USUF's Petrach Project laying foundations in western Ukraine (04/09/00)

USUF's Petrach Project laying foundations in western Ukraine

by Olenka Dobczanska

WASHINGTON, - In late 1999 the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation received a grant to oversee construction of a $250,000 community center and a $60,000 rectory for the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church of Ss. Volodymyr and Olha in Staryi Dobrotvir (Lviv Oblast, Kamianka-Buzka raion), from Virginia James, trustee of the William and Helen Petrach Estate.

William Petrach, a Ukrainian American from Virginia, died in 1998 at age 80 as a result of a tragic accident. Mr. Petrach, who was originally from the village of Staryi Dobrotvir, was a retired federal government employee. During his lifetime he and his wife amassed a large estate, which was to be distributed following his death through the William Petrach Charitable Trust. It was Mr. Petrach's wish to use part of the trust funds for the construction or repair of various public and religious buildings in his village.

Upon receiving the award, the foundation appointed Dr. Stephan Kurylas as project coordinator. Not only was Dr. Kurylas helpful in his counsel to Mrs. James regarding project recipients, but he was a resident of Staryi Dobrotvir for 10 years. His knowledge, background and contacts in Ukraine were all seen as key to the potential project activities.

In October 1999 Dr. Kurylas and John A. Kun, USUF financial administrator, traveled to Ukraine to organize the Petrach project there. "Our goal was to familiarize ourselves with specific local conditions and to create two committees that will administer construction of the two buildings," said Dr. Kurylas. "This community center is going to be a rather large and imposing building. It will house a theater, a gym, a post office, a communications office, a first aid clinic, local government offices, several food outlets and a library. So, you see, this is an ambitious project."

To facilitate implementation, meetings were held with numerous leaders, including banking officials, construction personnel, government leaders like Yaroslav Yanyshyn, head of the Kamianka-Buzka raion, and Mykhailo Khimka, head of the Village Council in Staryi Dobrotvir, and church officials. With the cooperation of Mr. Khimka, an open town meeting was held on a cold Sunday afternoon for village residents in Staryi Dobrotvir's elementary school with USUF's representatives participating.

The packed house of village residents heard several presentations by Mr. Khimka, Dr. Kurylas and Mr. Kun. For Dr. Kurylas, it was a real homecoming, as the crowd truly appreciated his return and his personal anecdotes. "At the town meeting, there were people who remembered William Petrach and his family. There were also people who knew my family and my father. People in Dobrotvir remember him fondly and he was instrumental in beginning the construction of the Church of Ss. Volodymyr and Olha," said Dr. Kurylas.

"You could also tell that people were taking our proposals seriously because many promised to help with the actual construction," he added. "People were offering help to do things like mixing cement or digging ditches. They are truly happy about the opportunity and, as they expressed it, they want Dobrotvir to have something to be proud of."

At the meeting Mr. Kun underscored the fact that people in the United States are not only interested in working for projects funded by the government, but also want to support all genuine community, cultural, spiritual and educational efforts in Ukraine. The villagers enthusiastically invited Dr. Kurylas and Mr. Kun to return to Staryi Dobrotvir for the ribbon-cutting ceremony upon the completion of the construction of the community center and church rectory.

For more information or to contribute, contact the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation at 733 15th St. NW, Suite 1026, Washington, DC 20005; telephone; (202) 347-4264, fax: (202) 347-4267; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.usukraine.org.

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