Faces of Freedom: Uniting for Ukraine

Published: August 31, 2023   

This year to honor the Ukrainian Independence Day on August 24th, Razom has launched a celebration of the incredible freedom fighters within our community. From dedicated delivery drivers in Ukraine to passionate volunteers in New York, behind every face is an inspiring story about freedom which we are excited to share and encourage you to create your own.

Meet the Razom Ukraine Response Initiative team! They assist externally displaced Ukrainians in the New York area with everything they need to gain a sense of normalcy after being forced to flee Ukraine because of russia’s full scale invasion. They provide vital support, including legal consultations, clothing and food distributions, and medical services, such as flu vaccines. And they do all that with a big smile! It takes a lot of care to help the displaced Ukrainians – many of them fled their homes in places like Mariupol and Kharkiv with just a backpack and came to New York, where they know no one and are often faced with challenges such as health problems and difficulty finding a job to provide for their families. But the Ukraine Response Initiative doesn’t only provide material help. They also provide a much-needed sense of community. Many of the recipients of the Initiative’s aid also become volunteers to help other Ukrainians. Because together – we are Ukraine.

We’re honored to feature Texas Congressman and Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Michael McCaul, among our Faces Of Freedom. He emphasizes the importance of supporting Ukraine: “Supporting Ukraine and standing up to unprovoked aggression that violates sovereignty and territorial integrity is in the U.S. and free world’s interest, especially with China closely watching the world’s response to Russia’s full-scale invasion. Razom is critical in keeping up this support by educating the American people on why a victory for Ukraine is imperative.”

We thank Mr. McCaul for the kind words and for all his support of Ukraine! We thank ALL of Congress for its unwavering and crucial support of Ukraine not only over the last year and a half, but the last 32+ years. It’s amazing to walk down the halls of Congress, as the Razom Advocacy team often does, and see so many signs of support for Ukraine – from Ukrainian flags to “We stand with Ukraine” posters.

The day before Ukrainian Independence Day, Razom’s team presented the results of the Razom Heroes program at a press conference in Kyiv. We were thrilled to share that $45 million worth of aid was provided to Ukraine’s defenders through this project. Razom has delivered over 15,000 radios right into the hands of the defenders and helped evacuate over 1,300 injured soldiers from the frontlines on medical vehicles. Razom has also delivered hundreds of tons of tactical medicine, medical equipment and medicine, thousands of drones, walkie-talkies, radios, generators, portable charging stations and other supplies to Ukrainian defenders, emergency services, hospitals and clinics. To celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day and thank the brave defenders of Ukraine, the Razom Heroes team hosted an impactful meeting with many of the recipients of Razom’s aid from the frontlines. We were so happy to have so many of our partners and friends in one room!

In honor of Ukrainian Independence Day, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy held an award ceremony to recognize the “National Legends of Ukraine”. One such is Dr. Andriy Sirko, the head of the neurosurgery department at Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro. Aside from being a talented and skilled neurosurgeon, Razom is proud to call Dr. Sirko a partner in our Co-Pilot Project. Just recently, three American neurosurgeons travelled to Ukraine to support Dr. Sirko’s department through the Co-Pilot project. Additionally, Razom shipped 21 pallets of donated neurosurgery supplies to the frontline hospital. We are grateful to Dr. Sirko for his incredible work! We thank all the doctors, surgeons, nurses, medical workers and professionals working to bring Ukrainian victory closer every day!

Faces Of Freedom would not be full without one of our largest programs – Razom Relief and all its amazing partners. In 2022, Razom Relief team provided $5MM in grants to a network of 123 volunteer organizations in Ukraine that help local communities. The impact of this work is vast. Among other aid, these organizations distributed 221,458 food packages to people in need, evacuated 9,640 people, renovated 91 buildings including 11 shelters, and supported 18 shelters that provided 2,375 sleeping places. Surely, the people behind these organizations, some of which are pictured in here, are real Faces of Freedom. We asked a few of them what freedom meant to them. Read their responses and get inspired to continue working together for Ukraine.

Finally, we are excited to share a very special video with you – the video that marked the finale of our Faces Of Freedom campaign. As the Ukrainian community gathered for an Independence Walk (organized by Svitanok) starting at Washington Square Park (NYC) on the Ukrainian Independence Day, we set up a photo booth where we asked the participants what “freedom” meant to them. Their words are felt deep and touch our hearts.

Watch the video here

We thank the filmmaker Polina Buchak and photographer Irynka Hromotska for making this project come to life. You’re an incredible creative duo and we’re so happy to have you as part of our community.

We thank all of you, who are not mentioned here, but feel for Ukraine, support Ukraine, and do a lot to contribute to Ukraine’s freedom. YOU are, too, the faces of freedom. Thank you!

Donate to Support Ukraine

Thank You for Supporting Razom’s Kakhovka Dam Response

Published: June 30, 2023   

An update on our Kakhovka dam response and how you can continue to support our work addressing the devastating consequences of the catastrophe, and a plea to advocate for #UkraineInNATO in the run-up to the Vilnuius NATO Summit on July 11-12.  Get plugged in to our advocacy work to learn about what Ukraine needs, now, to win. 

Dear Friends of Razom,

Thank you so much for your generous outpouring of donations and support following the urgent appeal to help victims of the devastation caused by russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka dam on June 6th.  The consequences of this disaster — human suffering and ecological devastation — will likely be felt for years to come.

Very early on our team understood that to respond effectively, we needed to find long-term solutions.  That’s how within a couple of weeks since the disaster, 10 water purification systems are already being installed in settlements across Kherson and Dnipro regions where there is no more water supply.  This will provide drinking water for up to 36,000 people per day (more than 1 million per month).  Razom is also providing for the replacement materials needed to service the stations long-term and for the water quality to remain high.  We had worked effectively with WiseWater, an ingenious Ukrainian manufacturer who adapted these filtration systems with German parts for minimum human intervention and maximum efficiency and reliability, since May 2022 to help supply drinking water to Mykolaiv in the south and Konstantinivka in Donetsk region after russians bombed water pipelines there.  

Our emergency response in Kherson also included Razom Relief releasing grants to several grassroots organizations within our network to mobilize quickly to offer humanitarian aid, evacuations, and refugee support in areas north of the region.  Our partners Rescue Now, set up a base in Kherson that serves as a logistical hub for humanitarian aid for numerous NGOs and as a temporary shelter for evacuees.  With support from Razom, they purchased 5 five-seater boats, 8,500 liters of bottled drinking water, 41 water filters, 600 water disinfection tablets, 300 blankets, 30 tourniquets, 38 fishing suits, 6 Ecoflow charging stations and hundreds of liters of fuel for the buses that transport the humanitarian aid.  Meanwhile our partners, “Zakhyst” from Khmelnytskyi, are able to support up to 1,000 refugees with basic essentials and therapy in partnership with our “Razom With You” project. 

