Binghamton chapter of Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund begins work (06/07/98)

Binghamton chapter of Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund begins work

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - The 12th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster was marked by solemn observances and commemorative concerts in many communities across the United States, including Detroit, Boston, New Haven, and Washington. One of the most extensive commemorations was organized by the newly formed Binghamton chapter of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund. Under the chairmanship of Halyna Kurylo, the Binghamton Chapter staged three days of commemorative events, including a press conference, a 4-H Club toy drive for a Chornobyl orphanage and a special commemorative concert featuring local and regional artists.

The three-day series of events began on Friday afternoon, April 24, with a formal press conference at Binghamton City Hall. Mayor Richard Bucci issued a formal proclamation on the 12th anniversary of Chornobyl and welcomed special guest Nadia Matkiwsky, executive director of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund. Mayor Bucci presented Mrs. Matkiwsky with a certificate of honor in recognition of her many years of service to the children of Ukraine and to the families that survived the Chornobyl tragedy.

Mrs. Matkiwsky thanked the people of Binghamton for their hospitality and for their generous support of the Chornobyl relief mission. She stressed the importance of continuing the effort to combat infant mortality, thyroid cancer, and birth defects that have soared since the 1986 explosion and meltdown at the nuclear facility in northern Ukraine. The ceremonies closed with a benediction by Rev. Ihor Stetts of Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The press conference and other events associated with the Chornobyl anniversary received extensive coverage and advance publicity in the Binghamton Sun and Press Bulletin and on several local television stations.

On Saturday, April 25, the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund took part in Binghamton's annual "Earth Fest" disseminating information and selling promotional merchandise to area residents who attended in large numbers. At the close of the festival, youngsters active in the local 4-H Clubs presented Mrs. Matkiwsky and CCRF staffer Inya Bonacorsa with 150 stuffed animals and toys for an orphanage in Bucha (Kyiv Oblast), Ukraine. The orphanage serves over 200 children suffering from various birth defects and chronic illnesses often associated with radiation exposure.

The culmination of the weekend observances was a full-length concert at the Helen Foley Theatre at Binghamton High School. The Saturday evening concert featured the popular Ukrainian singer Olya Chodoba-Fryz, a string quartet that performed Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and the Topolia Ukrainian Women's Folk Ensemble under the direction of Ms. Kurylo. The concert also included children's folk dance ensembles from St. John's Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church in Johnson City.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y) made a personal appearance to open the benefit concert for the children of Chornobyl and to commend CCRF for its outstanding efforts on behalf of the Chornobyl victims. Mr. Hinchey is a member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. He recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Ukraine where he had an opportunity to assess the pace of economic reforms and the impact of the Chornobyl disaster.

Olya Fryz sang several selections from her 1992 release entitled "Remember" and several evocative pieces from her third CD entitled ''Mothers' Lullabies," a collection of folk lullabies from different regions of Ukraine.

The Topolia Ensemble sang several moving pieces, the last of which was an original composition by Yuri Masztupa of the Cherkassky Kozaks. The song is an allegory about Chornobyl which describes a family of orphaned swans. The final verse ends on a hopeful note: "Perhaps the swan's children will not perish; perhaps good people will take them in their arms and embrace them with their warmth..." Topolia dedicated the song to Mrs. Matkiwsky "one of the 'good people' who has given so much of herself to nurture the children of Chornobyl."

At the conclusion of the song, Mrs. Matkiwsky was presented with a bouquet of a dozen red roses and in turn, she thanked all the performers, fundraisers and organizers who hosted her visit to Binghamton. She presented Ms. Kurylo with a crystal vase as a token of her appreciation for all the work carried out by the Binghamton chapter and thanked all the supporters who have already made their donations in support of CCRF's 20th airlift planned for later this year.

Mrs. Matkiwsky urged the audience not to forget the many children and young adults who will be stricken with illnesses as a result of their exposure to Chornobyl, and she pledged to continue the long-term effort needed to rebuild the Ukrainian medical system and to bring life-saving relief to the nation's children.

To support CCRF, readers may send their tax-deductible donation to the National Office at CCRF, 272 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078. For more information, readers may contact CCRF at (973) 376-5140 or by e-mail at [email protected] Anyone interested in volunteering for CCRF in New York's Southern-Tier or Triple Cities Region is urged to contact Halyna Kurylo at (607) 723-5858 or Genia Klaczany at (607) 648-2022, or to write to CCRF, 9 Arthur Street, Binghamton, NY 13905.