THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA hosts Father's Day celebration at Soyuzivka

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The Soyuzivka Renaissance Fund received $6,750 during the 19th annual Father's Day celebrations at the Ukrainian National Associa-tion's Soyuzivka resort in upstate New York on June 15.

Some 300 guests took part in a lunch honoring fathers, held in the Veselka hall. UNA President Stefan Kaczaraj greeted all of the guests. Mr. Kaczaraj spoke to the guests about the UNA's recent efforts to renew and renovate the resort, located in Kerhonkson, N.Y., for future generations of Ukrainian Americans.

During his remarks Mr. Kaczaraj encouraged community members to support the resort financially. The donations received that weekend were announced during the festivities. They included a gift of $5,000 from Ulana Steck and $1,000 from Miroslav and Martha Lomaga, in remembrance of George Lomaga, who died in 1995.

UNA Branch 13 of Waterviet, N.Y., donated $500, and the children of Dr. Stefan Nowakiwsky sponsored a brick for $250 in honor of their father.

The Soyuzivka Renaissance Fund to date has raised $120,000 since it was announced in the fall of 2002 during celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the resort.

In the Veselka hall there was a concert honoring fathers. Renowned singer Oleh Chmyr, with piano accompaniment by Laryssa Krupa, sang Ukrainian folk songs and classical works, as well as arias and operas.

The dance ensemble of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kerhonkson, N.Y., under the direction of Elaine and Andrew Oprusko, performed for guests. In addition, the Zorepad dance ensemble of the Albany, N.Y., area performed for guests under the direction of Roma Pryma Bohachevsky. The Shepko family - Hania, Roksolana and Zoya - sang songs for guests which their mother and grandmother Halyna had taught them.

The concert was emceed by musical program director and television commentator Lida Kulbida.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 29, 2003, No. 26, Vol. LXXI

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