Razom is multifaceted support for Ukraine which means that Razom Advocacy has been hard at work mitigating the longer term consequences of this disaster and helping Ukraine prevent future russian-made catastrophes.  Over 2,000 advocates in our network across the US were mobilized to contact their Congressional representatives and ask for support for the resolution declaring Ukraine’s invasion as genocide (H.Res. 154 / S.Res. 72).  You can join that network here.  The team has also worked to connect Ukrainians deeply affected by the flood with major media outlets so that the stories of Ukrainians in the region are heard.  

You can find a deeper report of our Kakhovka Dam response here on our website. 

Donate to Razom

Our team at Razom Advocacy is laser focused on advocating for policy that will help Ukraine achieve swift victory. 
In the run-up to the Vilnius NATO Summit on July 11-12, we’re calling on the United States to join allies like France and the UK to invite Ukraine into NATO.  Ukraine, Europe’s best hope for lasting peace and security in Ukraine and Europe.  Join us on social media by posting about #UkraineInNATO – check out our thread and join us!
Want to be more involved?  Our team has launched a weekly series of talking points/legislative asks for nationwide advocacy efforts.  This document provides a list of critical legislation and messages about what Ukraine needs, now, to win.
Also our next Ukraine Action Summit will take place on October 22-24, 2023 so save the date and join us so that we can reach more of our elected representatives!  In April, our team and the American Coalition for Ukraine convened gathering over 300 constituents from 34 states to receive advocacy training and meet with their members of Congress to advocate for policies to help Ukraine.  Together, we reached 33% of US Congress.

Join our Advocacy Network

Over the past several weeks, various Razom team members have traveled to Ukraine, London, and Oslo to connect with and learn from civil society leaders, further strengthen our partnerships, and hear directly from people on the ground on priorities, efforts, and challenges surrounding the war.  We are lucky to work with such dedicated and inspired individuals, partners, and allies. 

It was an honor to participate in the Oslo Freedom Forum and share stories of resilience and blueprints for victory with the global community of activists present. Eva Kurilets, Razom’s Executive Director in Ukraine, spoke on a panel alongside Taiwanese legislator and metal band singer Freddy Lim, Syrian refugee and human rights activist Omar Alshogre, and Washington Post journalist Josh Rogin, highlighting the solidarity between Syrians, Ukrainians, and the Taiwanese in their fight against a network of violent, autocratic regimes.  It was spectacular to hear and see so much solidarity and support for Ukraine across so many different communities and struggles for freedom, human rights, and dignity and connect with like-minded and motivated civil society leaders from around the world.

A Razom-supported feature documentary Rule of Two Walls had its World Premiere at Tribeca 2023 with 4 sold out screenings, each attended by the filmmaking team as well as the artists that were featured in the documentary to make sure there is a strong Ukrainian representation at one of the largest international film festivals in New York City.  What’s more, this talented team walked away from the festival with a Special Jury Prize for Human Rights and Artistic Expression! 

Klondike will have its US theatrical release on August 4th, 2023 from Samuel Goldwyn Films! 

Razom proudly supported Klondike at its Sundance Premiere – and it is one of the most acclaimed titles from last year’s Sundance, where it picked up the top directing awards in its World Cinema Dramatic category.  Maryna Er Gorbach’s Klondike premiered just weeks before russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  Set in 2014, Ukraine’s Oscar entry for International Feature follows a pair of expectant parents living in eastern Ukraine near the frontlines of the Donbas war. After an international air-crash catastrophe elevates the tension enveloping them, pregnant Irka (Oxana Cherkashyna) refuses to be evacuated and leave her home, even as their village is captured by russian armed forces.

Razom is partnering with PBS to support the US theatrical release of an award-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol opening July 14th at the Film Forum in NYC.

February 2022: As russian troops advance on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, a small crew of Associated Press reporters are trapped amongst the besieged civilian population. 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL — winner of the 2023 Sundance Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary — is the unflinching visual chronicle of this harrowing ordeal.  Ukrainian war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov (he directs, shoots, and narrates) and colleagues are the only international correspondents left in the city, witnesses to the first sighting of a “Z” on a russian tank (a declaration of war), random shelling, the bombing of a maternity hospital, the digging of mass graves, and russia’s eventual encirclement of the city. Their images of war crimes would soon go viral, potently exposing russia’s monstrous lies that deny their targeting of Ukrainian civilians, and earning the AP team two 2023 Pulitzer Prizes: for Public Service Journalism and Breaking News Photography.

You can get your tickets here. 

To celebrate Crimean Tatar Flag Day and the Crimean Tatar Muslim holiday of Kurban Bayram, you’re invited to join us tomorrow, Sat July 1st at the Ukrainian National Home to celebrate Crimean Tatar culture through music, dance, and food.  Do not miss this opportunity to learn more about the indigenous people of Ukraine!  More info and here. 

If you’re in the Berkshires July 1st or 2nd, then don’t miss this event!

With an immersive installation that will transform the theater into an ancient Ukrainian forest, this production centers around a classic Ukrainian art film of the same name.  It pushes the boundaries of traditional musical performance while exploring what a group of talented, multicultural musicians have created, using traditional Ukrainian folk music as source material, and sharing immigration and refugee stories.
Details & tickets here.

PROBASS ∆ HARDI– Ukraine’s top trending electronic band is launching its first tour in the US!
Their hit songs such as “Good Evening, Where Are You From? (Good Evening, We Are From Ukraine)” and others have been streamed over 80 million times.
Get your tickets here before they sell out!

Thank you so much for reading this newsletter (and forwarding it on!), for keeping up to date with Razom, and for your support of Ukraine.  We’re so glad you’re here.

Stay razom.

What we’ve been able to accomplish towards winter preparedness so far

Published: December 16, 2022   

The continuous targeting of Ukrainian energy infrastructure since the beginning of October has highlighted that energy supply isn’t just a winter issue, but a continuous wartime issue that has ripple effects across every aspect of life in Ukraine.  We look at our team, our volunteers, our working partners, and people in Ukraine persevering during the darkest and harshest period since the full-scale invasion, and we want to do more as soon as possible.  This week, updates on how we’ve been able to respond thus far.

Dear Razom community,

In the span of only 2.5 months, over 9,000 of you made a donation to Razom to make it possible for us to do everything in our power to get Ukraine closer to victory.  These days it’s meant delivering humanitarian aid that can save lives during a cold winter and constant electricity outages.  Today we want to report on that work as it impacts the work of defenders and first-responders, hospitals, and local civil society groups providing basic aid to internally displaced people in Ukraine.

