Some of the most heartbreaking stories and photos that Razom have received were from the Ukrainian Charity Alliance, a Kharkiv-based non-profit charitable organization currently focusing on helping people with limited mobility and the elderly.
Formed in September 2018 to unite various civil initiatives, the organization prioritized fighting poverty and supporting volunteer movement in the Kharkiv region. Their Instagram and Facebook feed were full of educational posts and reports about charitable projects like Share Food (in support of the Food for Life initiative), the UBA volunteer center (workshops for young volunteers), Give Love to a Child, and others. That stopped on February 23, 2022, because the following day changed everything. Now their only priority is helping people survive.
The endless pain and horror that russian troops brought to Ukraine affected everyone, especially the most vulnerable persons who had no means to fend for themselves. People with disabilities, the elderly, and families with many children, particularly those who remain in war zones or were displaced, are now entirely reliant on volunteer support.
The Ukrainian Charity Alliance is providing these people with food, medicine, and basic necessities, as well as assistance in finding shelter and rebuilding damaged homes. During the first few days of the full-scale invasion, they distributed 400 kg of food, managed to fundraise 20,000 UAH to buy supplies for 50 families living in the bomb shelters, and assisted in evacuating people from Kharkiv.
Razom for Ukraine provided the Ukrainian Charity Alliance with multiple grants totaling $150,000 that resulted in 6,880 food kits with long shelf life. All assistance was provided to people in residential areas of Kharkiv and its region that suffered significant damage, as well as communities that accommodated a large number of internally displaced people from the occupied territories. Volunteers distributed the food packages and hand-delivered them to people with limited mobility.
Each kit included:
Pasta – 2 kg
Rice grain – 2 packs
Wheat grain – 2 packs
Buckwheat grain – 1 kg
Canned meat – 2-3 pcs
Canned fish – 2 pcs
Oil – 1 liter
Sugar – 1 kg
Chocolate – 1 pc
Snacks – 2 pcs
Tea – 1 pack
In June, our board member Maryna Prykhodko, a Kharkiv-native, joined the Ukrainian Charity Alliance on their trip to deliver aid to Zolochiv, a town in the Kharkiv region located just 10 km from the border with russia that was under occupation for three months. You can find out more about her experience and Razom’s partnership with UCA in our Facebook posts.
The Ukrainian Institute (Kyiv, Ukraine), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine), Razom for Ukraine (New York, United States), and the Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival (New York, United States) co-present Notes from Ukraine: A 100-Year Celebration of Carol of the Bells at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage on Sunday, December 4, 2022at 2:00 p.m.
The concert showcases world-famous choral artists from Ukraine and North America, including Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York (as featured on SNL), Kyiv-based, Ukrainian Children’s Choir Shchedryk, TheChoir of Trinity Wall Street, along with special guests, soprano Janai Brugger and Toronto-based Ukrainian folk singer Marichka Marczyk.
The program features a world premiere by composer Trevor Weston, setting the words of Ukrainian Nobel Prize-nominated poet, Serhiy Zhadan, as well as American choral works with Ukrainian connections by composers Eric Whitacre, Leonard Bernstein, Valentyn Sylvestrov, George Gershwin, and others.
The choral celebration will bring continued awareness to the current war in Ukraine and part of the funds raised through ticket sales will be directed to President Volodymyr Zelensky’sInitiative: United24 Rebuild Ukraine campaign.
“This year, 2022, marks the centennial of the famous U.S. tour by the Ukrainian People’s Republic’s Koshyts Capella where they first performed the all-time-favorite ‘Carol of the Bells’, or ‘Shchedryk’ as we call it in Ukraine. Judging by the popularity of the song one century later, the tour was a great success of Ukrainian cultural diplomacy. We take this year’s celebration as a great opportunity to celebrate Ukrainian centuries-old culture and statehood in the times when Russia tries to destroy them. I am sure the event will give the audience a sense of what we are defending and why Ukraine will win,”Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba stated.
Celebrating 100 Years of Carol of the Bells
The year 2022 marks one hundred years since the North American premiere of Mykola Leontovych’s “Shchedryk” (known today as “Carol of the Bells”) at New York’s Carnegie Hall. This Christmas classic has captured the American imagination through film, television and commercials — from Home Alone to Coca-Cola to the Muppets — and through performances by groups as diverse as the NBA, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and many others.
