a letter from Ivo Tosic April 4, 2000

Dear CSF, First I’d like to inform you that I received your letter a few days ago as well as the CSF stipend check for my 4th semester of study. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you individually and to CSF as a whole for all your hard work and dedication, which have made it possible for me to secure my continuing education and to succeed. Likewise, my family and I would like to thank you for all your Easter greetings. I wrote to you in March confirming my enrollment in the fourth semester of study toward my degree in Physiotherapy. I’m particularly thankful for the newsletter you sent me because it has shown me how fortunate I am to have such intelligent and kind people as you at CSF looking after my interests. Not long ago, I wrote to my sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. Bronzan, who have become like second parents to me. All I can offer in exchange for everything they have done for me is my inexpressible devotion and respect for them. As I have already written to you, my father was a Croatian soldier for 3 years. He fought for our homeland and I am fortunate that he is alive today. My entire family is grateful that we have gained a free and independent Croatia and that my father gave his humble contribution toward making this happen. I have received no academic privileges as the son of a Croatian defender, and since my father is the sole supporter of the family, I thought my dream of enrolling in college would remain just that. However, you and your organization have transformed that dream into reality and have made my parents and me immeasurably happy and thankful. My father now sees that his sacrifice was not in vain and that you in CSF value those who have defended our Croatian homeland. I am greatly honored and pleased that you have chosen me as one of your scholarship recipients. At the same time I feel a deep commitment to live up to your expectations. So far, I have been very successful in school, and I hope that I will continue to be so. I have been writing regularly to Mr. and Mrs. Bronzan, exchanging photos and experiences. They are kind and congenial people. Mr. Bronzan’s family is from Dubrovnik, as is mine, and that brings us even closer. When I receive a letter from them, my family gathers around to read it, and we feel as if we are receiving a letter from relatives. Mr. Bronzan is a sports enthusiast as I am, so we write a lot about sports events. I’m grateful that the Bronzans are helping me, not only financially, but also with their advice and guidance, which will be helpful throughout my life. I am greatly honored to be able to receive advice from people who have as much life experience as Mr. and Mrs. Bronzan do. The letter from Ivona Ondelj reminded me and my family of the war days when we were surrounded by Chetnik Serbs for a year. We remembered all the horrors we experienced in 1991. I thank God that we all survived it and that my family is intact. I’m particularly glad that Ivona spoke on behalf of all of us, her colleagues, because her speech was so sincere, heartfelt and hopeful of better days for our homeland. I am also thankful to all those who participated in the last CSF dinner dance and whose donations guarantee my continuing education and that of my colleagues all over Croatia. I sincerely hope I will succeed in school and that I will be able to help in the continuing work of CSF and in the realization of the dreams of future generations of Croatians as you have helped me. I enjoyed reading about Croatians who have become famous in America and in the world. It is really phenomenal that so many people from such a small country have gained such renown. This says much about the resourcefulness of our people, who through their suffering and labors have reached pinnacles of human endeavor. One cannot help but be proud to be a Croatian when one hears of the successes of our people. When I read about Nikola Stefanac and Miljenko Grgic and their fame, I felt unspeakable joy and pride that I am Croatian and a part of this little but noble and honorable nation. Reading your newsletter, I became convinced that our homeland will experience progress and wellbeing, which will make life in Croatia good, not only for those of us who live here, but also for those in the diaspora, and that they may return and together with the new generation of Croatians create a modern and prosperous Croatia. I hope that my contribution to this effort will help, along with that of all my colleagues, for whom I wish great academic success and that we may together justify the faith that you in CSF have placed in us through your love and hard work. Until my next message from the Homeland, please receive this greeting from your scholar and friend. Respectfully yours, Ivo Tosic

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