We have already supplied the majority of first responder units on the frontlines, at least once.  Between now and October, we have delivered 400 wood burning portable stoves, 7,500 freeze dried meals, and over 2,500 pieces of warm tactical clothing to our Ukrainian defenders and first responders.  This is on top of our regular deliveries of IFAKs and communications equipment.

Most important during this time period have been our deliveries of 161 generators and 112 Ecoflow or Bluetti portable power stations to the frontlines.  Having electricity means having connectivity, and in war time, accessing and disseminating information can be the difference between life and death.  All of this aid has so far reached Bahmut, Kharkiv, and Kherson only — regions with the most brutal and consistent violence and destruction.

Since the first days of the invasion, Razom has been developing its own ERP system, enterprise resource planning software called Ozero to ensure effective accounting of the humanitarian aid we procure, ship and deliver between our warehouses and the final destination of aid in the hands of battalions, first responder units, and hospitals across Ukraine.  Our team of programmers and logistics managers have been refining the software so that today Ozero is used by six other organizations to track their aid in Ukraine!  In fact, if you’re an organization working to distribute aid on the ground, feel free to reach out to us to learn about how you can gain access to our Razom-made software.

The Razom Health team (formerly referred to as the Hospitals Team) won a $250,000 grant from Americares to supply generators to hospitals.  It’s one of the biggest grants we’ve received to date!

Hospital generators are differentiated by their much higher power capacity — they can’t power up an entire facility, but they can support individual units like ICUs and operating rooms.  With this grant, we’ve purchased enough to be able to supply 11 hospitals in Ukraine with reserve generators that provide between 20-80kW of power, supporting specific departments within the hospital.  These hospitals are in Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Odesa regions, places that are dealing with high inflow of patients and where the risks of power disruptions and difficulties of restoring electricity supply are the greatest.  

In an aim to support Ukraine’s institutions and local economy, the Razom Health team utilized an open source government e-tender system, ProZorro, to ensure maximum transparently in our purchasing process.  The bid that won out includes Turkish manufacturers and Ukrainian distributors.  ProZorro was implemented in 2016 and has since been globally recognized as one of the most innovative public procurement systems delivering government services in a stakeholder-focused, transparent, effective, fair and low-cost way.

We can’t wait to share with you photos and videos of those generators in the right hands as soon as they get delivered and installed!

Donate Now

Last but not least, the Razom Grants team has already delivered 90 generators that will be distributed by our grantees to power places (many in Kharkiv) where Ukrainians can gather to charge their devices and get warm.  Some of these places are shelters or heating zones over 3,200 sq ft in size, and across Ukraine they’re referred to as “Points of Invincibility.”   Razom has worked to support over 100 different NGOs in Ukraine to uplift the extremely active civil society groups that organized after the invasion to help people in need.  Below are a few of the groups we’re supporting in this project:

  • Stezhka Dodomu (The Way Home) runs a shelter for victims of domestic violence in the Odessa region.  When the full scale invasion broke out, they were extremely active in helping IDPs while continuing to run their shelter, which now also includes low-income families, children who were forced to leave their homes because of the war, and senior citizens. 
  • Volonterska UA a consistent Razom Grantee based out of Kharkiv that has identified over 14 “Points of Invincibility,” heating spots across deoccupied areas in the region.   
  • A Kindergarten turned shelter whose main mechanism of preparing food is via induction stove, requiring electricity to cook.
  • Korsakiv Center of Contemporary Ukrainian Art turned shelter in Lutsk that offers frequent art, craft, yoga, breathing, dancing, and performing arts workshops for kids and adults.  It also operates next to Adrenalin City, a mall in Lutsk that’s been converted into a massive shelter. 

There are a number of amazing projects you can support that will bring you closer with Ukrainian culture, art, and history.  Below is a roundup of some of those events and fundraising opportunities.  Moving forward, you’ll also be able to catch the most up to date schedule of events and creative fundraising campaigns on our website here.

In Washinton, D.C.:

  • On Friday, December 16, 8PM, the Music Director Cynthia Woods and the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra present Holiday Pops 2022 at the Robbins Memorial Town Hall in Arlington, VA.  A festive, glamorous night out with holiday favorites including Sleigh Ride and the world premiere of Scrooge: A Christmas Overture by composer Donald Fraser—featuring Vira Slywotzky, soprano.  Get your tickets here!

In New York:

  • On Friday, January 20, 8-10PM Plast Chornomovtsi and Chornomorski Khvyli present Newark Deb Pub Night with an open bar at Lys Mykyta in NYC.  You can get your tickets on presale or at the door.  More info here (all proceeds go to Razom!).  
  • Between now and January 19, 81 Leonard Gallery is pleased to present PAUSE: Lucky Charms, a solo exhibition of recent paintings by Ukrainian-American artist Christina Saj.  The exhibitionexplores the perception of magic implicit in talismans and symbols as well as the ontological nature of spirituality.  The artwork is also available for purchase online.  40% of proceeds from the exhibit will be donated to Razom!   
  • On Saturday, February 4, 8PM at Opera America in NYC, contralto Vira Slywotzky and pianist & composer Dina Pruzhansky present This American Life, a performance of classical, popular, and folk songs from the US and Ukraine.  Email virasly@razomforukraine.org to reserve seats.
    • You can catch the performance in New Haven, CT on Sunday, January 22 at 5PM at Bethesda Lutheran Church, and in Hudson, NY on Friday, February 10 at 7PM too at Hudson Hall! 

In Massachusetts:

In Florida:

  • Introducing to the world: KOLO, an unparalleled immersive visual experience and theatrical dance show celebrating the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Ukraine!  The first of its kind, KOLO is the brainchild of award-winning, Ukrainian-bred competitive ballroom dancers and partners, Iaroslav and Liliia Bieliei, both natives of Kyiv who now call Los Angeles home.  The show is launching its North American tour in Florida:

Online:

  • Stream a historic performance of the National Ballet of Ukraine from Orlando, FL at the prestigious Steinmetz Hall on August 27, 2022, and donate to help raise humanitarian aid for Ukrainian children and families.  The National Ballet of Ukraine is considered one of the top ranked ballet companies in the world.  Cozy up with your friends and loved ones and watch a special performance that affirms the power of art and beauty over tyranny and destruction.
  • Awethentic Gallery’s latest charity campaign, Prints for Ukraine, features a variety of artworks from award-winning journalists and photographers across the world, including Mykhaylo Palinchak who served as the official photographer of the President of Ukraine; Emmy-nominated journalist Laurel Chor and renowned documentary photographer, Natalie Keyssar.  All artworks are $150 and 100% of net proceeds of prints go directly to our artists and critical humanitarian war relief charities Razom and World Central Kitchen.  

