Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – to the organizers and participants of the Benefit Concert for Ukraine at the UCCS

Published: August 28, 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 expresses deep gratitude to the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) for the Benefit Concert for Ukraine its faculty members organized on April 30, 2022. The event paid tribute to Ukrainian music and culture. Razom was chosen as one of the beneficiaries and received around $7,000 raised from ticket sales. The donation was put towards Razom’s Emergency Response Project.

“The idea behind the concert was to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees, while celebrating Ukrainian culture and music,” said lead organizer Haleh Abghari, a UCCS music instructor. “Aside from killing innocent Ukrainians and displacing them, the war is also an attack on their culture and identity. Putin’s war is a brutal attempt to erase that culture. That’s why we felt it was important to highlight and celebrate it.”

Abghari co-organized the event along with Eugenia Olesnicky and Dmytro Bozhko, who both have Ukrainian roots.

Internationally renowned performers were on stage that Saturday evening at the Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS. “This event is more than just a fundraiser,” Eugenia Olesnicky said. “It is an opportunity to honor and experience Ukrainian culture.”

Pianists, cellists, violinists, flutists, and even a bandurist came together along with dancers, singers, choreographers, and artistic directors to put on an incredible program showcasing the beauty of Ukrainian culture. All of the artists donated their talent in solidarity with and support of Ukraine through these difficult times of violence and invasion.

Abghari, who was born in Iran and raised during the Iran-Iraq War, said: “My family left Iran during the war and moved to the US as the situation became more dangerous. I didn’t experience any of the horrors millions of Ukrainians are experiencing now, and I was well protected. Yet, I have vivid memories of air attacks and I witnessed what it does to a population, especially children, and I’m fully against such acts of violence.”

From Ukrainian folk song “During Dark Night” to “Lullaby for Ukraine” by composers Myroslav Skoryk and Olexandr Vratariov to Taras Petrinenko’s “Ukraine,” the audience was treated to some of the treasures Ukrainian culture has to offer.

For those in attendance, some of the music was likely new to them while some was rediscovered — such as Mykola Leontovych’s “Shchedryk,” which many in the West know as “Carol of the Bells.” Introducing Leontovych’s composition, Deborah Teske, conductor of the Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble, spoke to the non-Christmas origins of “Shchedryk,” pointing out “many of you will probably recognize [it] as ‘Carol of the Bells,’ a Christmas song. But in its original Ukrainian, it’s not a Christmas song; it is a song about new year and refreshment and renewal.”

Razom greatly appreciates the hard work and solidarity that went into creating this two and a half hour program during which people came together to support and learn more about Ukraine. We also know that this solidarity extends well into the overall life of the community at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. “Here at UCCS, we work at all levels to provide help to displaced scholars and students. I am very proud of everyone who joins these efforts,” Bozhko said.

Razom and all the people who we’ve been able to support on the ground in Ukraine during the war say “dyakuyu” to the concert organizers and participants at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

You can watch and enjoy the full concert here.

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Conference And Charity Dinner in NYC

Published: August 25, 2022

We invite you to a conference and a charity dinner that will take place at the Harvard Club in New York City on September 17, 2022.

The event aims to bring the greatest minds and key political figures together to discuss the implications of the war in Ukraine for global security, economy, energy security, and food security. At the charity dinner, we will celebrate the resilience and the spirit of the Ukrainian people, and raise funds for the reconstruction of medical facilities in Ukraine that have been destroyed by the russian army.

Some of the confirmed speakers at the event are Dr. Paul Krugman (Nobel Prize Winner in Economics ’08), and Dr. Roger Myerson (Nobel Prize Winner in Economics’ 07), Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, John Herbst, Serhii Plokhii, Yuriy Gorodnichenko, Tymofii Brik, Tymofiy Mylovanov. Several top Ukrainian officials including Andriy Yermak, the Chief of Zelensky’s administration, Yulia Svyrydenko, the First Vice Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy of Ukraine, and several other ministers will participate as well (some of them might be online due to the situation in Ukraine).

