ZAGREB, April 15, 2020 - The Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) has raised over $160,000 to help Croatian hospitals purchase medical equipment and supplies after the March 22 earthquake in Zagreb and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first instalment of funds was transferred on Tuesday to a charitable fund “Croatia against Coronavirus” established by the Croatian government.

"We understand that help is needed and needed now, especially for the new born and those most vulnerable... These are difficult and uncertain economic times for everyone, including our members. The show of unity and support across all parts of the United States has been extraordinary," ACAP vice president Steven Pavletić said, adding that more than 400 donations have been made.

The campaign has been coordinated with ACAP's Zagreb chapter, which is chaired by Don Markušić, an Australian lawyer of Croatian descent.

"We have been in daily contact with the hospitals in Zagreb and the Croatian Ministry of Health to identify their most critical need which at this stage appears to be a new neonatal incubator for Petrova Hospital," he has said.

The ACAP brings together business leaders, academics, lawyers, doctors, students and community organisers in the US.

More diaspora news can be found in the dedicated section.

ZAGREB, April 1, 2020 - The Association of Croatian-American Professionals (ACAP) has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for hospitals damaged in the 22 March earthquake in Zagreb.

The entire proceeds collected will be donated to the Petrova Women's Hospital, Rebro University Hospital and other hospitals in the capital.

Our aim is to collect USD 200,000 in the next two to three weeks because we know funds are needed now to reconstruct after the quake-damaged buildings and to provide support to hospitals battling with coronavirus. We will try and do what we can, a member of ACAP's executive board, Maria Sentić told Hina.

ACAP launched the campaign in coordination with its Zagreb branch managed by a Croatian-Australian ex-pat, attorney Don Markušić, who is also the vice president of Transparency International Croatia.

"We are in contact with Zagreb hospitals and the Health Ministry. Even though the campaign originally focused on Petrova and Rebro hospitals, we are prepared to help other hospitals," Sentić added.

Members to the Association of Croatian American Professionals represent all facets of the international professional community, including scientists, doctors, engineers, attorneys, artists, journalists, business executives, accountants, and so on.

"We are organised through 15 local branches and have more than 1,000 members. Our mission is to promote networking among members and the promotion of advancement in matters related to the Croatian community in the USA. Our objective is the prosperity of a global Croatia. We are a member-driven non-profit organization and we are all volunteers," Sentić underlined.

More diaspora news can be found in the dedicated section.

The National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCACF) announced today that 58 years ago, on this day, October 1, 1961, Roger Maris (Maraš) of the New York Yankees, hit his record 61st home run in one baseball season, eclipsing the 34-year old record of 60 home runs by baseball legend Babe Ruth.

Roger Maris was born in 1934 in Hibbing, Minnesota to Croatian American parents.

Maris played 12 years of major league baseball. He hit 275 Home runs, was All-Star 12 times, won the World Series 3 times, was the Most Valuable Player 2 times, Gold Glove Award winner, and had his number (9) retired by the New York Yankees. The New York Yankees Old Timers Game in 1984 featured the retirement of his number 9 and the addition of a plaque in his honor that took place alongside those of other Yankee greats in Monument Park in Yankee Stadium.

"The more people said he couldn't do it, he tried harder – he became more determined," Tony Kubek, one of Maris's teammates on the 1961 New York Yankees, said in August, 1998.

Click here to read more about Roger Maris.

"Whether it’s the World Cup, Olympics, Wimbledon or the seven players in the NBA, Croatians have been synonymous with success on the global sports scene since the very beginning. The idea of a Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame is very exciting and something that will certainly have many candidates for years to come." says Pete Radovich, Jr., CBS Sports Creative Director, 37-time Emmy Award winner and Croatian American!

The National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCACF) hereby has officially inaugurated today the formation of the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame.

The NFCACF is excited to salute the many Croatian Americans who have contributed and made their mark with valor, fortitude and lasting results in all areas of sports. Their achievements are impressive. The list is long and admirable: from baseball, basketball, boxing, football, ice hockey, rowing, to coaching, refereeing, sports administration and sports management. The names are impressive. It is time to recognize those individuals and coaches for their exemplary sports achievements and for their Croatian heritage.

Roger Maris, Croatian American Baseball Legend is the perfect candidate for the initial class of the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame. The complete list of the first Inaugural Sports Hall of Fame Inductees will be announced in the summer of 2020.

