We are excited to share with you our series Razom Says Dyakuyu. “Dyakuyu” means “thank you” in Ukrainian. Our work supporting Ukraine and getting humanitarian aid on the ground where it is needed most, would not be possible without the generous donations made by donors. With this series, we are highlighting some of the amazing donors and unique fundraisers that have supported Razom.
Theater has always been an important tool during dark times and today it acts as a creative outlet and a way to help Ukraine since russia’s brutal, full-scale invasion in February.
Razom is grateful to have become a beneficiary of Shakespeare with Benefits, a theater company of professional actors who perform a “bard-based variety show” and raise funds for various charitable organizations working towards the betterment of our shared society.
“As we watched the horror of Putin’s illegal and immoral war on Ukraine unfold, everyone desperately wanted to help,” said Kate Konigisor, founder and director of Shakespeare with Benefits. “So, as actors we did what we do best and mobilized our theater company to perform our show in order to raise more funds than any of us could have individually.”
On Tuesday, May 10, the actors performed in front of a packed house at the West End Theater in the historic Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew – a space that gives non-profit professional theater groups a platform. Viewers were captivated by the witty performances of well-known and lesser-known plays of the Bard of Avon. Two Razom representatives spoke with those in attendance about the work our volunteers do to help people on the ground in Ukraine.
In addition to staging the performance, the team of Shakespeare with Benefits actors organized an online GoFundMe campaign and put together a set of prizes to be raffled off. As a result, close to $14,000 was collected and transferred to Razom’s Emergency Response project.
“Razom for Ukraine was the perfect beneficiary because of the vital work they are doing in Ukraine, getting medical supplies where needed and so much more,” Konigisor said.
Razom and all the people who we’ve been able to support on the ground in Ukraine during the war say “dyakuyu” to Shakespeare with Benefits for their creativity and support!
