Piast Institute

10/11/2026

Ruth Handler, the inventor of Barbie, was born to Polish-Jewish immigrant parents in 1916. In 1945, alongside her husband Elliot Handler and Harold “Matt” Matson, Ruth co-founded — a company that would go on to become one of the most influential toy manufacturers in the world. In the 1950s, she noticed her daughter Barbara playing with paper dolls and imagining adult roles for them.

In 1959, she introduced Barbie at the American International Toy Fair in New York. Eventually a huge range of Barbie dolls was released, portrayed with more than 125 careers! Under Ruth Handler’s leadership, Mattel became a powerhouse, and Barbie became a global cultural icon — evolving over decades to reflect changing roles for women in society. Astronaut Barbie, doctor Barbie, CEO Barbie — all rooted in Ruth’s original belief that girls deserve to see themselves as limitless.

10/10/2026

Many of us know him as the brooding and enigmatic Stefan from the hit TV show The , but there's so much more to Paul than his captivating portrayal of the vampire who stole our hearts. Paul , born Paweł Tomasz in New Jersey, is an actor, director, producer, and philanthropist. Most recently, Paul has been on-screen as James T. Kirk for the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Paul knows a little Polish because of his grandparents and has talked a lot about the way he was raised in interviews.

He is an advocate for various causes, including animal rights and environmental sustainability. Through his work and philanthropic efforts, Paul is not just an actor; he’s a role model who strives to make a difference in the world. 🌍💙

10/09/2026

💄Born in Kraków, Poland, Helena Rubinstein built her own global cosmetics empire, Helena Rubinstein, Inc. In the early 20th century, her company became one of the largest beauty businesses in the world, rivaling brands like L'Oréal and Elizabeth Arden.

Helena opened and operated salons in Melbourne, Sydney, London, and Paris before relocating to New York City in World War I. She opened her first US cosmetics salon in 1915, and her innovative skincare products led to an extremely successful commercial brand. In 1928, she sold part of her business to Lehman Brothers for $7.3 million ($143 million today), repurchased shares during the Great Depression, and eventually made a profit of about $100 million, making her one of the world’s first female self-made millionaires. In 1988, L'Oréal acquired the Helena Rubenstein brand, which is why it is often associated with the company today.

10/08/2026

Hamtramck Parks is hosting Girls On Bikes next weekend! Registration closes tomorrow 10/9, make sure to share with any girls 14-18 who would like to learn to ride a bike or just hang out on bikes on the 17th from 11 - 1!

10/08/2026

🎾 As we celebrate Polish American Heritage Month, we’re shining a spotlight on Jane “Peaches” Bartkowicz, a -born Polish American who made her mark as one of the most accomplished and pioneering women in history.
During her remarkable career in the 1960s and early 1970s, Peaches reached the Top 20 in women’s singles and earned victories at some of tennis’s most prestigious events, including the U.S. Championships, , and the French Open.

But one of her most significant contributions came in 1970, when Peaches joined Billie Jean King and seven other women to become the Original 9. Frustrated by the enormous disparity between men’s and women’s prize money, the women took a risk and signed $1 contracts with World Tennis publisher Gladys Heldman. They went on to form the Virginia Slims Circuit, which three years later became the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

At the time, the difference was striking: at the 1970 Pacific Southwest Open, women received just $1,500 in prize money compared with $12,500 for men. The Original 9 challenged that system and helped lay the foundation for the professional women’s game we know today.

Their efforts helped pave the way for equal prize money at Grand Slam tournaments and opened doors for generations of women athletes.
Read more at: https://www.si.com/tennis/2019/05/23/peaches-bartkowicz-wta-tour-beat-cancer

10/08/2026

During the first week of Polish American Heritage Month, Piast Institute wants to recognize the important contributions of Polish American athletes, including the 2025 National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame Inductees.

🐂 🤠Our first honoree is Lynn “Jonnie” , one of the most accomplished female bull riders in the history of the sport. Using a one-handed style previously used exclusively by male riders, the two-time Women’s Nationals Finals (WNFR) Bull Riding Champion (1986 and ‘88) was soon ranked among the top 20 bull riders in the nation (male or female) earning an invitation to the 1992 and 1993 Men’s World Bull Riding Championship – the first woman ever to compete in that event. In 1991, she was inducted into the National Hall of Fame.

Save the date and MEET "Jonnie" on Friday October 23, 2026 at the Polish American Cultural Center in Troy Michigan. There will be a film screening of her life. Take our word for it- it's definitely worth watching! We'll see you there!

P.S. Did you know she went by “Jonnie” to keep her gender a secret? Competitors wouldn’t realize a woman was participating until the very last moment, when her nickname was called and she stepped forward!

10/07/2026

Fun activity to celebrate your Polish Heritage at Wayne State University, Detroit MI.

Fall is back, and that means so is our Chruściki (angel wings) workshop! Join us October 19th from 6:30-9:00 pm in Manoogian Hall’s Romanian room on the 4th floor! To reserve your spot to learn how to make these traditional Polish pastries, please scan the QR code on the poster below. We hope to see you all there!! 🇵🇱🇵🇱

10/07/2026

🤸 Today we’re proud to highlight Paul Juda, an inductee of the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2025. Juda had a very accomplished gymnastics career. He was a member of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2023 World Championships and the bronze medal-winning team at the 2024 Games. He was also a two-time medalist at the 2021 Pan American Championships. In NCAA Gymnastics, he competed for the Michigan Wolverines, where he won six Big Ten titles (two individual and four team) and nine NCAA championships (six individual and three team). Today we celebrate Paul Juda’s hard work and commitment to !

10/06/2026

🏈 Today we honor Stephen , one of the most successful kickers in history and a proud Polish American. After a standout college career at the University of Memphis, he was selected in the 2006 NFL Draft by the New England . He spent the next 14 seasons with the Patriots, becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He was a 3x champion amongst many other awards and records. Here’s to Stephen Gostkowski, and to the generations of Polish Americans whose dedication, talent, and continue to inspire us all.

10/05/2026

🏒 A Grosse Pointe, Michigan native, Polish-American Craig played 13 professional seasons in the National Hockey League from 1985 - 1998. Making his debut at 18 years old, Wolanin became the youngest player in the history of the Scouts/Rockies/Devils franchise. From his late 80’s tenure with the New Jersey Devils to his years on the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning and finally the Toronto Maple Leaves, Wolanin’s dedication to hockey led to a long and successful career. He was a member of the 1996 champion Colorado Avalanche and played for Team USA at the 1991 and 1994 World games. He was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.