Presentation prepared by students from

Szkoła Podstawowa im. Św. Królowej Jadwigi w Kunowej

Kunowa 89, 38-243 Harklowa

Within the Erasmus+ project

English for Social Entrepreneurship
2018-1-RO01-KA229-049626_6

This project is realised with the financial support received from the European Commission within the Erasmus+ Programme.
The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of its publisher(s), and it in no way represents the views of the European Commission or its services.
 WOŚP
(Eng.) GOCC

Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy

Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity
 Who is
Jerzy Owsiak?

Jerzy Owsiak is a Polish journalist,

broadcaster, and social campaigner,
activist and a volunteer. He is one of the
founders and is currently the Chairman
of the largest non-governmental
organization in Poland – the Great
Orchestra of Christmas Charity
Foundation.
Jerzy Owsiak

Jerzy Owsiak, known as Jurek, is also the mastermind

and creative director of Woodstock Festival Poland,
which is often cited as the largest free open-air
music festival in Europe. Owsiak is a published author
and has his weekly radio show, which airs on
Antyradio radio station.
Jerzy Owsiak

In his private time (and let us tell you, there’s precious little of that!),
Jurek pursues the arts – he is an avid art collector and he tries his hand
at drumming. The Chairman of the Foundation is a traveller and book
lover. He is a motivational speaker, sharing his success story and
encouraging people to try their best at any initiative they might
undertake.
Awards

Jurek Owsiak has been awarded the title of

European of the Year. He has also received Order of
Polonia Restituta, Peace Summit Medal for Social
Activism, and he has been named Promoter of the
Year at Music Expo awards. He holds doctor honoris
causa titles among other awards and honours for his
charitable activism.
The idea

The foundation supports

paediatric and geriatric wards,
furnishing them in both
complex medical devices such
as MRI scanners, and
providing long-term care units
with anti-bedsore mattresses
and beds.
History

The charity was officially founded in 1993 by Jerzy Owsiak,

Lidia Niedźwiedzka-Owsiak, Bohdan Maruszewski, and
Piotr Burczyński. The main objective of this fundation is
providing Medical Equipment to Public Hospitals
Every year, millions of Poles donate to the Foundation and
throughout 24 Grand Finales, the Foundation collected
over $130 million for cardiac-surgery, neonatology,
paediatric oncology, kidney diseases, congenital disorders,
newborns and children under 5 years of age who have
been victims of accidents. Since 2013 the GOCC has been
raising funds to support geriatric and long-term care units
in Poland.
Recent history

During the 27th Grand Finale concert

in Gdańsk on 13 January 2019,
Mayor of Gdańsk Paweł Adamowicz
was stabbed on stage. He died the
following day after undergoing over
five hours of surgery in a hospital.
After Adamowicz's death, Jerzy
Owsiak announced that he would
be stepping down as the chairman
of the GOCC.
 Resignation and
return
A wave of support came from millions of people
with the hashtag #MuremZaOwsiakiem trending
(translated as #WeStandWithOwsiak) and
hundreds of thousands of people signing a
petition for Owsiak to remain the chairman of
GOCC. Many pleas from celebrities, social
activists, men of science, artists and religious
activists have been sent to Owsiak, begging that
he stays the chairman of GOCC. After the funeral
of Paweł Adamowicz, Jerzy posted a video on his
Facebook page saying that he was overwhelmed
by the support and that he will not step down as
the chairman of GOCC. He made a promise to
Paweł Adamowicz that the Great Orchestra of
Christmas Charity will be playing for eternity and
one day longer.
Concerts
The GOCC foundation organizes the biggest open-air free
admission music festival in Europe –Pol'and'Rock Festival
This is the excerpt from the 19th Grand Finale
 The Grand Finale

The Grand Finale fundraiser takes

place on the second Sunday of
January.
The public fundraiser is organised
locally, by volunteer-run Collection
Centres, and is accompanied by
various events such as concerts,
sporting competitions, and firework
displays. A telethon, broadcast
nationally, is held on the day as well.
The Grand Finale

Volunteers, carrying branded collection

boxes collect money across the country,
and people donating money receive
distinct red-heart stickers in return. The day
culminates with a firework display - known
as Light to the Sky, which takes place in
front of the Palace of Culture and
Science in Warsaw. The funds are being
raised during a public money collection,
in online auctions, and personal and
corporate donations.
The Grand Finale and Light to the Sky
Photo memories from Grand Finale