The Inaugural Ceremony to the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame is planned for the Fall of 2020 in New York City. For additional information, contributions or suggestions, please send an email to Vedran Joseph Nazor, the NFCACF Sports Committee Chair at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More diaspora news can be found in the dedicated section.

ZAGREB, September 21, 2019 - Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović took part in a conference of the Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) in Cleveland on Friday, thanking its members for their work towards the development of Croatia's economy and society as well as for the strengthening of economic relations between Croatia and the United States, her office said in a press release on Saturday.

Over the five years of its existence, the ACAP has contributed to the development of Croatia-US relations, the president said, adding that Croatia strongly supported their work and saw the ACAP as an important partner which contributed to the realisation of Croatia's state interests.

We expect the ACAP to encourage and promote cooperation and exchange of knowledge in the economy and all other areas important for economic development, the president said.

We want you to encourage a faster and more efficient inclusion of young people from Croatia in the labour market, to contribute to their learning, scientific advancement or preparation for enterprise, she said.

We want you to contribute, with your professional knowledge and international experience, to the strengthening of Croatian-American cooperation to the benefit of Croatia's economic and overall progress, she added.

Croatia and the US are partners linked by friendship, good economic relations and excellent cooperation on the political front, Grabar-Kitarović said.

Strong and concrete economic interests can give impetus to future bilateral cooperation, and the Three Seas Initiative enables US companies to enhance their existing business partnership in Croatia and Central Europe as well as create new ones, she said.

The president also said Croatia was open to the further development of economic relations with the US, welcoming US investment in Croatia as well as any form of economic cooperation, and saying she was pleased that there was good will on both sides to use every possibility to enhance cooperation.

One of those possibilities is to expand the legal framework in order to eliminate obstacles to trade and investment, she said, welcoming the attempts on both sides to negotiate an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.

Such an agreement is not just an economic issue but has political, diplomatic, geo-economic and strategic partnership significance as well, she said, adding that formal steps could be taken at technical level to give the agreement greater priority in the US Department of the Treasury.

The president said she had recently formed a task force comprising representatives of the finance, foreign and economic ministries, the Croatian and American chambers of commerce, and tax consultants from the private sector. She called on the ACAP to actively participate in that job, saying their engagement would facilitate the success of the initiative since, as US citizens, they could encourage the Department of the Treasury to give precedence to Croatia.

By working together, in your interest and the interest of Croatia and the US, I am sure we can succeed, Grabar-Kitarović said.

The president conferred the Croatian Charter on the entire Croatian community in Cleveland for its outstanding contribution, notably in the early 1990s, to the creation of the modern, sovereign and democratic Croatia.

More news about Croats in the United States can be found in the Diaspora section.

September 18, 2019 - Pittsburgh, PA – Her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, President of the Republic of Croatia, will be visiting the city of Pittsburgh, home to the headquarters of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America (CFU), in honor of the Society’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. The visit, scheduled for this Sunday, September 22, 2019, will begin with a Jubilee Mass held at St. Nicholas Church (Millvale), a distinguished Shrine Church of Croatian heritage, followed by a gala anniversary banquet at the Wyndham Grand Hotel Pittsburgh. The Anniversary Celebration falls on the eve of the 25th Quadrennial Convention of the Society.

“This will be one very special weekend celebration and we are so pleased to have so many prominent Croatian diplomats, Croatian Americans and American officials, attending our Sunday banquet on September 22nd, says Edward Pazo, National President of the Croatian Fraternal Union.

Distinguished guests for the Anniversary Celebration include: His Eminence Cardinal Blasé Cupich, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, IL and His Excellency David A. Zubik, Bishop of Pittsburgh. Dignitaries representing the Republic of Croatia include: His Excellency Gordan Grlić-Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković; Pjer Šimunović, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the United States; and Zdravka Bušić, State Secretary for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign & European Affairs; Mijo Maric and Mirjana Piskulic representatives of the Croatian Homeland Foundation.

National and local dignitaries attending will include: U.S. Congressman Mike Doyle, representing the 18th Congressional District of the U.S. House of Representatives and a founding member of the House Congressional Croatian Caucus; Mayor William Peduto of the City of Pittsburgh; and Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive.

