Canada has new vehicle to coordinate aid to Ukraine (05/26/96)

Canada has new vehicle to coordinate aid to Ukraine

WINNIPEG - The Ukrainian community in Canada now has a vehicle to coordinate and provide assistance to Ukraine, as the inaugural meeting of the 14 founding member, organizations of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was held on the weekend of March 23-24 in Winnipeg.

The establishment of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) was first announced during the state visit to Canada by the president of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, in October of 1994. The next year and a half have been spent putting together the major pieces of the puzzle.

The CUF was created by a steering committee of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) headquarters and received its Letters Patent under the Canada Corporations Act on August 28, 1995.

The 14 representatives who attended the inaugural meeting comprise CUF's founding board of directors. The CUF board elected Dr. Jaroslaw Barwinsky of Winnipeg as president. Dr. Barwinsky is a noted heart surgeon, a professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of Manitoba and an active supporter of many community causes.

The other members of the CUF executive are: Stefan Franko (Saskatoon), vice-president; Anne Wach (Winnipeg), secretary; Halyna Holowka (Montreal), treasurer; Dr. Orest Talpash (Ed-monton), Myroslava Pidhirnyj (Winnipeg), Maria Komarnycky (Toronto) and Ihor Broda (Edmonton), members at large.

The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is a charitable foundation dedicated to providing effective assistance to Ukraine. It accomplishes its mission by raising funds which will be allocated to sustainable and cost-effective projects that respond to the needs of Ukraine and its people.

The Ukrainian Canadian community is currently working on providing assistance to Ukraine in a number of areas. The CUF will work to assist community efforts in the following areas: 1) social well-being; 2) Canada-Ukraine Student Exchange Program (CUSEP); 3) education (textbooks); 4) religion; 5) youth and sport; 6) art/culture; and 7) health (technology). It will do so by facilitating, promoting and coordinating community activities and liaising with governments.

An immediate priority for the CUF is to raise money to establish a solid capital fund base. As 1996 marks the fifth anniversary of Ukraine's independence, the CUF has proclaimed that its goal is to raise a target amount of $1 million in its first year of operation. The CUF plans to mount an aggressive campaign to generate funds from memberships and donations.

There are four membership categories in the CUF. The initial membership fee is $10,000 from corporations, $5,000 from UCC member-organizations, $2,500 from non-member organizations and $1,000 from individuals. There is also an annual membership fee equal to 10 percent of the initial membership fee for all categories to remain a member of the CUF in good standing.

The CUF will be providing updates on its activities and the status of its membership and fund-raising drive.

For further information contact Dr. Jaroslaw Barwinsky, CUF president (204) 942-4627.

| Home Page |