House of Ukraine sponsors annual festival in San Diego (07/12/98)

House of Ukraine sponsors annual festival in San Diego

SAN DIEGO - The House of Ukraine in Balboa Park, will sponsor its annual Ukrainian Festival during Labor Day Weekend, September 4-6.

Festivities start on Friday night at 5 p.m. with a welcome bonfire and picnic on the Bay at Crown Point in Mission Bay Park. A barbecue is slated for 6-7:30 p.m. Volleyball, Ukrainian music and fireworks from across the Bay at Seaworld's Aquatic Park at 10 p.m. will also be featured.

On Saturday, the House of Ukraine will open from noon to 4 p.m. for those enjoying beautiful Balboa Park, home of the world famous San Diego Zoo.

On Sunday, at the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages' Lawn Stage in Balboa Park, Ukrainian ethnic food and refreshments will be available for purchase beginning at noon. At 2 p.m. a short program of Ukrainian song and dance will begin.

Festivities end on Sunday night with a dinner/dance at 6 p.m. at the Hanalei Hotel in Hotel Circle with Ukrainian dance music by Trubka of Vancouver.

The 1998 festival's fun and entertainment, as in the past, also has a serious purpose. The House of Ukraine has selected the Taras Shevchenko Foundation of Ukraine as this year's charity. The foundation is on a mission to alleviate the shortage of textbooks in schools in Ukraine. This shortage is a result of many factors, the most significant being a severe shortage of funding. The shortage of textbooks has far-reaching effects, as it holds back the transfer of Russian-language schools into the Ukrainian school network. Overall, this shortage prevents the government of Ukraine from fully upholding the official national language as it is mandated to do by law.

As a first step in alleviating this national problem, the foundation wants to supply all schools with photocopying machines. Having this equipment will give teachers the ability to photocopy the necessary notes and distribute them to students. In time, Ukraine will look after the necessities of Ukraine's future - today's students, and will supply printed textbooks for all.

Last year's Ukrainian Festival raised a substantial sum to benefit the Orphans' Aid Society. Its efforts were supported by private donors and businesses.

The House of Ukraine is asking support for the "Copying Machines for Ukraine" mission with tax-deductible donations in the form of advertisements in this year's souvenir program. All donations and advertisements must be received by August 15 in order to be included in the souvenir program.

For advertisements in the souvenir program, for tickets to this weekend festival in sunny California, or for more information, contact the House of Ukraine at: telephone, (619) 291-0661; fax, (619) 452-9759; or e-mail: sunny [email protected].

Donations and advertisements may also be sent directly to: Darlene Edgar, c/o House of Ukraine, 3801 Center St., #D San Diego, CA 92103-3645.