The CFU is the largest Croatian organization outside of Croatia and in its 125th year of existence. Headquartered in Wilkins Township, PA, CFU has more than 30,000 members in Southwestern Pennsylvania and nearing 50,000 members globally. It is a fraternal benefit organization based on a program of benevolence, service to its members and the communities in which they live.

More diaspora news can be found in the dedicated section.

Annie Bosko is one proud Croatian American singer, songwriter and entertainer paving her own road in the very competitive music business.

There's much to know about this very talented musician. Annie is a farmer's daughter from the Boskovich family in California known for Boskovich Farms produce. The National Federation of Croatian Americans was proud to choose Annie as one of our "40 Under 40" rising stars in 2019, from within our Croatian American community and she was a hands-down winner on the list of extraordinarily talented young Croatian Americans making their mark around the USA!

Rolling Stone magazine recognized Annie as the “artist to watch”, describing her as the "California girl next door with the country-pop delivery of Sheryl Crow." That's quite a compliment from one of the world's top music magazines. No stranger to exemplifying courage, the largest crowd Annie has performed in front was 300,000 people at Nashville's 4th of July celebration in 2015. She describes the performance as "being surreal but nothing she wasn't ready for after years of grinding onstage." Annie has experienced quite a few magical moments like when she shared the stage with Adele or belted out a duet with Andrea Bocelli. She enjoyed sharing the memory of the time when Bruce Springsteen sat in during one of her shows and paid her the compliment of telling her, “you rock” after the show. Annie has also opened for Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Wyonna Judd, Dierks Bentley, Kid Rock and Pat Benatar.

Annie grew up the middle child of five children and showed interest in music at an early age. She was influenced by Patsy Cline, traditional country music and also, from the Beatles and the Beach Boys, thanks to her father. It was her mother that exposed her to pop female vocalists such as Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. It does appear that all these different music influences has created Annie’s unique style. She got her first professional music job with Disney at age 14 and moved to Nashville at age 19 to pursue her music and songwriting career. She was a contestant in American Idol and made it to the top 36.
Annie will candidly tell you it can be a roller coaster ride up and down in the music industry. She takes great pride in her songwriting and has written songs that have been recorded by Willie Nelson, Marie Osmond, Jessica Simpson and more. Annie believes her song “Fighter" best reflects her determined Croatian spirit and has made the greatest impact on fans.

Annie is quick to credit her parents and especially her grandparents, Phil and Lena, for instilling determination and a love for Croatia in her! Her grandfather's family was from the village of Crnice near Medjugorje and her grandmother's Bradarich family was from Dubrovnik. They were the first couple to get married at St. Anthony's Croatian Catholic Church in Los Angeles. Her Boskovich family has been active in many Croatian community activities in the Los Angeles area and Annie has sung and performed at numerous Croatian events there and even this summer at a Croatian Fraternal Union event. Her grandfather won the Croatian National Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 for his extraordinary charity donations and the "Onion King of America" was respectfully honored for his lifelong generous giving to Croatian causes. Annie made several trips to Croatia and one with her grandparents Phil and Lena and their extended family. She proudly shares that this trip created the most beautiful lifelong family memories and they all marveled at the beauty of Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar and Korcula.

Annie has split her time between Nashville and Los Angeles the past few years and will be making her first full length album in the fall. Annie has decided to create her own music production company, Shero Entertainment, in pursuit of driving her destiny forward. She clearly pursues her music and songwriting with a relentless work ethic and commitment that should bode well for her new career plans.

Let me recommend that you google Annie Bosko and find her music on "You Tube" so you too can hear her beautiful rendition of the Beach Boys hit, "God Only Knows" and you can find her duetting with Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban. Also, be sure to check out her original songs such as “Crooked Halo” and “Fighter”.

Lastly, Croatians in Southern California take note that Annie will perform at Missionfest in San Juan Capistrano, California this Saturday, July 13th at 2:30pm. The line-up includes Dennis Quad and The Sharks, Eric Paslay and Jamey Johnson. It will be a great music event and another opportunity to see this talented Croatian American singer onstage!

More diaspora news can be found in our dedicated section.

On September 22nd, in Pittsburgh PA, the Croatian Fraternal Union of America (CFU) will celebrate its milestone 125th anniversary at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh. The 25th Quadrennial CFU convention will be held there on September 23-25. Her Excellency, Madam President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, is planning to attend the gala banquet on Sunday, September 22nd. This article and the following interview will be about National President Ed Pazo and many notable accomplishments of the CFU within the Croatian American community.

