The Stefi Foundation

Oh, you precious soul. Your story brings me to tears here in Australia, a long way and a long time from the hardships of your youth. Bless you, beautiful strong woman. My heart aches for the tragedy of human evil, and then swells with love at the strength and love you felt and enacted.

Hi, I just read “The Light in Hidden Places” and I started to read more about what you and your sister did. I just wanted to say thank you. You were such a brave kid. You were so little, but somehow you understood what you need to do.
Thank you for your bravery.

All the love,
Gabi (from Brazil)

Helena,
Hi, my name is Leanna. I love to read, and when I saw the book The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron I was intrigued. I, however, didn’t know what I was about to read. I read the back of the book, and was astonished. A girl who hid 13 Jews during WW2? it didn’t sound real. But I read the book, and i was once again astounded. It was true. A 16 yr old girl had hid 13 Jews during WW2 while working all day with 2 Germans in her house. And, her younger sister hadn’t said a word, helping her the whole way. This story truly inspired me, and I thank you for you and your sisters bravery. The world needs more people like you.
Sincerely,
Leanna Byers

Hi Helena in my school we were reading an article about you I think you and your sister Stephania are truly inspiring. Thank you for everything you both have done.

Helena!
My name is Rachel- I live in Omaha NE, in the US. I read to my dad on the phone every night for 30 minutes- he lives 6.5 hours away and it is important to me to stay in touch. My mom othen listens, too.

We just finished the Light in Hidden Places book, and my mom, dad and I are looking for follow up information. It is so good to have found this website.

We appreciate so much having had
the opportunity to read the story of
you and your sister during the war. So
meaningful. We were all amazed- your story is such an incredible example of perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds.

We are so grateful you survived.

Wishing you all the best.

Rachel Gilligan Howell
Lorri Gilligan
Gene Gilligan

Hi,
I’ve just finished reading the incredible book “The light in Hidden Places” and I am completely blown away and in awe!!
You see, I myself am a jew, living in the USA and to read about the heroism for my people that you and your sister portrayed in the darkest of times is heartwarming and so inspiring.
May you have a long, healthy life and may you keep on spreading your light!!
Thank you from the depths of my heart!!
-Freeda

Hi Helena,
Hello from the Gold Coast Australia. My name is Katrina and I’m 48 and am a teacher – married with 2 almost adult children. I was so touched by reading the story of you and your sister – I know you impacted those 13 lives back then, but your story continues to impact so many of us even now.

Praying for huge blessings over you and your family.

Vous êtes une personne extrêmement inspirante. Je vous ais découverts il n’y a pas si longtemps et ce fut passionnant (dans le livre “lumière dans les combles ” de Cameron). Ce serais bien que vous passiez dans mon collège pour raconter votre version de l’Histoire. Bisou

Hi! My class just read a book about you and your sister, A Light in Hidden Places, and it was so good. Also, you played a huge role in helping save 13 Jews, and you were only 6 at the time. Now that I think about it, you’re just like a hero! Thank you for what you did 🙂

We read Light in Hidden Places at school, and I can only imagine how hard it was to love a a small child in these days, having responsibilities that a grown man or woman would have. And, you inspire me to never give up when times are tough. Thank you!

Hello Helena!
I’ve just read the book „the light in the hidden places“ and I wanted to let you know that you are such a role model and inspiration for me and for more and more people who will read this story! It is important that as much people as possible will hear about your story, that’s why I want to write my „VWA”, a presentation in school about a topic we can choose, about you and your sister.
I wish you many many blessings! May the Lord keep you safe!

Valerie, 16 years, Austria

Hello,
My name is Haley, and I am a high school English teacher in Tennessee. One of my students brought me their copy of The Light in Hidden Places to read after we finished reading the novel Night in class. I just finished it, and I am in awe of your story and everything you and your sister did. The student who brought me the book and I have done nothing but discuss your bravery and kindness to help others when so many wouldn’t. When I looked up more information about you after reading it, I saw that I could message you, and I leapt at the chance. You might also receive a message from my student because she was so excited to have found out that we could write to you as well. Your courage and compassion and your sister’s resilience will stick with me for the rest of my life.

-Haley Jenkins

Dear Helena,
I heard about you and your sister’s story from the book, “The Light In Hidden Places” and I absolutely loved it. I loved hearing about how you and your sister experienced the Holocaust. This book also helped me see a different side of the Holocaust. When I was reading, “The Light In Hidden Places” I was interested in how you survived, knowing your sister was hiding 13 jews in the attic of Tatarska 3. After reading, “The Light In Hidden Places” I wanted to know a little more about how the events during World War 2 affected you and how you dealt with them. I understand if you don’t want to share those stories since I’m a stranger, but it would be nice to get to know you better. In the end, I think you and your sister, Stefania, are true heros.

