The Western Fraternal Life Association (WFLA) is the primary sponsor of the Miss Czech Slovak US pageant. The WFLA was established in 1897 as a life insurance company selling to Czechs and Slovaks. Over the past 110 years, WFLA’s product has become and open commodity to all citizens of the United States. The WFLA is involved fraternally with ZCBJ Lodges in many Midwest and Western states. The WFLA publishes an edition called the Fraternal Herald which reports on the activities of Lodges, Czech-Slovak events nationwide, numerous sponsorship programs and important information concerning the needs of insurance. The WFLA generously donates the National Queen’s $1500 cash prize and $2500 trip award, the 1^st Runner Up’s $1000 Cash Prize and the 2^nd runner up $600 Cash Prize. In total the WFLA donates almost $7000.

Each year the Miss Czech Slovak US Contestants, National Queen, and Hostesses stay the Historic Wilber Hotel. Staying at this national historical site is a special memory. Each donor generously gave $145. Through the kindness of the following sponsors this housing is available:

TJ Sokol Hall

Helen Zach

Doris and Llyod Ourecky

Minnesota Miss Czech Slovak Queen Pageant Committee

Wilson, Kansas - Chamber of Commerce

Wilber Care Center

One room is sponsored together by: Donna Gruntorad, Jim & Caralee Gruntorad, and Bob & Eulalia Dory.

Gary’s Place - Gary & Kristin Kasparek donated $150 towards a room sponsorship.

The pageant would also like to thank other donors of special awards:

The Oratory Award is sponsored the Slavnosti with a $200 Cash donation and crystal sponsored by Cecelia Rokusek the Slovak Honorary Consul of Florida in memory of her mother Alice “Fiala” Rokusek. Ms. Roksuek also sponsors a $250 educational scholarship in memory of her parent’s John and Alicia “Fiala” Rokusek to the new national queen.

Tim and Lisa “Karpisek” Messman of Unionville, MO has generously donated $1000. This donation provides $500 Savings Bonds for the Americanized and Authentic Kroj Awards as well as $500 towards the general pageant scholarship fund.

John Fiala, of Lincoln, NE, sponsors the Talent Winner a $500 cash prize and Talent Runner up of $300

Wilber Bakery sponsors the Miss Congeniality Award with a gift of $100. Miss Congeniality will also receive Bohemian Crystal.

John Fiala on behalf of Lois Fiala’s grandchildren, Adele, Lisa, John S, and Christopher sponsor the Lois Fiala Heritage Award with a gift of $250 and crystal.

The Slovak Import Company of Reston, VA sponsors the Heritage Involvement Award with a gift of $100 and crystal.

TJ Sokol Hall of Wilber, NE sponsors the Sokol Talent Winner with a gift of $100 and crystal.

The American Czech Association of Granada, CA generously donated $500 towards the general scholarship fund.

Winners receive trophies, and the royal court receives crowns, flowers and crystal, these are provide through the generous contributions of John Fiala and Jean Skala through a donation of $150 and Security 1^st Bank of Beatrice and Clatonia’s donation of $350.

The Wilber Czech Festival is known for its heat but to keep the contestant’s cool and fed, the Crete Food Mart, Crete, NE has donated 4 cases of water. The Wilber Food Mesto of Wilber and Crete Wal-Mart each donate a $25 gift certificate used for snacks. JR Cake donated two delicious cakes towards the Sunday night post pageant party. Maggie and Ernest Grmela of Maggie's Fabric Patch in West, Texas has generously donated 3 Czech/Slovak dancer's clocks to be used as gifts for our volunteer judges.

Thank you to all our sponsors. In total, the Miss Czech Slovak US pageant awards over $10,000 in cash and prizes. Without your help and dedication this pageant would not be possible.  The pageant would like to thank all our sponsors and the many community members that dedicate their time and effort to the most vibrant and exciting ethnic, heritage pageant in the United States.