The CFU has played an invaluable role in Croatian American society since its inception in 1894, when it first served to provide death benefits to widows of Croatian coal miners and steelworkers. It has since evolved into an organization that provides insurance, investment products, and financial services to over 65,000 Croatian Americans. However, it's even more amazing how this Croatian American organization has kept Croatian culture, music, and dance alive and thriving in the USA when Croatian culture was frowned upon in the former Yugoslavia.

The CFU has always held a special place in my heart and family history, as my grandfather, Thomas Rukavina, joined the CFU in Minnesota in 1924. Following in his footsteps, my father, Joseph Rukavina, was also a proud CFU member for 70 years; he was a national delegate at eleven of the last thirteen CFU quadrennial conventions. Moreover, my Croatian relatives from Perušić, Dugo Selo, Špišić Bukovica, and Zagreb, could not believe that my dad—born in the United States—knew over 75 Croatian songs. This Croatian connection was primarily due to his CFU membership, as he channeled his activism within the Croatian cultural and music programs that were offered by the Croatian Fraternal Union. Today, I am fortunate to say that I am a 48-year member of the CFU and will proudly represent our Philadelphia Lodge 760 at this anniversary convention as a national delegate. I am also proud to mention that Ed Pazo and I are the only two Croatian Americans to attend all 25 National Assembly of Delegates meetings for the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCA).

Since its beginnings almost 125 years ago, the CFU has extended over 1.2 million dollars to sponsor about 1,500 Croatian orphans and has extended an estimated 23 million dollars in goods, services, and assistance during the 1990s to assist Croatians within the Republic of Croatia and within Bosnia and Herzegovina. The CFU scholarship program has awarded thousands and thousands of scholarships to the children of its members. Also, the CFU sports programs and tamburitzan dance festivals are legendary, and have brought so much joy and Croatian fraternal fun and friendships all over North America—for over 400 lodges. As evidenced by history, the CFU is so much more than the insurance and financial services it provides.

On September 23, 2018, Ed Pazo accepted, on behalf of the CFU, the Charter of the Republic of Croatia Award extended by Madam President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, in New York City. This award was the ultimate recognition that our Croatian American fraternal organization has immensely contributed to the promotion of and to the cultural and economic developments of the Republic of Croatia!

I hope you will read this Ed Pazo interview in its entirety to understand where Ed’s commitment comes from, and become better acquainted with the rich history and the workings of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America.

Ed Pazo Interview conducted on May 14th, 2019 by Anna Maria Sičenica, NFCA Rudy Perpich Summer Fellow:

First, could you please share a little bit about your background and personal connection to Croatia?

My family roots are Croatian, as both sides of the family come from Croatia. Specifically, my mother’s father, Josip Ferenčić, and mother, Jela Martinjak, are from Hrvatsko Zagorje, Selos Burenac and Bisag, respectively. On my father’s side, my grandfather, Grgo Pezo, was born in Lokvičići, near Imotski in Dalmatia; while my grandmother, Anka Sokolić, was from Vrlika—also located in Dalmatia. In 1906, my grandfather Grgo came to Clairton, located here in Western Pennsylvania, followed by my other grandfather, Josip, in 1912. Interestingly enough, the family name of “Pazo” was adopted from “Pezo”, a family name that began once my family immigrated to the U.S.

Having grown up with three of my four grandparents alive provided me with plenty of exposure to the Croatian language, customs, and rich history. My grandmother from Vrlika lived in the house right next door to me growing up, and my cousins lived on my street as well—which meant that I was always surrounded by my Croatian family and their stories about the homeland. My grandparents were members of the Croatian Fraternal Union from the time of their immigration to the United States, and this tradition continued along to my late father Edward, mother Catherine, who has been a member of the CFU for all of her ninety-one years, myself, my wife, and my children.

Ed Pazo photo on his first day as the National CFU Secretary Treasurer, on December 1, 1993; to his left, his mother Catherine Pazo, and to his right, his aunt Mary Plevel and with other family relatives in the back row.

How did you first get involved with the CFU, and what lead you to your position today?