The conference and charity dinner are co-organized by the Kyiv School of Economics (the top Ukrainian university, economic think tank, and educational charity) and United24 (the fundraising platform initiated by the President of Ukraine). Razom is honored to serve as an information partner for the event.

The Ukrainian Independence War and the Future of the World
September 17, 2022
Harvard Club (35 West 44th Street, Manhattan, New York, New York, 10036)
Organizers: KSE Foundation, United24, Razom
3pm – 5:30pm. Conference “The Independence War in Ukraine: Global Implications”
6:30pm – 11pm. The charity dinner “The Independence War in Ukraine: the Present and Future of the Country”

The conference will have four panels: global security, economy, energy security, and food security. You can find the detailed program below. Research reports by the KSE Institute on the four areas will be made available to the participants. The capacity of the rooms for each panel is limited to 30 people. A limited number of tickets for the conference are available for purchase together with the tickets for the charity dinner.

The charity dinner will feature Ukrainians who will share their stories of overcoming the challenges of the war, resisting the russian invasion, and maintaining and developing a democracy during a war. All raised funds will go towards medical and educational humanitarian projects in Ukraine. Our objective is to raise funds to rebuild a medical clinic in Makariv, the area close to Bucha in the Kyiv region that was occupied and devastated by the russian troops.

Register For Event

Please indicate that you learnt about the event from Razom by using Promo Code “RazomForUkraine”. You will also get a 10% discount at the checkout. No worries – you can donate more at the event, if you choose to.

If you have any questions or need more details, please contact Svitlana Denysenko at sdenysenko@kse.org.ua.

KSE Charitable Foundation is de jure two foundations, one registered in the U.S., 501.c.3, and another in Ukraine. The U.S. foundation has more than 20 years of experience and a track record of humanitarian relief efforts in the 1990s, 2004, 2013-2016, and 2022. Its campaign and programming are endorsed by the Ukrainian government, the Ministry of Health, and the Territorial Defense. In peacetime, before the war, KSE Foundation served to raise funding for KSE University. KSE University has also expanded its activities during the war by supporting an initiative Ukraine Global University that provides Ukrainians with educational opportunities around the globe. It has also starred in a number of public lecture series on the issues related to the future of the world and has been honored to host lectures and discussions by opinion leaders such as Paul Krugman, Nicolas Cristakis, and Michael A. McFaul. KSE Foundation and KSE University have been supported by large Ukrainian and international companies and charities, including Ripple, Everstake, Naftogaz, Jefferies, etc. KSE Foundation is ranked the third most effective fundraising organization in Ukraine according to Forbes Ukraine.

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – to Chicago Children United for Ukraine

Published: August 20, 2022

Solidarity with Ukraine and support for Razom’s humanitarian work on the ground comes in various shapes — even a ginormous Ukrainian flag measuring 34 by 86 feet composed of 4,932 blue Rice Krispies and yellow Corn Pops cereal boxes. The blue and yellow flag was laid out at the Wintrust Grand Banking Hall by several dozen Chicago-area teenagers over the course of three days from August 11-13.

Friends Michael Kotcher, 15, and Ryder Shiffman, 16, co-created the project as a way to raise awareness about russia’s war in Ukraine — for the simple reason of our shared humanity. “I don’t know anyone personally from Ukraine, but it doesn’t matter. I feel that after seeing everything on the news, it was just really saddening,” Kotcher told CBS Chicago.

Fundraising for Ukraine was a major component of the cereal mosaic project. Kotcher and Shiffman discussed the idea of the cereal box flag mosaic with their mothers and then organized themselves into the group Chicago Children United for Ukraine. They secured donations of cereal boxes from Kellogg’s and then began searching for a charity to partner with.

“We did some research on different groups in Ukraine and we felt [Razom] were the most reliable,” Shiffman said.

