UNA gift-giving project to benefit Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (11/21/04)

UNA gift-giving project to benefit Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The Ukrainian National Association has announced a new joint project with another organization that serves the Ukrainian community, the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund. Representatives of the two organizations met on November 3 at the UNA Corporate Headquarters in Parsippany, N.J., to ratify the agreement, launching a nationwide campaign to sign up new members who would designate CCRF as a beneficiary of their life insurance policy.

"For 110 years, the Ukrainian National Association has worked for the benefit of the Ukrainian community throughout North America and around the world," said UNA's National Organizer Oksana Trytjak. "With this in mind, the UNA has begun a program of gift-giving to various organizations through our UNA insurance gift giving program." Recently, the UNA designed a similar charitable program to support the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Ukraine's elite national university.

"It is our pleasure to work with the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund for the ultimate benefit of Ukrainian children and for the survivors of the worst nuclear disaster in history, the explosion and fire in Chornobyl, Ukraine," said Mrs. Trytjak.

This program was initiated by Mrs. Trytjak with the approval of the UNA executives, President Stefan Kaczaraj, Treasurer Roma Lisovich and National Secretary Christine Kozak, and the president of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky. The UNA Gift-Giving Program was to be officially launched at CCRF's National Convention on November 20 as part of a gala fund-raising banquet celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Fund's first medical shipment to Ukraine.

Speaking for CCRF, Executive Director Alexander Kuzma stated, "The Ukrainian American community has been very generous in its support of our mission. The insurance policies offered by the UNA offer another creative opportunity for concerned citizens to support CCRF without straining their budget, and support the UNA at the same time."

CCRF is an award-winning charity based in New Jersey that has delivered more than $51 million worth of medical technology, training and hospital supplies to hospitals and orphanages in 14 oblasts of Ukraine. Earlier this year, the fund was hailed by the Kyiv Post as one of the most effective charities serving Ukraine. The fund has also received recognition from Time Magazine, The New York Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and other major publications for its pioneering work in reducing infant mortality and in developing model hospital programs. Currently the fund is developing another model neonatal intensive care unit in Chernihiv and an HIV testing laboratory in Lviv to help prevent the mother-to-child transmission of the AIDS virus.

"This can become an important source of new funding in improving the quality of care in Ukrainian hospitals and orphanages," said Dr. Matkiwsky, co-founder and president of CCRF. "There are many positives to this joint project: First, CCRF and our hospitals will receive more revenues to buy new equipment and essential supplies. Second, the donor who designates CCRF as a beneficiary of his or her insurance policy will be able to fulfill his philanthropic desire of donating a larger sum to a charity of his choice. Third, the donor will be able to deduct his yearly insurance premium from his income tax since CCRF is a non-profit organization. Last but not least, the UNA will benefit from increases in its membership, and will be able to strengthen its scholarship programs, the Soyuzivka resort and other popular goals."

"This is a perfect example of two important Ukrainian organizations working for the benefit of the Ukrainian community, both in the U.S. and in Ukraine," said UNA President Kaczaraj. "All are needy, all are deserving and all are worthy of your help. We are working together for the benefit of the community as a whole."

For further information regarding this Gift-Giving Project, readers may contact Mrs. Trytjak at the UNA, (973) 292-9800, ext. 3071, or e-mail her at [email protected]. Readers may also contact Alex Kuzma at CCRF at (860) 652-0458 or [email protected].

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