Both of my parents were members and officers of our hometown St. George CFU Lodge, in Clairton, PA. My earliest childhood memories of Croatian events centered around our Croatian home in Clairton and the many picnics, meetings, and celebrations that were held there. Upon my father’s death and only entering adulthood myself, I was appointed to my father’s former position on our Lodge Board of Trustees at the age of eighteen.

At the same time as I was pursuing my Bachelor of Science at the University of Pittsburgh, I became the youngest delegate at two quadrennial CFU National Conventions in 1983 and 1987. These conventions eventually lead to my election to the CFU National Board of Trustees in 1991, coincidentally, the same year I graduated with an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. A few years later in 1993, this position was followed by the appointment of National Secretary/Treasurer at the age of 30, a position I remained in until 2014, at which time I was elected to succeed my colleague and mentor, Bernard M. Luketich, as National President of the CFU. Throughout my life, the CFU has always played a central role; even as I was working on my studies and eventual career at Westinghouse as a project engineer—where I remained for seven years—I always remained engaged and connected to my local Clairton Lodge and the CFU organization.

What do you think is the most special and unique thing about the Croatian Fraternal Union as an organization?

Our society was founded 125 years ago in Pittsburgh by Croatian immigrants who needed an organization that would accept them for who and what they were. The CFU provided a needed social and economic sanctuary to working class people—many new to this melting pot of America. Our first CFU members didn’t speak the language well, and many didn’t have extended families to rely upon for kinship and support. Also, most early Croatian Americans didn’t have savings or life insurance to protect them and their soon-to-be expanding families in the event of financial hardships. Our society filled that void immediately and in a manner that was unique among any other Croatian organizations in existence, both back then and now. The CFU has grown from its meager beginning of twelve U.S. citizens and funds totaling less than $50.00, to a modern day insurance company with nearly $500 million in assets, 50,000 members, and 400 Lodges and Nests across the U.S. and Canada.

Additionally, the CFU has always managed to stay true to its founding tenets of promoting, preserving, and perpetuating Croatian culture and heritage outside of the homeland of Croatia through a wide array of cultural and fraternal programs, which benefit both our members and the Croatian diaspora community at large.

Ed Pazo with CFU officer, Franjo Bertovic and former CFU National President Bernard Luketich

How would you describe your longtime mentor, National President Bernard Luketich?

President Luketich was a legend among men. He walked and talked with Prime Ministers, Presidents, Cardinals, and other high ranking persons. However, he never lost the common touch; he was equally at ease with political dignitaries as he was with CFU members who approached him by his nickname of “Bernie”. He was known for being the guy you’d go to for advice, and someone that would always lend an ear. For example, during the Clinton administration, Bernie visited Vice President Al Gore, and then attended a CFU picnic where he cut and served roasted janjetina, (lamb) for our members. Bernie was also a living representation of Croatian culture and its people due to his vast historical knowledge and stories amassed over the course of a lifetime. This knowledge was instrumental in bringing about positive policies for Croatia and its citizens, as Bernie was able to share his concerns and ideas among his inner circle of American elites to create real and lasting policy changes.

Could you please share a few highlights and details about what is located here at your national headquarters in Monroeville?

While there are many subordinate lodges across America, the CFU headquarters is the only office for the entire organization. Housed in a modern glass building designed by architect Louis D. Astorino, from our headquarters here in Monroeville we conduct business every day. However, the CFU headquarters also serves as a living museum with a collection that houses naïve Croatian artwork, narodne nošnje (Croatian national dresses), and other Croatian artifacts. The collection features artworks from artists such as Ivan Meštrović, Ivan Lacković, Josip Generalić, Josip Cugovčan, and Mladen Veža, among others, and I’m proud to say that we have more naïve art at our home office then anywhere outside of Croatia. The most recent addition to the CFU Home Office is one of the three historic bells which was previously housed in the bell tower of St. Nicholas R.C. Croatian Church, the first Croatian Parish in America. The bell was refurbished and preserved in tribute to Croatian immigrants and families by the Croatian Fraternal Union, and will remain on permanent display at the Home Office. In short, the CFU headquarters is a culture museum, work place, and monument to all of those that came before us; it’s a culmination of our ancestors’ hard work, and represents the spirt and pride of being Croatian.

Could you please share any key details about the upcoming 125th CFU Anniversary this September?