With Razom as the beneficiary, a GoFundMe campaign was created. While the fundraiser is still ongoing (and can be found here), as of today nearly $27,000 has been raised through this platform which will go directly to Razom.

“Razom continues to do incredibly important work in Ukraine providing humanitarian relief to those in need,” Lara Shiffman, Ryder’s mother and one of the coordinators of the event, told Razom. “We are thrilled to be doing our part in Chicago to help Razom in their efforts.”

Contributions to Razom’s Emergency Response project weren’t the only remarkable outcome of this project. After the mosaic’s completion, Chicago Children United for Ukraine donated the cereal boxes to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

With the mosaic, the Chicago Children United for Ukraine are also attempting to set a new Guinness World record for the largest cereal box mosaic. While this was “a secondary goal,” for the group, Razom wishes them the best of luck.

Razom and all the people whom we’ve been able to support on the ground in Ukraine during the war say “dyakuyu” to Chicago Children United for Ukraine.

Photos by Lara Shiffman

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Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – to Cactus and Tryzub

Published: August 12, 2022

Razom says a heartfelt thank you to members of Cactus and Tryzub, who along with the Asian Community of Arizona united for the We Are Praying For Ukraine fundraiser, that took place at St. Paul’s Auditorium in Phoenix, AZ. Over $12,000 was collected and donated to Razom’s Emergency Response project that is focused on providing tactical medical aid to Ukraine.

An Arizona-based Ukrainian-American initiative, Cactus and Tryzub, was founded earlier this year by a group of volunteers who organized in response to russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

“At Cactus and Tryzub we do political activism,” said fundraiser co-organizer Oli Stokolosa. “We organize rallies, events, and fundraisers to keep awareness about our beloved country Ukraine and deliver a message that the war is not over yet.”

On the evening of the event, representatives of more than nine Asian nations came together at St. Paul’s Auditorium to express their support for Ukraine while sharing their culture and traditions through visual and performing art. The highlights of the event were a beautiful Vyshyvanka Fashion Show by gorgeous Ukrainian and Asian models and the Moment of Dignity performance.

The hosts of the event, Oli Stokolosa and Ty Ng, introduced Ukraine and Ukrainian traditions to the guests and educated attendees about the #DontFundTheWar campaign that raises awareness of American brands that are still operating in russia and funding the war.

“Our generation came to this country to escape either poverty, persecution, or war,” said Ty Ng, who is a film director and human rights advocate. “And because it’s no longer happening to us does not mean it is not happening to someone else somewhere else. So, I feel it is our moral obligation to protect each other.”

Razom representative Yulia O’Connell flew from New York City to take part in the special evening and speak with attendees about how Razom converts our donors’ contributions into aid for the people of Ukraine.

Razom and all the people who we’ve been able to support on the ground in Ukraine during the war say “dyakuyu” to Cactus and Tryzub members and Asian Community of Arizona for their support in the Southwest!

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – to Shakespeare with Benefits

Published: July 26, 2022

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!

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – To Northeastern University

Published: July 21, 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. Within this series we are highlighting some of the thousands of amazing donors and fundraisers that Razom has been very fortunate to gain support of.

Students at Northeastern University in Boston came together to fundraise more than $30,000 for Ukrainian relief efforts this spring. Ukrainian-American students Deanna Zawadiwsky, Terenia Hankewycz, and Zachar Hankewycz organized a Ukrainian Cultural Club at the University with Deanna becoming its first president, Terenia vice-president, and Zachar its treasurer.

The students sent Razom a detailed letter on how they started the club, fundraised, and got their community involved. We are reprinting their letter, written by current Northeastern University Ukrainian Cultural Club president Zachar, in the hopes that it may inspire other students.

Razom and all the people who we’ve been able to support on the ground in Ukraine during the war say “dyakuyu” to Deanna, Terenia, Zachar, and all the students at Northeastern University who contributed.