Globally: 

  • Started by a Ukrainian yoga teacher, Yoga4Ukraine aims to bring together 1,000 yoga teachers all around the world that each donate ONE yoga class!  Any style, any format, anywhere, anytime. Visit  www.yoga4ukraine.com  to officially become a part of the Yoga4Ukraine project or find a class near you, and get your Yoga4Ukraine t-shirt to support the initiative today.  All donations will benefit United24 and Razom.  

Thank you so much for reading this newsletter, sharing it, generously donating to our projects, and for showing your support for Ukraine.  We are immensely grateful.

Stay razom.

P.S. – This time of year a lot of companies are offering matching options for your donations throughout the year.  Make sure to take advantage of that!  If you have any questions, please reach out to donations@razomforukraine.org.  

Donate to Razom

Giving Tuesday to Support Ukraine

Published: November 29, 2022   

Dear Friend of Razom,

Whether you are new to us, or are a long-time supporter, you are a vital part of our work.  Your generous contributions since the full-scale attack on Ukraine 280 days ago, have allowed us to save lives by providing critical medical and humanitarian aid, expanding the scope of our activities, and amplifying the voices of Ukrainians around the globe.  We are immensely grateful for your donations (and volunteerism) that have made this work possible at scale.  

What has your support resulted in? 

We’ve shipped and distributed over $35 million of medical materials to Ukraine, provided tens of thousands of meals and groceries to the internally displaced, and evacuated critically ill patients and their families.  We organized over 40 rallies in NYC alone, and in the fall, we helped organize the Ukraine Action Summit, a fly-in event in Washington, D.C. where 300 constituents met with 176 Congressional offices. 

And that’s not everything.  Razom is now more determined than ever to keep people connected to Ukraine and connected in Ukraine to meet new needs and solve challenges as they arise.

As Ukraine settles into a dark and cold winter and its civilian infrastructure is being pummeled by missiles at a rate not yet seen since the start of the invasion, the urgency of these times keeps our purpose sharp.  So on this #GivingTuesday, we ask that you donate to our general fund to help us urgently deliver generators, power-banks, and wood-burning stoves to the frontlines, hospitals, and civilian warming stations.  

Help us keep Ukrainians alive and connected to each other by donating to provide additional portable heat and power sources.

Donate to winter-preparedness

During this holiday season, we also invite you to consider donating to two other special projects from Razom that offer support and purpose for the children of Ukraine.  The first is an organized trip to New York City for 55 choir children from Kyiv to perform at Carnegie Hall as part of the Notes From Ukraine concert.  The historic event on December 4th will benefit the United 24 government fundraising platform to reconstruct public services in Ukraine.  As part of their trip, they will advocate for Ukraine through song and their personal stories, via scheduled interviews for national news outlets and opportunities to meet with diplomats from many nations.  As Ukraine’s future, these children have a unique opportunity to take part in cultural diplomacy for Ukraine, all while practicing for their performance and taking in the sights of NYC.  A $250 donation will cover one child’s day in New York.  You can donate here or on facebook.

The second project is the Razom Toy Drive, one of our earliest (started in May 2014) that provides assistance to orphaned children in Ukraine, whose father or mother, or in some cases both, died defending Ukraine by sending school essentials, birthday and holiday presents, and other humanitarian assistance their way.  Right now, we are raising money to gift the children portable power banks with LED lights as many of them currently live without electricity and are regularly forced to hide in dark bomb shelters and basements.  You can donate here or on facebook.  

We are Ukraine: resilient, determined, and motivated.  It is our privilege to fight and rise together every day.  Thank you for your help in this valiant struggle, and let’s continue to work RAZOM (together) for Ukraine! 

Donate to winter-preparedness
Donate to the choir children
Donate to Razom Toy Drive

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – to Organizers and Photographers of the Charity Photo Exhibition Mariupol

Published: November 13, 2022   

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.

Razom is deeply grateful to Yara Arts for organizing “Mariupol,” an exceptional exhibition of award-winning photographs and video from the first days Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. And shout-out to the artists behind camera lenses – Evgeniy Maloletka and Mstyslav Chernov from Associated Press! It is thanks to their work that the world learned about the truth of what was happening in Mariupol.

***

“There were no funerals. No memorials. No public gatherings to mourn those killed by russia’s relentless attacks on the port city of Mariupol that became a symbol of Ukraine’s ferocious resistance. The mass grave trenches told the story of a city under siege.

The world would have seen none of this, would have seen next to nothing at all from Mariupol as a city under siege, if it wasn’t for Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka, the Associated Press team who race into the city when the invasion began and stayed long after it had become one of the most dangerous places on Earth. For more than two weeks, they were the only international media in the city, and the only journalists able to transmit video and still photos to the outside world.

According to Chernov, on 11 March they were taking photos in a hospital in Mariupol when they were taken out of the city with the assistance of Ukrainian soldiers. They managed to escape from Mariupol unharmed. The documented devastation in Mariupol was described in Chernov’s AP article “20 Days in Mariupol: The Team that Documented the City’s Agony” (March 22, 2022, AP). Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka and Vasilisa Stepanenko received the Knight International Journalism Award for their work in Mariupol from the International Center for Journalists.

Moscow hated their work. The Russian embassy in London tweeted images of AP photos with the word “Fake” over them in red text. A top Russian diplomat held up copies of photos from the maternity hospital at a U.N. Safety Council meeting, insisting they were phony. But their photographs and the people who they met speak to what happened in Mariupol”.

***

On Sunday, November 20 at 5:00 PM Howl! Arts will host an event “Music and Spoken Word for “Mariupol” created by Yara Arts Group with poet Bob Holman, bandura master Julian Kytasty, Yara Artists and Daria Kolomiec. All events are free. Donations will go to Razom for Ukraine.

MARIUPOL – the exhibition runs from November 9 to 20, Wednesday to Sunday 11 to 6 Howl! Arts/ Howl! Archive (HA/HA)
250 Bowery, 2nd floor, New York City www.howlarts.org 212-500-6804

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – To The Organizers And Participants of Ukraine Ballet Benefit In Orlando

Published: November 6, 2022   

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.

The power of fundraising lies in the power of communities. When Vadim Fedotov, a retired principal dancer of the Taras Shevchenko National Opera House of Ukraine and a resident of Florida, shared his vision of bringing the National Ballet to Orlando with his friend Marc McMurrin of the Ginsburg Family Foundation, a plan was born. Having spent significant time in Ukraine and come to call it his second home, Marc loved the idea of bringing the abundant Ukrainian culture to Orlando, his native place. 

