Who We Are
The Hungarian Communion of Friends (Magyar Baráti Közösség or MBK) is a non-profit 501c organization, with several North American chapters, aimed at preserving Hungarian cultural heritage and Hungarian non-denominational religious values. Its goal is to promote the development of our Hungarian-American identity in the service of a longer-term presence in the region, and to help strengthen overall Hungarian unity and cohesion.
MBK was established in 1967. Since its beginning, it has regularly published the ITT-OTT Periodical which later developed into the ITT-OTT Yearbook. MBK is also the organizer of the annual ITT-OTT Conference at Lake Hope State Park in Ohio, with the aim of providing an intellectual forum within the context of family vacationing. The Conference’s guest speakers from the Carpathian basin as well as from the other regions of Hungarian diaspora, often bring their programs to local chapters as well.
Achievements and awards:
- The MBK is a founding member of HAC, a member of the Hungarian Diaspora Council and active participant in its programs, including the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Program.
- Márton Áron Érem - 1990 - Bethlen Gábor Alapitvány
- Magyar Örökség Díj - 2012 - Magyar Örökség és Európa Társaság
- Community Recognition Award - 2014 - Hungarian American Coalition