KYIV – The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) on June 14 announced the successful grant recipients from the Defenders of Ukraine Fund. The projects were selected based upon their efficacy to assist war veterans who bravely defend their country against Russia’s ongoing military aggression in Ukraine.
A total of $100,000 will be distributed among four projects, to be used for the rehabilitation and benefit of Ukraine’s wounded soldiers and veterans. The successful recipients are:
• Ukrainian Social Academy for “Boots to Business” entrepreneurship training program for veterans;
• Donbas ATO Veterans Union, Center Poruch for psychological support of veterans and their families;
• Veterans House for ATO veterans providing temporary shelter and rehabilitation programs; and
• Pobratymy and Dopomoha Ukraini, “Training in Overcoming Combat Shock Trauma and Preventing PTSD for Veterans.”
More than 80 applications were received and reviewed by an independent panel of jurors and advisors representing donors, medical professionals, community leaders and war veterans. They were focused on projects that will be most beneficial for Ukraine’s wounded soldiers and veterans.
The fund was established thanks to the generous support of donors and participants in the UCC’s gala reception in honor of Ukraine’s Invictus Team, which was attended by Team Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, dozens of ministers and other dignitaries from Canada and Ukraine, and several hundred guests at the Liberty Grand in Toronto on September 22, 2017.
“Thanks to the generous support of donors, participants and volunteers during the gala reception for Invictus Team Ukraine, the UCC and CUF will be able to support projects that provide meaningful and lasting benefit to Ukraine’s wounded soldiers and veterans,” stated Mr. Grod. “As Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine, we have a duty to support the defenders of Ukraine. The UCC is honored to help these brave men and women, who are an inspiration to us all.”
“The Defenders of Ukraine Fund will provide meaningful support to vital projects that are assisting wounded warriors in Ukraine,” stated Victor Hetmanczuk, president of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. “We were pleased to see so many applications from organizations doing excellent work in support of Ukraine’s brave war veterans.”