Helena Modrzejewska i filantropia .......... 113

HELENA MODJESKA AND PHILANTHROPY

The subject of Helena Modjeska and philanthropy is vast and multifaceted. The actress skillfully leveraged her fame, popularity, and extensive network of contacts for diverse charitable endeavors. This article focuses primarily on her charity theatrical performances. Through these means, Modjeska supported Polish actors, domestic theater companies, and professional organizations; she was also actively involved in raising funds for the construction of theaters across the Polish territories. She frequently donated her personal income from performances to a variety of social charitable causes. Furthermore, she initiated and organized performances herself, such as a benefit for the displaced victims of the Prussian expulsions (New York 1886). Serving as an ambassador for the Polish cause overseas, she assisted Polish diaspora institutions as well as numerous American philanthropic organizations. The article is supplemented with a repertoire of over one hundred charity performances featuring Modjeska in 1861–1909.