THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 28, 2021
25 COMMUNITY
Ahwatukee man proud of freedom fighter role BY MIKE SAKAL Arizonan Contributor
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hen Andras Pongratz celebrated Thanksgiving at the Chandler home of his son, Joe Pongratz with 33 family members, he had many things to be thankful for. “I’m thankful for my family, first and foremost,” Pongratz, 82, of Ahwatukee, said. “I am thankful to be in America and I am thankful for my freedom and being able to go back to Hungary.” Pongratz recently returned from Budapest, where he spoke to thousands of people marking the 65th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Pongratz was one of seven siblings who helped lead the ‘56 revolt against the Russian Communists as anti-sentiment against the oppressive government boiled over on Oct. 23,1956. The massive
Ahwatukee resident Andras Pongratz and his entire family fought in the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and is grateful for the freedoms he enjoys in America. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
protests escalated into nearly two weeks of fierce fighting in the streets of Budapest and some of Hungary’s larger cities. Even children threw Molotov cocktails down the turrets of Russian tanks, burning Red Army soldiers trapped inside. Pongratz was 17 when he recruited a welder to cut Joseph Stalin’s statue – a symbol of hatred – in Corvin Square, toppling it with a resounding thud. The ‘56 Hungarian Revolution caused a crack in Communism’s foundation, inspiring other Iron Curtain countries to throw off its yoke some 25 years later. At the time, young adults presented 16 demands at the Parliament Building and radio station. Above all, they demanded freedom. Communist police on the roof of the Parliament building started firing shots
see FREEDOMFIGHTER page 26
Pandemic impacted EV foster, adoption agency BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Staff Writer
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t’s no surprise to anyone that COVID-19 has disrupted many industries and lives since it began spreading about two years ago. One area where its impact gets little attention is foster care. Barb Trella, director of development for Aid to Adoption for Special Kids (AASK), said it is not altogether surprising that the pandemic impacted the availability of foster parents. “Recruiting foster and adoptive families is difficult enough in the best of times,” Trella said. “It’s not what’s right for every family. Families really have to decide if this is what they want.” She said the pandemic made it much more difficult. “Parents were home, home-schooling their kids, and the idea of bringing more children into their family, the idea of
bringing kids in who might also bring this dreaded COVID into their family, I think was really scary to a lot of people last year.” AASK has three Arizona offices, including one in Chandler that serves the East Valley. Trella said when the pandemic first started, there was a significant decrease in the number of children entering the foster care system. She said that’s because with everyone at home and locked down, there were fewer eyes to catch possible abuse or neglect. Oftentimes, teachers or other staff see troubling indications when students are in class. That changed once the world starting Barb Trella of Aid to Adoption for Special Kids said that as the pandemic eases, the number of children entering foster care is increasing while the number of available foster parents is decreasing. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
getting back to normal. Trella said there’s been a 25 percent increase in the number of children entering the system. There are now more than 13,000 children in Arizona’s foster care system. “At the same time, there’s been a decrease in the number of prospective foster and adoptive families,” Trella said. “So we’ve got both numbers going in the wrong direction, quite honestly.” AASK started out as an organization that specializes in helping children with special needs, namely autism and Down syndrome. However, Trella said now they try and help all children. “Right around the holidays we typically see a surge,” said Harleigh Storm Castle one of the family specialists who works in the Chandler office. “We just don’t have enough families that are signing up.”
see ADOPTION page 27