After four months of careful planning, on August 27, the prestigious Steinmetz Hall welcomed thousands of Orlando residents and guests from out of state for a performance of the National Ballet of Ukraine. The evening yielded $800,000 raised for humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Razom is grateful to be one of the beneficiaries of this incredible effort by the Orlando community.

“We stand with the Ukrainian people and are honored to have Razom as one of the beneficiaries for this event raising funds and bringing awareness for a more prosperous and victorious Ukraine” – Alan H. Ginsburg

Highlighting Ukrainian culture, the program featured excerpts from some of the most breathtaking classical ballets. You can learn more about the project and watch the entire performance at https://ukraineballetbenefit.com/.

The evening also honored and paid tribute to Vadim Fedotov who had passed untimely several months prior to the Benefit concert — a concert he had envisioned. Maestro Fedotov choreographed two of the pieces in the program: Myroslav Skoryk’s “Melody” and “Mariupol” set to the music by Mozart. The latter featured striking images of destroyed Mariupol buildings. The dancers of the National Ballet that transformed the viewer included the incomparable Olena Filipieva. Maestro Sergii Golubnychyi conducted the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra presenting to the attendees Ukrainian composers among the more traditional ballet fare.  

As the guests entered the building, the Bach Festival Choir conducted by Viktoriia Konchakovskaya sang a selection of Ukrainian songs. The Bach Festival Choir also performed American/Ukrainian national anthems and the Prayer for Ukraine later in the program. Guests were asked to wear Ukrainian National colors, and sunflowers decorated the reception hall. 

The entire cost of the performance was underwritten by presenting sponsors: Ginsburg Family Foundation, Nemours Children’s Health, Universal Orlando, Dr. Phillips Center, Haddock Family Foundation, Rosen Hotels & Resorts and Kathy Morgan & Marty Rubin, which enabled 100% of all ticket sales, sponsorships, as well as proceeds from Silent and Live Auctions to go to causes benefiting Ukraine.

Razom would also like to thank our partners, Ukraine Veteran Fund, and Svitlana Kashenets for suggesting Razom as a beneficiary of the concert.

Our 30th Newsletter in 8 Months!

Published: October 28, 2022   

Dear Razom Community,

Thanks to you and the friends and family you shared our fundraiser with, we’ve raised over $130,000 towards the Power Up Ukraine initiative (on facebook or on Evergreen) as part of our Emergency Response Project in just two weeks.  Of course there’s also our general fund here that you can contribute to, where we continue to prioritize our Emergency Response Project that includes delivering life-saving aid and advocating for Ukraine.  But as the days get colder, electricity and water more intermittent, air raid sirens and missiles strikes far from the frontlines become common, and warcrimes accumulate, it’s never been more important for you to continue to maintain your support and share how others can help.  The more we all do this, the faster Ukraine will win and this war will end. 

There are so many of you who rally around targeted fundraisers you start yourselves (a new installment of Razom Says Dyakuyu (thank you) blog posts below!) that together our reach can become exponential.  We hope that you can forward these newsletters on so that your community can grasp the impact a simple action of theirs can have.  

This week’s updates start with our work on aid focused on winter preparedness:

  • We have distributed 24 generators in 2 weeks to Ukrainian defenders and first responders, with many still making their way to Ukraine. 
  • Thanks to the Toronto Police Service and Allied Universal Canada, our Canada-based procurement team was able to ship 1,500 three-season jackets to Ukraine.
  • So many of you contributed towards buying urgent supplies off of our Amazon Wishlist that we were able to ship 3 pallets worth of thermal underwear and socks, waterproof winter gloves, sleeping bags, power banks and more, in less than three weeks!  Keep up the good work and remember, when you go to check out, just click “Razom’s Gift Registry Address” underneath the “Other Addresses” section when choosing shipping. 

Razom’s in-kind donations team continues to work with individual medical professionals in the U.S. and major global health and disaster relief organizations to secure, ship, and distribute (with the help of our Ukraine-based partners Zdorovi and Patients of Ukraine) the most in-need hospital supplies and medicines across Ukraine: 

  • In partnership with MedShare (a continued and trusted partner since the start of the full-scale invasion) and a generous donor, three OR surgical tables were delivered to Irpin, Kharkiv and Dnipro.  These OR tables will enable specialized surgeries for Ukrainians in need. 
  • Thanks to a generous donation from the Afya Foundation, Razom was able to ship durable medical equipment (DME) and medical supplies to our partner Rescue Now that further distributed the wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and walkers to the elderly and Ukrainians with disabilities in the Kharkiv region.  These donations enabled those in need to regain their mobility and dignity. 
  • Razom and Zdorovi were able to deliver another 14 iQ+ devices to Ukraine last week.  These portable ultrasounds are vital in providing diagnostic evaluation during emergency situations, because they can be used for numerous POCUS (Point of Care UltraSound) procedures.  
  • DUKAL, with special support from the company’s President, Gerry LoDuca, donated 24 pallets worth of medical gauze for hospitals in Ukraine.  Thanks to a partnership with Airlink the shipping was subsidized.  More of these fundamental supplies are en route to Ukraine now!  

From September 16-22, the first mission of plastic and reconstructive surgeons “Face to Face — Ukrainian Medical Mission” took place. This project was created in cooperation with the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), Razom for Ukraine and the medical platform INgenius.  The mission completed 34 consultations and 31 operative interventions at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital.  This video shares the incredible work of those who doctors and nurses who volunteered for the mission, and the stories of the people’s lives that were forever changed. 

Given our intense focus on aid, advocacy, and fundraising since February 24th, you might not know a lot about Razom’s other projects before the full-scale invasion.  We’re happy to be able to put a spotlight on one of them now – Veteranius.  This project was started three years ago with the mission of helping Ukrainian veterans break into technology with their first IT job.  Project Veteranius runs training programs that combine the development of technical skills with practical projects, mentorship opportunities, and emotional and psychological support.

The number of Ukrainian veterans increases on a daily basis, so Razom is especially proud to announce a partnership with the Linux Foundation and Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) to expand access to technology education for Ukrainian veterans, their families, and Ukrainians in need.  You can read the official press release here.  The partnership will focus on adding three new classes to Project Veteranius – Intro to Linux, Git for Distributed Software Development, and Intro to Kubernetes.   

If you are interested in getting involved, there are many ways you can help!

  • Donate monetarily here
  • Donate hardware and/or software for students to use during classes
  • Donate your time and skills

Reach out to veteranius@razomforukraine.org for more information about involvement.  