“Shchedryk” (“Carol of the Bells”) premiered in the United States at Carnegie Hall on October 5, 1922 on a concert which was part of the first Ukrainian cultural diplomacy project, a world tour by the Ukrainian Republic Capella choir conducted by renowned musician Oleksandr Koshyts. The Capella was established on the initiative of the government of Ukraine and sent abroad to promote awareness of Ukrainian independence in Europe and the Americas and to counter Russian propaganda. The tour was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Arts and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR), and they performed more than 200 concerts in North America alone, at major halls and universities.
Carnegie Hall Renovation 2014, Location: New York City, Architect: Iu + Bibliowicz | photo credit: Jeff Goldberg / ESTO
* * * *
Tickets for “Notes from Ukraine: 100 Years of Carol of the Bells” range from $50 to $105 and are on sale now through the Carnegie Hall Box Office, by calling Carnegie Charge at 212-247-7800, or by visiting carnegiehall.org.
About Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyiv The mission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is to represent and protect the interests of Ukraine in the international arena and to facilitate a favorable international environment for the development and realization of the potential of Ukraine, its society and citizens.
About Ukrainian Institute, Kyiv The Ukrainian Institute Kyiv is a state institution acting in the field of cultural diplomacy. The institution’s activities are aimed at improving the understanding and perception of Ukraine in the world and the development of its cultural ties with other countries. Established by the Government of Ukraine, the Institute operates under the administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
About United24, Kyiv UNITED24 was launched by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the main venue for collecting charitable donations in support of Ukraine. Funds will be transferred to the official accounts of the National Bank of Ukraine and allocated by assigned ministries to cover the most pressing needs.
About Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival, New York The Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival is an annual three-day concert series showcasing Ukraine’s unique and exciting contributions to the field of contemporary music. Based in New York City, the festival engages audiences at the intersection of new music, contemporary events, and the culture of Ukraine.
Razom for Ukraine, New York Razom is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2014 during the Revolution of Dignity. Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, believes deeply in the enormous potential of dedicated volunteers and donors from around the world united by a single goal: building and maintaining a democratic and prosperous Ukraine. Razom works towards that mission by creating spaces where people meet, partner, and do.
“War cannot eliminate our ability to speak. We retain the right to sing, the right to articulate and to debate our experiences. Ukraine is speaking and today it is impossible not to hear her.”
We are eager to share with you some good news from the Razom Health Team:
A 40-foot container full of durable medical equipment donated by Afya Foundation – including walkers, stretchers, wheelchairs, crutches, and more – has arrived at Razom’s warehouse in Lviv. This much-needed equipment will now be distributed by Rescue Now – an organization that delivers humanitarian aid, supports the elderly, and evacuates people and pets in eastern Ukraine.
Six more Butterfly iQ+ portable ultrasounds from Butterfly Network, Inc have made it to Ukraine. These will be used in hospitals throughout the Kharkhiv and Lviv oblasts, and more are en route to other areas of Ukraine. There is a strong need for mobile diagnostics throughout the country, and Razom is helping to meet this need. In addition to hospitals, we have been supporting mobile clinics by procuring and delivering some of the most-requested equipment – including these portable ultrasounds. This equipment delivery is part of our broader work to support and train Ukrainian medical professionals operating in conditions of urban warfare. Back in April, Razom helped support a MedGlobal medical mission, during which Ukrainian doctors learned to operate in hospitals dealing with an unprecedented influx of wounded patients, where diagnoses and treatments have to be made on the move.
Another vital shipment of donated medications from our partners at Americares has also arrived in Ukraine. To date, Americares has donated ten shipments of medicines and medical supplies for Ukrainian hospitals via Razom Health Team. Our on-the-ground partners Zdorovi will distribute this latest shipment, ensuring that the medications reach the hospitals and patients most in need.
It takes a village to support Ukraine and we are deeply grateful to Afya Foundation, Americares, Butterfly Network and everyone who partners with us in this life-saving work!
Razom Health Team works on obtaining and delivering large in-kind donations to Ukrainian hospitals that need them the most. Such donations are medical equipment, furniture and supplies. Razom Health is a part of the Razom Emergency Response. If you have suggestions of large donations to hospitals, reach out to the team at hospitals@razomforukraine.org.
Kyrylo is a young guy who fell off the sixth floor and broke both legs before the full-scale invasion started. He spent a long time in a hospital but couldn’t afford a costly list of prescribed medications and painkillers. Being completely immobilized and fighting excruciating pain, he needed help to survive the new reality of the treacherous russian war that targets Ukrainian residential areas.
