Pączki Day Special!
February 26, 2026
We extend our sincere thanks to all who joined us for After Hours networking at the friendly confines of the Copernicus Center Annex on Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, also proudly celebrated as Pączki Day.
We were honored to mark a special milestone for our city. Thanks to the proclamation signed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, and presented by Kevin Barszcz of Chicago Mayor’s Office during the official program of our event, Pączki Day is now officially recognized as a holiday in Chicago.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the Copernicus Center for their generous underwriting, the PWB – Polish Women in Business for their promotional partnership, Ideal Bakery for the delicious pączki, and Capital One – represented by Sebastian Lewanczyk and Laura Bulat – for sponsoring the event.
We were also privileged to welcome special guests, including Consul General Regina Jurkowska and Vice Consul Oskar Gradziel of the Polish Consulate in Chicago, Elisa Sledzinska of BACP Chicago, Kazimierz ‘Casey’ Chlebek of Casey Chlebek for U.S. Senate R-IL, Fabrice Bonvoisin of the International Trade Club of Chicago, Mariola Urbanek and Maciej Zywicki of the Polish American Congress-IL Polish American Congress, Illinois Division, Beata Balos of the United Colors of Pink, and Conrad Miczko of the Chicago Intercollegiate Council. We also thank Andrzej Baraniak, Andrew Andrzej T Mikolajczyk, Greg Grzywacz, and Boguslaw Bogie Kwasny for their photography and promotional collaboration.