the Wistar Institute, and later held clinical and academic positions in the United States, including Michigan State University, Henry Ford Hospital, and Johns Hopkins.

As a cultural ambassador, he has promoted U.S.–Poland artistic, scientific, and economic exchange. He founded the Marek Maria Pienkowski Foundation, served as Honorary Consul of Poland, and supported numerous international partnerships and Sister City initiatives. His efforts have been recognized by American and Polish institutions, and he has received multiple professional and civic honors. Dr. Pienkowski serves on the Board of Trustees of The Kosciuszko Foundation. Learn more about the Board of Trustees and their leadership.

Kosciuszko Foundation Awards Celebrate Local Community Leaders

2025 KF Appreciation Award – Local Leaders

We also celebrated four remarkable individuals whose ongoing service and devotion have enriched our mission at the grassroots level. In alphabetical order: