REMEMBERING ADDY KRIZEK

As she was by her husband, Gene Krizek’s, side pretty much since the day they met, so was that the case on the afternoon of May 12, 1986 for Adeline R. Krizek, at the very first joint board meeting of the founding members of Christian Relief Services.

Addy, as she was known to all, was the secretary/treasurer of the organization he founded, which would some 35 years later come to include Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, Americans Helping Americans®, Bread and Water for Africa® all serving as “A Gentle Voice for Good” for tens of thousands in our own country and in sub-Saharan Africa.

But Addy’s compassion for people in need throughout the Alexandria, Virginia, and her selfless work for decades on behalf of those in her long-time community where she lived with Gene, their three sons, Bryan, Paul and Neal (who are all involved in Christian Relief Services Charities today) was demonstrated by her actions and work with several nonprofit agencies.

Among them was United Community (formerly United Community Ministries) which in 2019 presented her (along with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner) with its Gerald W. Hyland Humanitarian Award in 2019 in recognition of her work for both the organization and Christian Relief Services Charities.

“The mission of CRSC is to work through partnerships and in collaboration with grassroots charitable groups, churches, and human services agencies, to connect the vast resources of America to help those in need in their own local communities and to enable people to help themselves,” noted United Community.

Adeline Rose Krizek, 88, passed away peacefully this weekend with her husband of 66 years by her side.

Her son, Bryan, Christian Relief Services Charities President and CEO, noted that his mother grew up in England during World War II and lost her father while he was serving France. Prior to that, she was separated from her mother and siblings due to the evacuation of families into the countryside due to the German bombings of London.

“Even growing up with the trauma and sadness of war, compassion for others came naturally for her as did making friends,” Bryan commented. “She made a career of service to others at organizations like The Council for a Livable World, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, American Red Cross, United Community Ministries, Friendship House, and countless other community leadership efforts while living in Washington D.C. and Alexandria, VA.”