LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (02/13/00)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Supporting the work of The Weekly

Dear Editor:

Enclosed with this letter is a check in the amount of $1,000. I send it to support the work of The Ukrainian Weekly.

I grew up with The Weekly, and through the years have been an avid, faithful reader. In our house the UNA, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly were important.

I offer this sum not only to help The Weekly and its excellent editor and staff, but also to honor the memory of a great Ukrainian American, Stephen Shumeyko, who singlehandedly started the paper, was its first editor and devoted his life to it.

The letter from UNA President Ulana Diachuk (The Ukrainian Weekly, December 5, 1999) outlines the problem clearly and should encourage each Weekly reader to help.

Slava! Long live The Ukrainian Weekly!

William Shust
New York

P.S.: Today is my birthday - January 14, Ukrainian New Year's Day. My birthday wish is that The Ukrainian Weekly celebrates its birthday in every year of the new millennium.

Elian should be reunited with father

Dear Editor:

In response to Myron Kuropas' "Faces and Places" (January 23), Ukrainian Americans must support the return of Elian Gonzalez to his father in Cuba. The arguments used by Dr. Kuropas in no way represent U.S. law, public opinion, Cuban history or the well-being of Elian Gonzalez.

The child has a homeland and a family that will provide for all his needs. Let us support the reunion of Elian Gonzalez with his father and true family in Cuba.

Michael Step
Garwood, N.J.

UUARC funds go overwhelmingly for aid

Dear Editor:

I watched a portion of the evening news segment called "Fleecing of America" with Tom Brokaw regarding charities and fund-raising on December 29, 1999, with interest because of my employment at the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee Inc. (UUARC). I was taken aback to hear how much of public donations is retained by professional "fund-raisers," and how little the law protects the giver and the end-recipient. I am sure I was not the only one who was shocked.

I realized while watching the program that there may be a need to reassure the Ukrainian American community of how much of their donations actually makes it to those we want to help.

The program mentioned that as much as 70 to 80 percent of donations can be legally retained by the fund-raisers. Various government grant applications require explanations of 25 percent or more of a charity's income being spent on management and fund-raising. I am proud to say that the UUARC spends in the neighborhood of 7.5 percent of its annual revenue on these expenses.

Practically speaking, this means that perhaps your phone call to the UUARC is not returned as soon as you would like, or your address is still incorrect on the "koliada" or "pysanka" appeal, or the tax-deductible acknowledgment and receipt for your donation is taking longer than you expected. Please keep in mind that the reason is that we have a very small staff, which translates into more funds going directly to benefit Ukrainians who really need our help.

I hope that readers will continue to feel comfortable giving to the UUARC, knowing that there are no middle-men skimming proceeds off the top.

L. Melnyk
Philadelphia

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