Letter from Zachar Hankewycz, Current President of Northeastern University Ukrainian Cultural Club:

At the start of the academic year, the Ukrainian Cultural Club didn’t officially exist at Northeastern University. We were an informal group of 5-10 Ukrainians who met up occasionally for social and cultural events (like cooking varenyky and creating pysanky). Most of us were from the Ukrainian diaspora, and many of us knew each other before college through Plast.

The night the war started, we all knew we had to do something. The thought of sitting through lectures or work as if nothing had changed was just unbearable, so we decided to hold a rally and fundraise the very next day. Each of us took a day off from work or classes. In the morning, we made signs and printed leaflets to hand out; at noon, we gathered in a central location on campus.

Our original group was small, and although we tried to publicize our event, we didn’t expect many participants on such short notice. But we were shocked – students showed up from all around the Boston area, from BU, Suffolk University, Berklee, and Tufts, to name a few. Many were Ukrainian, but we were also joined by students of various other backgrounds, stopping by between classes to hold a sign and support us.

Our initial fundraising goal was $1,000, and to incentivize donations, our group decided that we’d collectively match any donations we received that day. We ended up raising almost $4000 (not including the matching donations)!

After that, we decided two things: that we would continue holding fundraisers, and that we should become an official club. We wanted every Ukrainian student at Northeastern to know that they are not alone, that they have support. With the help of the Center for Intercultural Engagement, we were able to obtain official club status at Northeastern.

So the next week, we did the same thing. We prepared our signs, took a day off, and continued fundraising. Our members made leaflets, posters, stickers, origami flowers, and flag pins to help fundraise. One of our members organized a fundraising fair, and reached out to local businesses for product donations which we could sell. We were joined by the Art Blanche club for the fair, where we sold food and art, played Ukrainian music, and handed out leaflets about the war in Ukraine (and how people can help out). On April 7th, we coordinated a national vigil with over 20 Ukrainian organizations in American universities. Standing on the steps of the central building on campus, with the flag of Ukraine alongside the American flag on the rooftop, our members spoke about Ukraine’s history, its people, and their suffering.

Along the way, various other organizations at Northeastern reached out, asking how they could help. Alpha Epsilon Pi, BURSA (Burmese Student Association), Active Minds, Studio Art Club, Art Blanche, AMSA (American Medical Student Association), and others all held fundraisers for Ukraine, and asked us for advice on potential recipients of these donations.

We’re glad that we’ve managed to connect with so many Ukrainians, including fellow students, in the Boston area as a result, although we wish it was under happier circumstances. Everyone helped out, and everyone supported one another. At the start, there were few of us and we were disorganized; now, we’re an official club with many new members, and we plan to continue fundraising for as long as there is a need.

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – To PS 340

Published: July 17, 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 generous donors. With this series we are highlighting some of the amazing donors and fundraisers that have supported Razom.

Walking into elementary school P.S. 340 in Manhattan, our Razom representatives knew exactly where to go for their meeting with third graders who had raised funds for our Emergency Response project. The bulletin board next to one classroom displayed pictures of blue and yellow squares with Razom’s logo along with peace signs, Ukrainian flags, and multi-color hand drawn calls to action, “Help Save Ukraine,” “Peace to Ukraine,” and “Support Razom Together.”

Invited by the school’s principal, Razom volunteers came to visit the young students and accept a check for $2,103. The students wanted to hand their donation to us directly and learn about the ways the funds they collected would help Ukraine.

When the kremlin began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, families across the United States sat down with their children and discussed what individuals could do to help Ukraine. There is always something people in a position of safety can do to help those in imminent danger. Ellie, one of the students, and her family started having conversations on how they could help. They came up with the idea of collecting money that could be donated to help people in Ukraine. Within a few days, Ellie proposed an event and planned it in collaboration with her class.