Donate to Veteranius

Join us this Saturday, October 29th, 3:00 PM, Times Square (Father Duffy Square, near the steps) as Iranian and Ukrainian communities come together to for a joint protest against tyranny and autocracy.
Stand together with the brave people of Iran in their fight for liberty and justice.  Support them in their fight for the brighter and free future of their country.  Ukrainians and Iranians have common enemies – two dictators that threaten liberty and global security!
We will keep our fight until victory.
Together with Burmese community and free people of Tigray!
Co organisers: @nicolenajafi@womanlifefreedomnyc
Poster by: @parisa.dale

If you can’t stand side by side with us at our weekly Saturday protests in NYC, then we hope you can join us at some of these events across the country!  Put these on your calendar: 

In New York:

  • On Friday, October 28 @ 5PM in Manhattan, Razom is hosting a fireside chat with Ihor Dvoretskiy of Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), a leading IT leader in Ukraine and a big advocate of open source technology, who is currently serving in the Ukrainian military.  Moderated by Dmytro Kavun, Razom Board Member and one of the leaders of Razom’s Veteranius project, they’ll be discussing Ihor’s story of transitioning from IT into the military and answering questions.  Together they delivered a keynote address at KubeCon this week.  More info about the get together here. 
  • On Saturday, October 29 @ 6:20PM at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden come support Ukraine at Vasyl Lomachenko boxing match.  We’re making it a special one with a surprise flashmob to support Ukraine.  Get your tickets here. 
  • On Thursday, November 3 @ 7-9PM in Hoboken, NJ the Hoboken-based music and poetry collective “West of Willow” is hosting a special event to raise funds for Razom.  This event includes Hoboken poet laureate Danny Shot, musicians Rest Ashore and Karyn Kuhl, and author Jack Silbert.  Make your donations to participate in the event here.
  • On Sunday, November 6 @ 5PM at the SohoPlayhouse come catch a performance of Psalm/Salmo, a synthesis of poetry, music, theater, and cinema created from the verses of Vasyl Makhno about the Russia-Ukraine war.  All proceeds will be donated to humanitarian causes in Ukraine.  Get your ticket here. 
  • On Saturday, November 12 @ 7PM the Coney Island Comedy Festival is proud to present The Funnies NYCUkrainian Fundraiser Stand Up Comedy Show at The Red Doorsbar and grill, located Brooklyn, NY.  Tickets are $15, with all sales donated to Razom for Ukraine.  The Funnies NYC is a Stand Up Comedy Show showcasing comedians from around the world.  The 11/12 show will Headline: Gregory Korostishevsky (The BlackList, Orange Is A New Black, Billions, White Collar), with Features from: Mike Hernendez (New York Silly), Meka Mo (2022 Best of BWICLaffFest), Upa InSpace (CICF), Mick Diflo, and Coney Island’s own Cherryann Trinidad.  Purchase tickets here. 
  • On Thursday, November 17 @ 7-11PM the Dungeons & Dragons Club in NYC is hosting a game night with all ticket sale proceeds going to Razom.  The evening will include free drinks and appetizers and feature a DJ and interactive art gallery.  New D&D players are welcome and highly encouraged!  Get your tickets here! 
  • On Sunday, November 19 @ 7-11PM the Lisovi Chorty Plast Fraternity is celebrating their centenary by hosting a formal costume ball, or Kostyumivka, at the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York City.  The elegant affair will be a fundraiser to support humanitarian aid efforts in Ukraine.   Secure your tickets here. 
  • On Sunday, December 4 @ 2PM Notes From Ukraine, a concertdedicated to 100 years of “Shchedryk” and highlighting Ukrainian music and the connections between Ukrainian and American cultures, will take the stage at Carnegie Hall.  Secure your tickets here! 

In Washinton, D.C.:

  • On Friday, October 28 @ 4-5:30PM in Washington D.C. the US Ukraine Foundation and the Jamestown Foundation invite you to an Interview & Book Signing with Stanislav Aseyev, a Ukrainian novelist and journalist born in Donetsk.  His book In Isolation: Dispatches from Occupied Donbas details infamous Donetsk prison IZOLYATSIA, where he was subjected to mistreatment and intermittent torture for over two and a half years.  Register for the event here.  
  • On November 15-17, the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) “Ukrainian Days” advocacy event will be held after the midterm elections.  Register here. 
  • On Wednesday, November 30 @ 5:30-8:30PM, the U.S. – Ukraine Foundation will host the D.C. premier of Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom, an incredible documentary film by Evgeny Afinevsky is a sequel to his 2015 documentary Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom.  Info on how to secure tickets to come!

In Texas:

  • On Saturday, October 29 @ 8:30AM – 12PM in Woodlands, TX, the College Park High School Students Association is hosting a relay at the school’s track field to fundraise for Razom.  You can sign up here to join! 

In Massachusetts: 

  • The Oxbow Gallery in Easthampton, MA will be showing a series of new oil paintings by Joanne Holtje, “Lamentations,” from October 27-November 27, 2022.  Begun in early 2022, this series served as a way for her to bear witness to the horror of the invasion of Ukraine.  The proceeds of sales from the show, plus an additional 20% match from an anonymous donor will be donated to Razom.

In Illinois: 

  • On Saturday, November 12 @ 6PM the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago is hosting its annual fundraising gala “Ukraine My Love”.  It will feature Ukrainian-American artist Ola Rondiak as the keynote speaker and Serhiy FOMA Fomenko, a Ukrainian fusion folk singer from Mandy.  Buy your tickets here. 

In Florida:

  • Introducing to the world: KOLO, an unparalleled immersive visual experience and theatrical dance show celebrating the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Ukraine!  The first of its kind, KOLO is the brainchild of award-winning, Ukrainian-bred competitive ballroom dancers and partners, Iaroslav and Liliia Bieliei, both natives of Kyiv who now call Los Angeles home.  The show is launching its North American tour in Florida:

U.S. Tour:

  • KAZKA is back in the US for its “I’m Ukraine” tour that will kick off with a charity concert at New York’s Melrose Ballroom on November 4 @ 9:00PM.  You can also catch them in Miami, Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco.  Get your tickets here! 
  • Volodymy Rafayenko is on Book Tour in the US brought to you by Razom Translates, a project of Razom which fundraised for a translation of Volodymyr Rafeyenko’s book Mondegreen: Songs about Death and Love in 2021.  Here is a list of the upcoming events with him (we will be adding on to this list). Please also follow our facebook page for events information:
    • Atlanta: Saturday, October 29 @ 3PM.  More info here. 
    • Hunter College in NY: Tuesday, November 1 @ 6PM.  More info here. 
    • George Washington University in D.C.: Thursday, November 3.
    • Ukraine House in D.C.: Monday, November 7.
    • Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland, OH: Tuesday, November 8 @ 6-8PM.  More info here. 
    • UCSD in San Diego, CA: Monday, November 14 @ 5-6PM.  More info here. 
    • Columbia University in NYC: Wednesday, November 16 @ 5-6:30PM.  More info here. 