Trying to get assistance, he reached out to various organizations, but nobody believed him. His young age and a request for scheduled drugs labeled him a drug addict. Thankfully, one of the Rescue Now volunteers decided to give him a chance and requested his hospital records and prescriptions, identification information, and photos. After he provided all the paperwork, volunteers visited him in person, and it became apparent – he lives alone and can’t survive on his own. Now he has people supporting him, providing humanitarian aid and much-needed assistance in getting to the doctor’s appointments.
Moreover, Rescue Now offered Kyrylo to join their initiative. He’s already attending online meetings, and everyone says he’s an awesome guy who needed a chance to fight his circumstances. He’s eager to become of service, has already completed the call-center operator training, and will soon join the Rescue Now team as a full-time volunteer.
A family of three – parents 58 and 56 years old, and their 34 years old son – adults who various organizations rejected because they were supposed to be able to fend for themselves. Except their house burned down with all their belongings, they had no savings left, no warm clothes, no food, and they couldn’t find jobs because the war was raging in their city. Rescue Now is the only organization that took them under their wing and helped them survive the hardship.
A lonely old lady who couldn’t move on her own needed a wheelchair and assistance to get home from the hospital. The ambulance refused to help her because they only give rides TO the hospital, not FROM it. It’s hard to imagine the horror she’d be in if it weren’t for volunteers from Rescue Now!
These are only a few of the thousands of stories that Rescue Now deals with daily. They have now evacuated over 17 000 people and even almost 1000 pets! More than 67 000 families received humanitarian aid packages. And while they prioritize assisting people with disabilities, limited mobility, and the elderly, they understand that not every situation is black and white. They refuse the cookie-cutter approach in their volunteer work and try to provide help to everyone who truly needs it during this horrific time.
In early April, they reached out to Razom, asking for assistance evacuating and feeding people. By now, Razom for Ukraine has provided them with five grants totaling $140,000. All funds went towards evacuations (including those for people with special needs) and the formation and delivery of humanitarian aid packages. Rescue Now has proved to be a trusted and invaluable partner in Ukraine’s fight for peace and freedom.
As per Razom Grants Team mandate, our most important goal is to prepare the Ukrainian people for the brutal winter that is just around the corner. Rescue Now team is doing the same. They urgently need funding for the transit evacuation center in Pokrovsk, equipping the evacuation teams with radios, gear, and winter/snow tires. Their top priority is to supply shelters and internally displaced people with generators, heaters, portable stoves, warm clothes, and blankets.
Rescue Now volunteer efforts are indispensable. Thousands of people are alive and safe because of their work and determination. Watch the video to get acquainted with these wonderful people, and don’t forget to spread the word!
Ukraine has demonstrated unprecedented strength, determination, and resilience over the last four months. The entire world has learned what it means to be a Ukrainian: to fiercely love your homeland and people and to defend them with everything you have. Every branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and every volunteer organization have performed admirably, making the word “немoжливо” (Eng. “impossible”) disappear from the Ukrainian language.
The Feeding Forces of Ukraine is a clever nickname made up by the charitable foundation “Food for Life Dnipro.” Based in a Krishna temple, they’ve been providing hot meals for underprivileged residents of Dnipro, Ukraine’s fourth-largest city, since 1994. The Krishnaites are known for their devotion not just to Krishna but to being of service to humanity. When the war came to their home, “Food for Life” volunteers proved the integrity of their faith and purpose once again.
Since February 24, 2022, “Food for Life” have prepared and distributed over 216,000 hot vegetarian meals that follow the Krishnaite traditions and meet all international standards for calorie and protein intake. 2000 people remain fed and nourished thanks to the volunteers’ efforts. In June 2022, Razom for Ukraine granted $15,000 to support the foundation. These funds resulted in 9,000 hot meals delivered to the displaced persons and elderly residents of Dnipro.
Learn more about “Food for Life Dnipro” foundation, its members and activities at their website that provides detailed information about the foundation, its members and activities. They constantly report to their supporters and followers on Instagram, Facebook, and Telegram.
As we enter fall, Razom is looking ahead — whether that’s delivering new types of life saving supplies that ready first responders, defenders, hospitals, and internally displaced people for the winter, or developing and supporting projects that center upon the renewal of Ukraine.