“The whole school made bracelets and had a fundraiser sale in front of the school,” said a parent of one of the students who participated in the charity sale. Bracelets full of blue and yellow beads were arranged with white beads spelling out the words “peace,” “love,” and “Ukraine.” The bracelets didn’t have a set price. They were offered up for sale to the school community at whatever rates people wished to donate. Parents, teachers, and a wider community participated in the sale. Several hours later, the students counted over $2,000 contributed from the compassionate crowd.

“Everyone was very supportive. Some people gave us all the cash they had with them at the moment,” said one of the students when called on by a teacher to share their impressions with Razom volunteers.Gathered in a semi-circle in front of us, the students one after another posed questions and expressed their thoughts.

Razom and all the people who we’ve been able to support on the ground in Ukraine during the war say “dyakuyu” to P.S. 340 for their support!

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – To JFKIAT Terminal 4

Published: July 13, 2022

It is with deep gratitude for solidarity and support that one of the representatives of Razom for Ukraine traveled to JFK airport on 12 July to accept the kind donation of $31,000 from the Terminal 4 team.

The contributed funds had been collected by John F. Kennedy International Airport JFKIAT through the coin collection program of Terminal 4. Within this program, for a period of two months, several coin collection boxes were installed throughout the concourse to provide the passengers and employees with an opportunity to make their contribution towards Ukraine’s achievement of decisive victory. The strategically placed boxes offered people to donate to Razom as well as to learn of additional ways of supporting our organization’s humanitarian relief efforts.

Throughout March and April, the passengers of “one of the most active air terminals in the New York area” made their charitable donations and familiarized themselves with Razom. Having strived to achieve justice for our shared humanity through many other philanthropic actions — such as employee volunteering and community outreach — the JFKIAT team acted on their charitable financial contribution experience and matched the gathered funds for an even greater impact.

“We are devastated by this war and the detrimental impact it has been having on millions of people in Ukraine,” said Roel Huinink, President and CEO of JFKIAT. “We stand with the people of Ukraine, and we hope this donation will help to provide relief and support.”

If we think of the hundreds of thousands and maybe even millions of people that had learned about Razom having passed by the coin boxes with the organization’s logos at the JFK terminal, it is safe to say that JFKIAT’s fundraising project is the gift that will keep on giving.

With Razom volunteers working tirelessly on achieving the speedier victory, we are grateful and say dyakuyu to JFKIAT for their trust in us as an organization to turn their support into the aid to the people of Ukraine!

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – to Humble Bundle

Published: July 7, 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. Within this series we will be highlighting some of the thousands of amazing donors and fundraisers that Razom has been very fortunate to gain support of.

Razom for Ukraine was truly honored to be selected as one of the recipients of the Humble Bundle’s “Stand With Ukraine” charity effort and was awarded $5.07 million. It was to-date the largest single donation we have ever received at Razom.

Since russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, Razom has been an awe-struck witness of all the different and creative ways businesses have raised and donated funds to support the Ukrainian people. Humble Bundle, a digital storefront for games, e-books, and software, strongly focused on charitable work, joined forces with game creators, publishers, and software makers who donated their items putting together an online “Stand with Ukraine” bundle with 100% of proceeds going to humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

“Like others around the world, we’ve been dismayed by the invasion of Ukraine and the resulting tragedies… together with our industry partners, we were able to bring in over $20 million for Ukraine – the single largest donation we’ve been able to make in our 11-year history. We’re extremely grateful to our community for their care and action in supporting this important cause. Even though it can’t undo the pain and devastation caused by the invasion, the funding will go a very long way in feeding, sheltering, and providing medical care for millions of refugees who have fled Ukraine since the start of the war.” – Kamini Tiwari, VP Social Impact, Humble Bundle shared in a feature article in Forbes.

Humble Bundle introduction to Razom came through one of its co-founders John Graham and his wife Olga. After a quick conversation facilitated by a common friend with one of Razom’s volunteers during the early days of March, they were inspired by Razom’s mission and concrete actions. John and Olga thought of this opportunity to help Razom raise funds and connected the dots with Humble Bundle. John worked tirelessly to enable this bundle on the back end and it certainly delivered most impressive results.

