Chicago fund-raiser benefits Ukrainian National Information Service (06/29/03)

Chicago fund-raiser benefits Ukrainian National Information Service

by Luka Kostelyna

CHICAGO - A major fund-raising event was held in Chicago on May 13 benefitting the Ukrainian National Information Service. UNIS is the Washington bureau of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) which has serviced the Ukrainian American community for 26 years.

During its years of representing our community in Washington UNIS has established close working relationships with members of Congress, numerous administration officials, media personnel and various think-tanks. UNIS, commitment to the concerns of the Ukrainian American community have been exhibited with significant impact. Its successes would not have been possible without the support of this fund-raising event and previous ones like it.

Annual benefits have been held in Chicago's Ukrainian community for the past 25 years, with this year's event being held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center. During his welcoming remarks, Julian E. Kulas, member of the Chicago Friends of UNIS Fund-Raising Committee, welcomed everyone and gave a brief overview of UNIS' history and its charter as well as its important accomplishments on behalf of the Ukrainian American community.

Mr. Kulas introduced this year's guest speaker, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Green Miller as not only the longest tenured U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (1993-1998), but as a staunch supporter of Ukraine and its quest for achieving the status of a truly democratic country.

Ambassador Miller has proven himself to be exceptionally well informed about events in Ukraine and the tense processes that the country is currently undergoing in the political, economic and social spheres, as well as about the level of economic reform and the democratization of Ukrainian society. Ambassador Miller reflected on the situation in Ukraine from the perspective of a former U.S. ambassador to that country, as well as a current professional observer. The ambassador exhibited an extremely positive attitude toward Ukraine in his presentation and during the question-answer period.

Also present at this event was UNIS Director Michael Sawkiw Jr., who also serves as president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA). During his presentation, Mr. Sawkiw informed the guests of all the past and current projects of UNIS. He noted that one of UNIS' most important current activities is its annual information sharing with Congress about the benefits of the United States providing much-needed foreign aid to Ukraine. Mr. Sawkiw reported on this past year's presentations before various Senate and House committees on behalf of numerous Ukrainian issues. UNIS' most important activities are its timely reactions to events that affect Ukraine, and which need to be addressed by the Ukrainian American community.

Currently, one of the most important issues for UNIS is the building of a monument to the victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide in our nation's capital, Washington. Although a holocaust museum currently exists in Washington, this museum does not present all crimes against humanity against other nationalities. UNIS, efforts in connection with this proposed monument will be seen by the world as an acknowledgment of the horrific, inhumane crimes perpetrated by the Communists against Ukraine and its people. Erection of the monument is planned during the 75th anniversary of this Ukrainian national tragedy. After Mr. Sawkiw provided detailed information about this proposed project, guests were encouraged to engage in a dialogue.

The benefit event raised over $63,200 in contributions to support the mission of UNIS. This sum included $17,300 from the Heritage Foundation of 1st Security Federal Savings Bank and $12,300 from Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union.

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