Continuing our Razom Says Dyakuyu (thank you) series , we want to spotlight some amazing stories of generosity, support, and simple organizing to fundraise for Razom’s work in helping Ukraine.  We’ve collected a lot of these stories over the past 8 months, and they continue to sustain and inspire us.  Below are the most recent spotlights (click on the photos to link to the stories!).

RAZOM SAYS DYAKUYU – THANK YOU – TO THE ORGANIZERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE BENEFIT CONCERT FOR UKRAINE AT THE UCCS

 
 
 
 
RAZOM SAYS DYAKUYU – THANK YOU – TO NYC MOMS FOR A CAUSE
RAZOM SAYS DYAKUYU – THANK YOU – TO FREEDOM RUN LONDON: A CHARITY RACE TO SUPPORT FREEDOM IN UKRAINE
RAZOM SAYS DYAKUYU – THANK YOU – TO FOX ROCK FOUNDATION

Pass on this message, this newsletter, to your friends and family, your workplace, and your local community to raise awareness about how others can support Ukraine and help save lives in the process.  We are immensely grateful.

Stay razom.

How Can I Help

Newsletter #29: Urgent Call To Action

Published: October 11, 2022   

Yesterday, another morning waking up to horrific news of deadly russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and today, another opportunity to help Ukraine win.  Make no mistake, this unprecedented attack wasn’t about revenge for the bridge connecting russia to occupied Crimea.  Monday’s 84+ missiles were designed to keep Ukrainians cold for the winter ahead.  Razom has been delivering aid for winter preparedness over the past couple of weeks already, but we need your help now to scale that work.  Below, several ways you can help Ukraine today.

Dear Razom Community,

Although by no means are any of Monday’s events new to Ukrainians, the scale of the attack, across every major corner of Ukraine, was unprecedented since the invasion on February 24th.  Air raid sirens in every region of Ukraine lasted for more than five hours.  Every day, russian terrorism gets more and more aggressive, more and more inhuman.  After yesterday, over 100 civilians have died, more have been injured, and major cities across Ukraine have lost water and electricity.  

But Ukrainians are not afraid.  They, we, have been preparing for this and fighting  this for a long time.  Razom continues to work to deliver aid, advocate for Ukraine, and engage people around the world to donate money and time.  You can help us in this, and every time you do, Ukraine and everything that it stands for, gets closer to victory.

Here’s what you can do:

  1. DONATE – Help power-up Ukraine by donating to Razom’s fundraiser (on facebook or on Evergreen) to deliver generators and power banks to Ukrainian first responders and defenders so that they can carry out rescue operations and save lives.  In the last few weeks, we’ve focused our efforts on winter preparedness, delivering generators and even Ukraine-made wood burning stoves (over 30 of them have already made it into the hands of the end users!).  But now what they need most are supplies that will keep the lights on after yesterday’s attacks.  The goal of this campaign is to raise $100,000 to purchase portable heat and power sources and deliver them to places where Ukrainians need them most.  Since February 24th, Razom has made over 2,000 deliveries of critical aid to end users on the front lines of saving lives in Ukraine.  Your donations will help us to continue to scale the massive work we have at hand. 
  2. ADVOCATE – Write and call to your elected officials to declare Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism.  Here’s a link to how to do that for your US Senators and Members of Congress.  
  3. SHARE – Pass on this message, this newsletter, to your friends and family, your workplace, and your local community to raise awareness about how others can support Ukraine and help save lives in the process. 
How Can I Help?

Razom has been working on Aid, Advocacy, and Fundraising for Ukraine since day one, and we will continue to do all of those things.  Your support is vital to our meeting the needs of Ukrainians on the ground.  Below are two recent stories of initiatives that would not have been made possible without your donations.

During September 16-24th, Razom, in partnership with INgenius (a platform for developing medicine and science in Ukraine), facilitated a medical mission for a group of 11 experienced plastic surgeons and nurses from the US and the AAFPRS (American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) to deliver 40 advanced reconstructive surgeries and corrective plastic procedures to 31 patients who suffered as a result of russia’s war on Ukraine – completely free of charge.  The group brought $325,000 in medical supplies (including custom designed implants) and donated around $300,000 in value of surgeries.  Some procedures lasted as long as 10 hours.  We were touched, shaken, and horrified by the patients’ stories.  They came from places like Bucha, Izyum, Kherson, Chernihiv, Sumy, places with documented atrocities and war crimes, and with wounds and burns from shelling, mine explosions, direct gunshots, and artillery fire.  For many of these patients, fixing the scars on their faces may be the last step in their arduous medical journeys, something that brings closure, helps heal and return to society.  Psychological rehabilitation is an important factor in recovery and reintegration, so we brought therapists from our Razom z Toboyu program in Ivano-Frankivsk for onsite support.

In the spirit of collaboration and learning, American and Ukrainian colleagues worked side by side at the medical facility of Ivano Frankivsk Oblast Hospital.  This special Ukrainian medical mission was called “Face to Face” and is undoubtedly only the beginning of a fruitful and life-saving cooperation between Ukrainian and American doctors and surgeons.  Over 130 Ukrainian medical professionals watched the masterful work of their American colleagues and Ivano-Frankivsk doctors in-person and online (in real-time) to learn the procedures.  Currently most plastic and reconstructive procedures are not available in public hospitals, and patients have to turn to either high cost private clinics or, for the military, wait for their turn in military hospitals which are overwhelmed with wound and trauma patients.  Our solution is to work with Ukrainian doctors and policy makers on education and popularization of plastic and reconstructive procedures and advocating for free plastic and reconstructive surgery for the victims of war.

The American doctors were impressed by the courage and patience of the Ukrainians they operated on.  In six months, they plan to return to continue the work of the medical mission and help more people.

In light of yesterday’s events, we also want to spotlight the work of one of our grantees from the Razom Grants project, the Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital (PFVMH), a Ukrainian NGO of civilian healthcare professionals saving lives by treating and evacuating injured Ukrainian people on the frontline of the war in Ukraine.  In September alone, PFVMH medical professionals treated almost 1,200 people.  Over 800 patients had severe war injuries, and 6 of them didn’t make it.