People around the globe purchased the Stand with Ukraine bundle that featured games, including Metro Exodus, developed by 4A Games (which has a studio in Kyiv), books, including Pathfinder 2nd Edition Core Rulebook, and software, including GameMaker Studio 2 Creator.

Humble Bundle’s effort from March 18 to 25 raised over $20.7 million with 473,945 bundles purchased. Razom for Ukraine received a fourth of the funds – equaling over $5M. As Dora Chomiak, Razom President, said: “From all of us at Razom, our wholehearted thank-you goes to Humble Bundle for your so not-humble, but extremely generous, support of our work. Your donation had a major impact enabling us to scale our efforts in providing critical, life-saving aid to the people of Ukraine.”

Thanks to our incredible donors, including the outstanding support of Humble Bundle, Razom for Ukraine:

Shipped hundreds of tons of tactical medical equipment and critical medical supplies to Ukraine:
- Assembled more than 43,000 individual first aid kits (IFAKs) and over 900 medical backpacks.
- Made hundreds of trips carrying tactical medicine cargo (fulfilling over 1000 deliveries) prioritizing hot spot cities and regions where Ukrainians are actively repelling russian invaders.
Evacuated 31 families (totaling over 500 people) with children with special needs to safety.
Partnered with more than 40 organizations on the ground to provide tens of thousands of hot meals, distribute thousands of grocery packages to the elderly and disabled, support families of veterans, renovate homes for displaced families. We have deployed over $1.6M for these programs to date.

Humble Bundle continues supporting Ukraine and Razom through their work contributing a portion of the proceeds from their other bundles.

Razom and all the Ukrainians who have received much-needed help say, “dyakuyu” – Ukrainian for thank you – to Humble Bundle.

Razom Says Dyakuyu – Thank You – To The Baba Aid For Ukraine Initiative

Published: June 24, 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 generous donors. We will be highlighting the work, donations, and stories of several individuals and organizations who have agreed to be publicly featured on our website.

Our amazing volunteers and donors all over the world have responded in creative ways to support Razom for Ukraine and this solidarity has taken different shapes – including that of a tasty Ukrainian dumpling, varenyk. Or more precisely, thousands of varenyky.

Inspired by their Baba, the Ukrainian word for grandmother, New York-based sisters Natalka and Yulia Horbachevsky, along with some of their cousins, organized a varenyk sale in the New York City, Westchester, and Orange county areas. A family-run pop-up fundraising initiative was born along with an Instagram account and a website called “Baba Aid for Ukraine.”

Over the course of a week, they prepared over 1,600 beautiful, half-moon potato-stuffed dumplings for friends and colleagues to purchase. In addition to all the varenyky, the Horbachevsky family cooked up 50 pounds of tsybulya, fried onions (a delicious topping for the dumplings that are also sometimes called pierogies). Proceeds from the sale went toward Razom’s Emergency Response fund. It was a big undertaking by a single family focused on providing vital support to the many families in Ukraine separated and impacted by russia’s brutal war.

Despite the massive quantity of varenyky produced, no sooner had the fundraiser been announced, the “sold out” phrase was splashed across their webpage. To anyone ever exposed to a Ukrainian baba’s cooking, this isn’t a big surprise!

And it wasn’t only the taste of varenyky with tsybulya that drew supporters, people sent money to the Horbachevsky’s account without expecting any potato dumplings in exchange. Varenyky or not, people rushed to take part in this initiative to support Razom’s humanitarian relief efforts.

“Our sales, coupled with very generous donations, far exceeded our expectations for this drive,” Natalka told Razom when she reached out asking how they could transfer $18,500 of collected funds.

Razom and all the people who we’ve been able to support on the ground in Ukraine during the war say “dyakuyu” to the Horbachevsky family for their support and the incredible cooking initiative!