Volunteer Honors Husband Through Legacy

Andrea’s connection to the IRC dates back to 1957, when the IRC arranged for her future husband, then 11-year-old Pál, and his family to seek asylum in the United States in the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution.

His father, the Minister of Defense, was arrested, and Pál’s family faced grave danger and was forced to flee and travel through multiple countries in search of their new home. The IRC arranged for Pál’s mother to speak to the United Nations on behalf of arrested (and later executed) Hungarian officials, including her husband, and later arranged for Congress to grant the family green cards.

Pál stayed connected with the IRC as he grew up in New York, even working for the IRC for one summer in high school before joining the Marine Corps and later having a successful career as a hospital architect for the Veterans Administration.

After retirement, Pál and Andrea began volunteering as English teachers to new refugees through the IRC in Charlottesville, Virginia. They soon got involved with community outreach and fundraising activities. Following Pál’s death in 2017, Andrea helped with the startup Youth Futures Program at Charlottesville High School, which supports young refugees integrating into the local community.

“The school friends that Pál made in the U.S. made such a difference in his life. It is important to help young people from refugee families become part of their community—playing sports, being in other after-school programs, going to college. This is what leads them to thrive and become successful Americans.”

Andrea is proud to have worked recently with other volunteers to tap into IRC Charlottesville’s specialized interpretation services, helping to find and set up interpreters around the U.S. for new arrivals from Afghanistan. She also serves on the chapter’s Community Development Committee and regularly speaks to local church groups and at University of Virginia conferences.

Andrea still has Pál’s donor card from the IRC, which demonstrates more than 60 years of loyalty. She continues to support the IRC’s work both internationally and locally in Charlottesville and has included the IRC in her estate plan. We are honored to be one of three organizations she has chosen to support in this meaningful way.

“It’s a smart financial decision, one which will save taxes on my estate. But mostly I feel good knowing that I am supporting organizations that provide hope and solutions for the overwhelming challenges that face people who are displaced around the world and need to make a new start.”

Are You Ready to Create Your Legacy?

Like Andrea, you can honor a loved one or reflect the compassionate person you are today through a legacy gift. Contact IRC's Planned Giving Team at +1 212 551 2954 or PlannedGiving@Rescue.org today to get started!