Vsevolod Stebliuk, PFVMH Medical Director, says there are no “easy cases.”  Every day, there are wounded people that PFVMH angels bring back from the dead.  Even when their hearts stop, the doctors fight for their lives, often resuscitating patients 3-4 times.  A 99.5% success rate during wartime… truly is a miracle.  That’s why they were nicknamed “Angels in Scrubs” by the Ukrainian public.

The level of professionalism among the volunteer doctors is unprecedented.  That’s why the importance of top-grade medical equipment and continuous aid cannot be overvalued.  High-quality tactical medicine kits, surgical instruments, external fixation devices, anesthesia breathing systems, and even fuel for evacuations and transportation are all key elements that give Ukrainian people a chance to survive.  Razom has an ongoing fundraiser to aid the current needs of Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital.  To support and help them save even more lives, join our Facebook Fundraiser or visit RAZOM x PFVMH – the donation buttons are at the bottom of the page.  You can also visit their official website.

DONATE to Razom

Thank you so much for reading this newsletter, sharing it, generously donating to many of our important projects, and for showing your support of Ukraine.  We are immensely grateful.

Stay razom.

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Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – to Fox Rock Foundation

Published: October 10, 2022   

We are excited to share with you our series Razom Says Dyakuyu. “Dyakuyu” means “thank you” in Ukrainian. Our work supporting Ukraine would not be possible without the generous donations made by donors. This series highlights some of the amazing philanthropists and unique fundraisers that have supported Razom.

Razom is delighted to announce that we received a $1,000,000 donation from Karen and Rob Hale through their family foundation, Fox Rock Foundation.

“We are pleased to support Razom in their emergency response in Ukraine, which will enable them to continue to scale their emergency response to the unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We are impressed by the impact of their dedicated work to deliver life-saving medical supplies to people who need them most and inspired by their work to support internally displaced people by providing food, water, and shelter through a vast network of nonprofit partners on the ground in Ukraine,” said Karen Hale.

Fox Rock Foundation is a private family foundation established by Karen and Rob Hale and their adult children, Trevor, Thomas, and Brett, to inspire health in our communities and our environment, with more opportunity for all.

The foundation’s current focus is a series of grant partnerships with small and midsized nonprofits making a difference on a variety of causes in New England and beyond. Fox Rock Foundation builds on the philanthropy of Hales’ other charitable funds, like Granite Gives Back and FoxRock Cares. Through numerous giving channels, the Hale family has pledged or donated more than $300 million to a broad range of worthy causes. Razom is honored to be among this year’s beneficiaries. Forbes featured their remarkable philanthropy in a recent story: www.forbes.com.

The Hale family’s generous contribution is a sizable part of the $64M raised by Razom since February 24, 2022. All funds are directed to the immediate emergency response in Ukraine and have helped Razom to ship over 400 tons of medical equipment:

  • 16 3136 tourniquets; 
  • 90 000 first aid kits;
  • over 1,303 tactical medical backpacks; 
  • 100,000+ chest wound seals;
  • over 300 wound vac machines. (The Razom Impact Report, July 2022)

Additionally, Razom has provided grants to over 100 volunteer organizations in Ukraine that work tirelessly to deliver food, water, and shelter to people in hot zones, including recently liberated regions. Delivering help to Ukrainians, Razom drivers have driven farther than circling the globe seven times!

The Fox Rock Foundation donation started with a voicemail left at the Razom office in May. Razom volunteer, Yulia O’Connell, returned a call to the foundation and was asked to tell them about Razom. Yulia shared from the heart and told the Fox Rock Foundation leader why she has volunteered with Razom from the moment she moved to NYC. (Yulia is from Donetsk and spent several years living in Moscow.)

Since its establishment in 2014, Razom has created an inspiring community-building spirit and developed incredible patronage programs. For example, Veteranius is a project that supports Ukrainian veterans in embarking upon a career in IT. Building Ukraine Together (BUR) is a Ukraine-based NGO reminiscent of Habitat for Humanity that rebuilds schools, community centers, and housing for internally displaced Ukrainians.

Yulia also described how Razom volunteers in the US and Ukraine jumped into action in February to galvanize a robust first aid response, bringing much-needed medical aid to the front lines and Ukrainian hospitals. A few days later, Yulia received another call from the foundation and was thrilled to learn that Razom would receive a $1M donation from Fox Rock Foundation. The foundation representative explained that they wanted to support Razom because it was an established organization with a long track record supporting Ukrainian causes. It had the infrastructure to process the donation efficiently and get help to Ukraine quickly.

Razom extends a heartfelt dyakuyu – thank you – to Fox Rock Foundation for their confidence and trust in Razom’s mission.

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – To Freedom Run London: A Charity Race to Support Freedom in Ukraine

Published: October 8, 2022   

This post is part of 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 donors. With this series, we are highlighting some of the amazing donors and unique fundraisers that have supported Razom.

As Ukraine continues its fight, people from around the world are running to aid Razom’s humanitarian efforts. Sometimes they are even running the distance of a half-marathon – 13.1 miles, or 21 kilometers.

Razom wants to express deep appreciation to a group of volunteers that gathered in London to organize one such charity race in support of Ukraine and Razom’s work towards bringing victory closer. The “Freedom Run Homepage” race took place on July 31 in central London’s Hyde Park.

“Feeling as if you are not doing enough is now the new norm after a full-scale invasion,” said Freedom Run organizers Mykola and Oleksandra Kuzmenko. “Once the first wave of press coverage passes, and the media is no longer so eager to cover the ‘everyday’ of the war, it becomes clear that the threat of gradual oblivion creates additional dangers for the fight of the Ukrainian people.” 

The London race was scheduled to take place at the five-month mark of russia’s continued invasion of an independent, sovereign Ukraine. As the organizers emphasized: “There is no denying that 24 February 2022 is a dark day in the history of the world. Ukraine is suffering from a full-scale unprovoked russian invasion, atrocities like that of Mariupol, Bucha and Irpin are still happening in peaceful Ukrainian cities”.

With the goal of keeping Ukraine in people’s hearts and minds, Mykola and Oleksandra proposed several different charitable organizations to which the donors and participants could contribute. Razom was selected as a humanitarian aid option and other potential beneficiaries were UACC (military), EMpower (youth support), and UNITED24 (an initiative launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy).

Oleksandra and Mykola’s meticulous planning resulted in great success. 

There were “440 registered runners, of which about half were local — each with their own story, but one goal on that day,” the organizers said. Of $84,712 raised, $67,385 was directed to Razom’s Emergency Response project, which provides humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people. See Freedom Run allocation report for a more detailed funds distribution on the Freedom Run webpage. 

Razom and all the people who we’ve been able to support on the ground in Ukraine during the war say “dyakuyu” to the organizers and participants of Freedom Run London.