In the coming weeks we’ll be sharing the latest stories surrounding our impact, projects from Razom you might not have heard about before that need your support, and events to put on your radar. As always, we are tremendously grateful for your continuous support, donations, forwards to friends, community events and fundraisers, and attendance at our rallies. Without that, we wouldn’t be able to do the work we care so much about!
Our Emergency Response Project is evolving. While the mission to save lives in Ukraine remains the same, we’ve added new supplies to the mix of our deliveries that will be critical given the cold and wet months ahead. This includes things like thermal blankets, cold and flu medications, thermal clothing, heaters, and more. You can help us in procuring such supplies by buying them off of Razom’s Amazon Wishlist or connecting with our team at info@razomforukraine.org when making in-kind donations of large quantities.
In-kind donations continue to pour in from medical professionals, US hospitals, and major global organizations, and a lot of coordination goes into ensuring these donations make it into the right hands. One of our key partners on the ground in distributing aid to Ukrainian hospitals is Zdorovi. Since February 24, Zdorovi has distributed 231 tons of medical aid through 332 deliveries to hospitals, maternity centers, and elder facilities in 22 regions across the country. Around 70% of this aid has come from Razom and our US-based donation partners.
We were thrilled to host a New York City visit of Nataliia Tulinova, CEO of Zdorovi last month and bring her into conversation with our US-based medical donation partners. You can watch the presentations and discussions from this event here for an opportunity to learn about our work together and how we’re taking our experience of the past six months into the future. Nearly one quarter of Ukrainian hospitals have been damaged or occupied since the start of the war, and the upcoming winter also poses new challenges (like reliable energy sources and heating). Ukraine’s Ministry of Health estimates that 627 hospitals will soon need generators.
Razom is soon embarking on another medical mission to Ukraine titled the Face to Face Project, in partnership with the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFRS) and INgenius (a Ukrainian platform for developing medicine and science). A group of 17 surgeons and RNs will be going to Ukraine to perform reconstructive surgeries and repair complex facial injuries on civilians who are suffering from these traumas as a result of the war.
Thanks to a generous in-kind donation from pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Catherine McClung Smith, a critical mass of medical supplies have already arrived to the mission’s host hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk. Our partners at FIGS have also donated clean, high-quality scrubs to the healthcare professionals taking part in the mission.
Want to support this medical mission? Check out Cafe Brio’s “Stand with Ukraine” tote bags. They are donating 100% of proceeds from sales to the mission, helping us procure critical equipment and medications!
Razom is currently running two fundraisers that need your support:
This Eastern Ukrainian city with a population of over 1 million lies a mere 30 miles (50 km) from the russian border and gets shelled daily. Once the sirens sound, the recommendation is to go down to the shelters. And yet, there are not enough shelters for everyone that has stayed in the city.
Old soviet era buildings may have basements, but they are often unfinished, without plumbing or electricity, and have poor ventilation.
Our partner, Volonterska UA, is cooperating with the city government to find suitable basements and provide basic renovations. It often takes only $500 to clean out the garbage, rework electricity, and install ventilation.
Razom has already issued Volonterska a grant to start this work, but we need your help to continue cleaning up basements through the fall. Please donate what you can to help the citizens of Kharkiv and check out the before and after photos on the facebook fundraiser page!
Once upon a time, 13 Ukrainian troops on a tiny island were offered to surrender by a russian warship named “Moscow”. Their reply was: “russian warship, go f*** yourself!” And the Ukrainian troops defended the island until the russian warship “Moscow” sank, prophetically.
This courage inspired millions and today we offer you an official stamp set commemorating the history being made.
Give any amount to Razom on this postto help save lives of heroes and defenders and receive a chance to win the legendary stamp set.
The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced on September 12.
This Friday, September 9 – 7:00PM join us at Zucotti Park (NY) to show support to Americans ahead of the day of national grief. Wear black & Bring big American flags and small American flags with the blue and yellow ribbon on them _______________________________ On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes. Two of the planes were deliberately crashed into the upper floors of the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center complex and a third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The passengers on the fourth hijacked plane fought back, and the plane was crashed into an empty field. The attacks killed 2,977 people from 93 nations: 2,753 people were killed in New York; 184 people were killed at the Pentagon; and 40 people were killed on Flight 93. We, Ukrainians, feel the pain of Americans and it is our moral duty to show support to the nation that stands up for our country in these hard times.
You will not want to miss this!
This 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 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).
