German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA
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The German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA (GAHFUSA) is a national non-profit organization that promotes German language, culture, and heritage in the United States and works toward preserving the history of Americans of German ancestry who helped build the United States.[1] It is a national membership organization through which Americans of German heritage and language work together on issues of common concern. The organization's national headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
The German-American Heritage Foundation was established as the United German-American Committee of the USA in 1977.[1]
Each year since President Ronald Reagan first declared October 6 German-American Day in 1987, GAHFUSA has petitioned the White House, United States Congress, and state and local governments to issue national and statewide proclamations.[2]
On October 17, 2008, the German-American Heritage Foundation acquired Hockemeyer Hall to establish the first national German-American Heritage Museum of the USA. Through supporters and fundraising, the GAHF was able to renovate the interior and exterior of the old townhouse, which opened in March 2010.[3]
Notable "Distinguished German-Americans"[]
The organization honors the outstanding contributions of Americans of German descent through its Distinguished German-American of the Year Award, which is presented at the annual Council of 1000 Award and Fundraising Gala.[4] Notable awardees have included:
- 1989: Werner Fricker
- 1990: Eric Braeden
- 1992: Heinz C. Prechter
- 2005: Günter Blobel
- 2006: H. Norman Schwarzkopf
- 2008: Jesco von Puttkamer[5]
- 2009: William R. Timken
- 2010: Paul Volcker
- 2011: Robert Zoellick
- 2015: Doug Oberhelman
- 2016: Philip F. Anschutz
- 2018: Peter Thiel[6]
See also[]
- German-American Heritage Museum of the USA
- Americans of German descent
- List of German Americans
- German in the United States
- Auswanderer Denkmal
- German-Americans in the Civil War
- German inventors and discoverers
References[]
- ^ a b "Mission," Archived 2015-02-14 at the Wayback Machine German-American Heritage Foundation.
- ^ "Ongoing Programs" Archived 2015-02-18 at the Wayback Machine German-American Heritage Foundation.
- ^ "About the Museum" Archived 2015-02-15 at the Wayback Machine German-American Heritage Foundation.
- ^ "Distinguished German-American of the Year Award" Archived 2015-02-18 at the Wayback Machine German-American Heritage Foundation.
- ^ "Dr. Jesco von Puttkamer, 2008 Distinguished German-American of the Year" (Adobe Flash). germanamericanpioneers.org. 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
- ^ Peter Thiel to Receive 2018 Distinguished German-American of the Year Award
External links[]
- German-American culture in Washington, D.C.
- German-American history
- German-American organizations
- Organizations based in Washington, D.C.