I hope your day is amazing 🙂
Sincerely
-Gianna Groszczyk

Dear Helena,

I am a secondary education major at a small school in Tennessee. I want to teach history, especially the histories that are often overlooked in the United States lessons. Always eager to learn more through novels, I picked up Sharon Cameron’s book, The Light in Hidden Places. It was incredible! I was in awe of the courage you and your sister showed during one of the darkest moments in history. I was so excited when I saw there was an opportunity to contact you!
I have a question on behalf of my students and future students: Do you have any advice for them when they find themselves in a difficult situation? Is there anything that helped you continue on that can be passed to them?

Thank you for taking time to read this. And thank you for all you have done! Thank you for your story!

God Bless,
Chloe Camp

I just finished reading The Light In Hidden Places, not realizing it was based on a true story until after I finished it. Wow. What an amazing and powerful story. God bless you for your incredible sacrifice and unbelievable bravery. Absolutely amazing.

I am so very glad to have read your story and think you are a very brave woman. I am proud to know that hate didn’t permeate every Pole and that some of us where willing to step up and do what is right. While I am American, my heritage is Polish and I am proud to include this story in my lexicon of what it means to be a Polish descendant. Your bravery and resilience inspire me to continue to live day by day and appreciate every day that we have on this earth. Thank you for surviving. Thank you for telling your story. Thank you for restoring hope. I hope your story will continue to be a reminder to all those who would perpetuate hate that love will endure for as long as it has to, like a desert seed that waits a hundred years to bloom.

Good morning Mrs. Helena,
We are called Mariana and Valentina, we are ninth grade students from the Colégio Positivo Londrina (Paraná-Brazil).
The reason of our contact is that we are working on a project focusing on the heroes and heroines who fought against the persecution of the Jews on World War Two, so we would like to have dispose of your precious time for a chat (talk) about he period, it would be a pleasure.
We know it must be a very delicate subject, but it would be extremely important for us and future generations can take your witness, so nothing like the Holocaust ever happens again.
Thank you so much for your attention,
We look forward to your reply.

Hi Helena!
My name is Kim Walker. I read the story about you and your sister, Stefania, in the book A Light in Hidden Places earlier this year. I came across the book by reading another book the author, Sharon Cameron, wrote. Her writing is incredible and she really knows how to bring a story to life as though you are living through it.

I watched your son’s presentation on YouTube as he told the story of you and Stefania. It was beautiful I didn’t want it to end.
I was excited when I and heard there was a way to write a letter to you, and so here I am trying to multitask between writing and work 🙂

I want to take the time to say thank you for what you and your sister did to rescue and protect the 13 Jews that hid in your home during WW2. Your story is such an inspiration and has impacted my life. I could not stop reading and can’t stop recommending people to read your story.

I am awe struck of your courage and sacrifice you had at such a young age and how you you used your smarts to outwit the Nazis. My jaw dropped to the floor as I read the story of you eating the paper to hide from the Nazis. That is one of my favorite scenes from the book.

I have often wondered about myself what I would’ve done during such a time. I like to think I could be brave and do the right thing, but it’s so easy to give into fear and turn the other way when your life is on the line.

Even though it may have felt God was absent during this horrific time, I could see his provision and feel his protection over you and your sister.

I hope you know you have made a difference not just in the lives of the 13 Jews you rescued, but many others, including myself, as well. Your story lives on as a living testimony, it inspires and brings hope to others as they are walking through dark times in their life.

Before I go I wanted to share a little about myself.
I live in the United States in Indiana with my husband Alex and our spazy dogs, Alyssa and Ella, and very affectionate cat Rey.
We have been here the past 4.5 years. I am a nurse working on the neurology unit at one of the hospitals and my husband travels for work inspecting oil and gas pipelines. We have been married 11 years.
I grew up in Kodiak, Alaska and lived there for 16 years, and how I took it all for granted! I miss the mountains and the ocean but it is such a treat when I go back for visits.
I met my husband, Alex, while his dad was stationed there in the coast guard. We married a week before my 20th birthday and moved off the island. The first 7 years of our marriage we moved from place to place until my husband’s job brought us here to Indiana.

I hope you are doing well for yourself
Again, thank you for what you have done and for displaying such courage and strength during a time of darkness, hopelessness, and despair.
May God bless you and your family.

