Irondequoit Rotary establishes Orphan Scholarship Project in Poltava (07/20/03)

Irondequoit Rotary establishes Orphan Scholarship Project in Poltava

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Over 260 residents of Irondequoit and greater Rochester, N.Y., attended the first annual Irondequoit Rotary International Charity event at St. Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church hall to raise funds for a joint five-year Orphan Scholarship Project with the Rotary Club of Poltava.

The May event's international theme featured food, music and entertainment of Ukraine, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Ireland and Africa. Participating in the event were the Kobzari String Ensemble, the Yevshan dance ensemble, Turkish musician Emre Yilmaz, Kate McCurdy of Allendale-Columbia School, the Zwei Nachbarn German singers, the Boland School of Irish Dance and the Eastridge Middle School Stepdance team. Taras Denysenko and Wendy Mercier rounded out the entertainment with an energetic Latin dance exhibition.

Music for everyone's dancing pleasure was provided by the New Dimensions dance band under the leadership of Walter Sukhenko. A delicious international buffet was prepared by Chef Rene Kuilman of the Rochester Yacht Club. Serving as master of ceremonies was long-time Ukrainian community activist Wasyl Kornylo.

The event raised over $6,500 for the joint scholarship project. Irondequoit Rotary's International Director Tamara Denysenko, Co-Chair Therese Corrigan-Bastuk, Rotary President Bob Scheidt and other club members worked diligently to ensure that the benefit was not only a successful fund-raiser but also a special social event that brought together various segments of the community in the town of Irondequoit.

With Poltava Rotary Club members' financial support and in-kind contributions, President Alla Ruban chose two students from the Krupskaya orphanage boarding school. Marina Julay and Halyna Basich will receive funds for food, clothing, lodging, preparation for entrance exams, textbooks, consultation with specialists, medical services, insurance and daily incidentals over a five-year period.

The Irondequoit Rotary Club was founded in 1967. The club helps improve the quality of life in Irondequoit by supporting Camp Eastman, the Sunset House, the DARE program, and its main charity, Camp Haccamo, where handicapped children enjoy a two-week vacation at no cost to their families. The club was instrumental in establishing a playground and annually provides holiday parties for residents at local nursing homes and senior living centers.

The Poltava Rotary Club was formed in 1997, and its first president was Oleksander Udovichenko. The club's activities are primarily focused on helping the children and youth of Poltava.

Since its inception the club has completed a three-year project in cooperation with German and French Rotary clubs to provide insulin for diabetic children in Poltava. It helped several Poltava schools implement a vocational training program, provided them with textbooks and a photo copier, and awarded scholarships for talented young musicians. In 2003 the Poltava club began a program to help children sick with tuberculosis.

With the help of other Rotary clubs in Ukraine, Poland, Germany, France and now the United States the Poltava Club is living up to the Rotary motto "service above self."

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