I’m pleased to say that Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will be a main guest at our banquet. The CFU is planning a series of events for our upcoming 125th CFU Anniversary on September 22, including a mass, banquet, and convention that following Monday. The CFU is also pleased to announce that there will be special entertainment from Croatia, as Tamburaški Sastav Ravnica will be concluding their CFU sponsored tour at the CFU weekend anniversary celebration.

Father Phillip Pribonic and the CFU Executive Board, Bernadette Luketich-Sikaras with Ed Pazo and Franjo Bertovic

What are your hopes for the future of the CFU?

The Croatian Fraternal Union has changed with the times and modernized, as it has needed to conduct business to remain a viable financial organization. Yet, the organization has also managed to remain true to its origins by exposing Croatians in North America to Croatian culture and history. My hope for the future is that the CFU can appeal to an ever increasing number of Croatian Americans and Canadians, and that we can continue to expose people to our historical roots and encourage them to join our society. It is important to note that the CFU is the largest and most influential Croatian organization outside of Croatia, for no other society has as many members and has been in existence for so long. For this reason, I am optimistic about the future of the CFU, as families—such as my own son Eddie, and daughter, Alexandra—will continue to carry on traditions, sing, and dance to Croatian music for generations to come.

More news about diaspora can be found in the dedicated section.

Please let me share with you all that we have scheduled a special music and wine tasting event on Friday, May 31st to benefit the wonderful Special Olympics organization in Croatia. The welcoming reception for the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCA) and co-hosted by the Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) is set for 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the CFU Headquarters in Monroeville, Pennsylvania and will feature beautiful Croatian music and Croatian wines, including Posip, Grasevina, Malvazija, and Plavac Mali. Also, we will taste and savor one case of the world class and world famous Grgich Hills Chardonnay, donated by Miljenko Grgich, the "King of Chardonnay".

Founded in 1992, the Special Olympics in Croatia has forty affiliated chapters all over the country, and brings sixteen official sports to over 1,300 Croatians. The organization’s mission is to provide year–round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic–type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship. Competing in international events, Special Olympic athletes from Croatia have travelled all over the world—to countries such as China, Japan, Greece, South Korea, Austria, and the U.S. Most recently, the Croatian team competed in Abu Dhabi for the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games where they proudly took home 3 gold and 7 silver medals. I was extremely pleased and it was my personal thrill to spend five days with Croatia's Special Olympics delegation in Los Angeles, California for the 2015 Summer World games.

The Croatia's Special Olympics organization has been led by Executive Director, Franjo Horvat and associate Sladjana Tatic for over twenty years and the work they do, to arrange sporting events for Croatians with intellectual disabilities is simply amazing, The NFCA is very proud to be a major sponsor and partner with this truly incredible organization. It's my honor and pleasure to join Franjo Horvat and many other special friends for the 6th Annual Joseph Rukavina Special Olympics Floorball tournament on Friday June 14th, to be held in Gospic, in Lika where all my Rukavina relatives originate from!

We are lucky to have the popular Croatian singer Tommi Mischell performing, as well as Dario & Tamburaši on May 31st. Tommi Mischell is a Philadelphia based singer-songwriter, as well as an international recording artist signed for the major record company Croatia records. In her homeland country of Croatia, Tommi is known by a famous duet with Croatian tenor Vinko Coce entitled, “Da je meni s tobom kroz Pasike” which after being performed at the Splitski Festival in 1992, created overnight success for Tommi and Vinko. During the war in her homeland of Croatia, Tommi performed hundreds of humanitarian concerts to raise money for children left without parents, families affected by the war, and the reconstruction of churches throughout Croatia and Bosnia.

In 1997, Tommi relocated from Europe to the U.S. where she collaborated with the famous Sigma sound studios in Philadelphia. Her soulful voice with underlined emotional dynamic allows her to master different music styles, ranging from French chanson and theater to jazz and pop. Since coming to the United States, Tommi Mischell and her family continue to engage in many projects supporting Croatia and the Croatian-American community.

Hailing from Western Pennsylvania, Dario & Tamburaši are a musical group fronted by Dario Barišić, with band members Brock Belich, Ben Wagner, John Huckle, and Mark Stafura. They play a wide variety of music from Eastern Europe and mainly focus on music from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. From traditional bećar songs to modern pop, and love ballads to furious instrumentals, Dario & Tamburaši will truly entertain you and lift your spirits for a good cause.