Kim Walker

Hello Helena,
I read book ,,Hidden in Silence” and it is my favorite book now. The story of how your sister and you risked your lives and helped jews. You were so brave and helpful. The book wrote that you kept the secret so good when you were a child. I want to be brave like you.
How are you doing now? How were you so brave?

hello helena
im a student and im doing a presentation about hiding places in world war two your story is very inspiring i wish everybody knew this wonderfull hero story from you and stefania 🙂

Helena – I just finished the book and was shocked and truly stunned at the end to discover it was a true story. I am soooo deeply touched by your bravery, courage, perseverance and strength as you all suffered brutally at the hands of evil. Your family’s ability to simply LIVE and LOVE after the horror and terror are so inspirational; I wish I could somehow lessen your pain. Please, please, know I value and treasure your example of selfless love and sacrifice and will not let your memories fade in my lifetime. I pray you have peace in your scarred heart and I thank you most sincerely for sharing. (After watching Stefania and Max’s son, Ed speak, it is incredibly sad to consider humanity right now – would there be others willing to risk their lives today? It is a heartbreaking question…) I hope you have received as many comforting, healing, loving hugs and embraces as you’ve needed and that you feel safe…

I just read The Light in Hidden Places. I’m so overwhelmed by the bravery of these young ladies. When I think about my own little children and their ability to do what you did, I’m left questioning our resilience. I pray that all of us would do what you did. I’m also praying for a peaceful time for you and your family. Thank you for sharing your story.

Dear Helena,
The story of you and your sister has inspired me so much. Your bravery in such desperate times leaves me amazed. You bit an SS man in the leg as only a little girl! Thank you for sharing your story with the world and teaching us all what true courage really means. I found the book about you and your sister at my school bookfair in fourth grade, and after reading it I knew I was not the same person I was before. I recently watched the interview with Stefania and was left breathless and with chills. What an incredible and remarkable story! May God bless you again and again and again. With love, Laura

Thank you for your courage, faith, and the inspiration you are! I read one of the books and read more on the story and I am so amazed and inspired by you and your sister. Such courage! As well as others in the book. I believe God sent you for that time to help those people. So selfless of you and your sister. Thank you for all you sacrificed. I am just in awe. Your efforts are still inspiring and blessing people, including me. Thank you and God bless you always.

Pani Heleno. Przeczytałam niesamowitą historię Pani i Pani siostry. Dziękuję dzięki Paniom świąt stał się lepszy.

Hello Helena
I’m a 14 year old girl and I’m very impressed with what you and your sister Stefania have done! I gave a presentation about you and your sister at school and everyone was impressed! I have also read the book about you several times. For me you are role models – real heroes!
Greetings from Lisa

Thank you for everything. The story shared in “The Light in Hidden Places,” is beyond anything imagined. I am lost for words but I want to express how thankful I am for sharing this.

I am in awe of the great love you and your sister shared so unflinchingly with targeted members of your Przemysl community. The two of you acted in the way so many of us hope we would if we were put to the test. Thank you for reminding us that kindness and humanity is always an option. God continue to bless you and yours.

Hello Helena,
My name is Stefania, and I too am of Polish descent. I got the book “The Light In Hidden Places” a few years ago simply because I was ecstatic that I finally had something with my name on it! But as I am reading the book, I have come to see that the Podgorska Sister’s story is extremely inspirational. You two are truly godsends, blessings to this earth. May your days be filled with light and your heart be filled with love.
-Stefania

Hello Helena!!
I just want to say that about a week ago, I started reading the book called The Light In Hidden Places. I don’t know if you are familiar with that book, but I’ve been reading it for about two weeks now and I must say, no other World War 2 book or any book in general has ever made me get so emotional before. I look up to you and your sister Stefania very much as well as the Diamant family. I’m so mesmerized by you and your sister’s bravery in WW2 and I’m also at a completely loss for words about your story and everything that happened to you and the Diamant’s (and the others in hiding too). I wish that I could’ve met you, your sister and anyone else that you helped save in your life. but that’s ok.i might see you guys one day. thanks for letting me send this message to you and I hope that you’re doing well and I hope that you’re still spreading smiles to everyone and anyone that you come across. you and your sister are truly heroes in every way.

Dear Helena,
I learned about your story from the movie just about a week ago. Thank you so much for saving the jews by risking your own life during the Holocaust. Your courage, bravery and selflessness are so rare in this world. May G-d bless you with the speedy recovery and long and happy life.

I want to thank you for your actions during the war. This was a great act of courage. Your actions reflected a set of values that is very much lost today. One who saves a life is as if one has saved a whole world and you have saved many worlds. May G-d bless you!

Hello Helena-
I just had the privilege of meeting Ed Burzminski at a showing of the film, “Hidden in Silence” in Agoura California.
After the film, there was a group discussion and Ed explained that the portrayal of both you and your big sister (his mother) were accurate. Your actions at such a young age were incredible!!
As the daughter of a French Jewish Holocaust survivor, I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart, your actions give me hope about the future of humanity.