The ninth annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival brought a record number of guests to the Soyuzivka Heritage Center for three days of celebrations of the beautiful and unique Ukrainian culture via song, music, dance, folk art and crafts, and, of course, food. Ukraine’s history and current developments in our ancestral homeland were spotlighted at the concurrent film festival.
It is notable that this was the first festival to be held at Soyuzivka since its ownership was transferred early this year to the Ukrainian National Foundation Inc. (UNF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1992 as the charitable arm of the Ukrainian National Association. With its transfer to the UNF, Soyuzivka gained charitable status, which means that donations for its worthwhile programs geared toward preserving and promoting the Ukrainian cultural heritage here in the United States are tax-deductible.
It was also a festival for a cause. Indeed, the 2015 Ukrainian Cultural Festival’s theme was “Solidarity with Ukraine.” To that end, the UNF held a fund-raising gala on Friday night of the festival to benefit the International Alliance for Fraternal Assistance (IAFA), specifically its project to establish a modern prosthetics and rehabilitation center to help Ukraine’s wounded warriors. The fund for the rehab center is dedicated to the memory of Markian Paslawsky (known to his comrades in arms as “Franko”), a Ukrainian American graduate of West Point who was killed in action in Ukraine on August 19, 2014, during the fierce battle for Ilovaisk.
One of the founders of the IAFA, Viktoriia Voronovych, told The Weekly, “Current rehabilitation practices in Ukraine are outdated and inadequate. Our wounded Ukrainian heroes deserve proper longer-term rehabilitation and care for an opportunity to return to a full and active life. This project will help make that happen.” In support of this important mission, the Ukrainian National Foundation has partnered with the IAFA. The Kyiv-based International Alliance for Fraternal Assistance, we would like to remind readers, was recently recognized by the Ukrainian Association of Charity Givers as the best local charitable NGO in Ukraine; the organization received an award that was presented by Ukraine’s First Lady Maryna Poroshenko. (See The Weekly, March 26.)
The benefit reception and concert held under the stars at Soyuzivka featured special guest stars from Ukraine – artists who support Ukraine with every fiber of their being – in memorable and emotional performances in an intimate setting. Also at the gala on the Lviv lawn, representatives of the UNF and IAFA spoke of the Paslawsky fund’s commendable goals.
Later, commenting on the success of the benefit, Ms. Voronovych noted, “The response to this initiative exceeded our expectations. It was a great evening and a nice tribute to those combatants sacrificing themselves for Ukraine.” Attendees also spoke with The Weekly about the evening, praising the evening’s atmosphere and heartfelt appearances in support of a great cause. Many of them made additional substantial donations as a result.
Organizers tell us that about $30,000 was raised that evening, but donations are still coming in. You can join those helping the cause by sending in your donations. Checks should be made payable to the Ukrainian National Foundation, with the notation “IAFA Fund,” and sent to: Ukrainian National Foundation, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Ukraine’s wounded warriors need, and deserve, our assistance.