Tickets for this event are available for $40 per person, $75 per couple, and $100 for families, with all proceeds benefiting the Special Olympics organization in Croatia. All attendees can pay at the door with cash or checks made out to the NFCA CF. There will be light fare served for dinner—including appetizers, pasta, pizza, cheese, crackers, soft drinks, and dessert, besides the fine Croatian wine. For any questions and to RSVP, please contact Anna Maria Sičenica at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For a bit of history about the Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, daughter of the Joseph P. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, founded the Special Olympics in 1968. As a child, Eunice witnessed her sister, Rosemary, grow up with an intellectual disability. This experience spurred her life-long passion to fight against the marginalization of individuals similar to her sister’s. Eunice’s passion took form during her time at college when, as a collegiate athlete, she saw that sports could serve to unite people from all different walks of life. Thus, her idea for the Special Olympics came from her deep love for helping people with disabilities achieve the justice, rights, and the recognition they deserve. Today, Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s passion lives on, as the Special Olympics has grown into a successful worldwide organization with over 150 countries participating, including Croatia.

The following day, the National Federation of Croatian Americans will be holding its Annual Assembly of Delegates meeting with a private Board of Directors and Delegates session from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday, June 1st at the CFU national headquarters. For local Croatian Americans in the Pittsburgh area, you are invited and there will be a 1:30 to 4:00 pm public session with many distinguished guest speakers.

Mark your calendars and the event again is 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and you live anywhere near Pittsburgh, you don’t want to miss this outstanding Croatian special musical event and fundraiser on Friday, May 31st.

More Croatian diaspora news can be found in the dedicated section.

The young Croatian center Ivica Zubac had the best night of his career against Oklahoma City Thunder where his Los Angeles Lakers celebrated 138:128 in extra time. The 21-year-old from Čitluk scored 26 points in the victory with 12/14 shots in play and 12 rebounds - and 16 of those points were achieved in the last quarter and extra time, reports T.portal on January 18, 2019. 

In addition to Zubac, who dominated in the direct duel with New Zealander Steven Adams (17 points and 15 rebounds), the best on the Lakers was Kyle Kuzma with 32 points and Lonzo Ball with 18 points and ten rebounds.

The best Lakers player, LeBron James, who was injured on Christmas, is still not ready to play, though he continues helping from the sideline with advice and support for the young players, including young Zubac.

Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!! @ivicazubac

— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 18, 2019

Lakers coach Luke Walton commented on Zubac’s game:

“He was powerful in the game and was really good with his soft shot. His teammates were constantly looking for him. When he got the ball near the hoop was very good. But, he's growing and becoming more and more physically powerful. Everyone has made their contribution today. It is difficult to win here, because you’re playing against a team for the playoffs,” said a delighted Walton who has been increasingly using Zubac on the court. Hopefully, his future is guaranteed in Los Angeles. 

We should also mention that Zubac had a net rating of +35 (+/- rating) which, in the history of Lakers, was only done by a handful of players (and only Kobe Bryant is in front of him).

'The whole has been season great. Every time he has a minute, his contributions are huge. Today he got the chance and did not get tired at all. I'm proud of him,” said Zubac’s teammate Lonzo Ball.

In other NBA news, the Indiana Pacers were convincingly defeated by Philadelphia 120:96 at home. From the middle of the second quarter, the Sixers took control of the result and systematically increased their advantage by the end of the game.

Bojan Bogdanović did not have a great night and finished the game with 9 points and 3/11 shots in play. 

Dragan Bender stayed on the bench in the Phoenix loss to Toronto, and in the Washington and New York duel at London's O2 Arena, Mario Hezonja played for 19 minutes, caught six rebounds but missed all four shots.

Ante Žižić was the most effective for his Cleveland Cavaliers who lost to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, while Dario Šarič had yet another poor game in the loss of his Minnesota Timberwolves.

Žižić achieved a double-double in 35 minutes, scored 15 points with ten rebounds and had one steal and one block. Šarić played 28 minutes and scored only two points with 1/5 shots in play. He achieved seven rebounds and two steals.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

In a new series starting on December 18, 2015, TCN's Ashley Colburn meets some of the more influential Croats in America, starting with tennis legend turned businessman Mario Ančić in New York City, whose thoughts are never far from his native Split.