Click below to register and use promo code “RazomForUkraine” to get a 10% discount at checkout!
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 6 months, and they continue to sustain and inspire us. Below are the most recent spotlights.
Dyakuyu to the UCCSDyakuyu to Chicago Children United for UkraineDyakuyu to Cactus and Tryzub
Thank you so much for reading this newsletter, for keeping up to date with Razom, and for your support of Ukraine. We’re so glad you’re with us.
Today we have finally received such long-awaited Starlinks for Ukrainian communities at our warehouse in Western Ukraine!
This project is implemented thanks to the collaboration of three Ukrainian-American organizations – Razom, Nova Ukraine, and United Help Ukraine, and it aims to provide high-speed broadband satellite Internet access to communities that are mostly located in areas affected by the war and do not have a stable connection. Many cities and towns of Ukraine have their communication infrastructure destroyed, while we know how important it is to stay informed in the times of war, including the information war that russia depends on just as much.
A total of 288 Starlink stations have been purchased and will be operational very soon along the front line. The first satellite dishes are already en route. More information and pictures with reports coming shortly.
Huge thanks to all the volunteers, donors and supporters who made this project a reality!
Taxi fleet, CRM, and logistics are the three components that make the charitable organization “Yellow Help” incredibly efficient and successful in its mission. When russia started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, three fellow entrepreneurs got together and organized a volunteering initiative to address the humanitarian crisis in Kharkiv. More than 70 volunteers have joined the team, and now they pack and deliver over 800 food aid packages daily.
Mykola Minaev, the founder of the Yellow Taxi service, stayed in Kharkiv and turned 54 cars from his taxi fleet into evacuation vehicles. Oleksiy Siromolot, an entrepreneur and business automation specialist, established the call center and introduced an improved CRM system that supports the fund’s operations. Oleksandr Kusayko, the head of the construction company, organized the supply of humanitarian aid in warehouses in Kharkiv and set up logistics. As a result, Yellow Help evacuated more than 5,000 families during the first days of the war and set up a sustainable food aid delivery system.
Today Yellow Help has multiple projects:
“Save lives” is focused on providing food aid.
“A place of rest” works on creating district aid centers.
“The health of Kharkiv residents” offers medical consultations and medicine delivery.
“Hearing Ukraine” helps people whose hearing has been affected by the war.
“The united informational call center 5505.”
5505 is the latest Yellow Help project and a number that all Kharkiv residents should remember and share with those who need help the most. Calling 5505, people can get phone consultation on evacuation, food assistance, medical, psychological, and legal issues.
Yellow Help reports its work and achievements on the official website yellow-help.com.ua, Instagram @yellow_help_kh, Facebook @yellowHelpKh, and Telegram t.me/yellow_help.
The high level of efficiency, professionalism, and, most importantly, the huge commitment to Kharkiv and its residents attracted the attention of Razom for Ukraine. That’s why, when humanitarian aid stopped flowing into the Yellow Help’s warehouses, Razom granted them $130,000. These funds have already purchased over 100 tons of food and 20,000 liters of fuel and will ensure the formation and delivery of about 15,000 food aid kits per month.
On August 28, 2022, Razom’s NYC Ukrainian Response Initiative team and New York Immigration Coalition hosted a fun family event at the Ukrainian National Home in the Ukrainian Village of New York City. Our goal was to encourage displaced Ukrainian children who recently arrived in NYC before the school year started. And the event theme was “Razom (Together) we are strong!”
It was a full house: 46 families with kids showed up with 77 people in total; 34 volunteers worked hard to make the event informational and fun. What’s more, almost half of the volunteers were displaced Ukrainians who arrived in NYC in February-May and were beneficiaries of our free immigration clinics – consultation meetings.
After registering, kids proceeded to pick school backpacks with supplies, wellness items, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair brushes, slime, play-dough, focus toys. The International Rescue Committee donated backpacks with supplies and Razom provided the wellness items thanks to a grant that the team recently received from Perrigo, a pharmaceutical company. And our long-time supporter – Veselka served delicious refreshments for everybody.
Parents had an opportunity to talk with representatives of the NYC Board of Education and a public school teacher about the NYC education system and the education process. Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) brought a huge soft toy eagle and talked about its events and activities. A Ukrainian pediatrician gave print-outs with useful information about preparing for a school year and encouraged everybody to keep good posture and exercise their body and eyes. A health startup Ophycare, a provider of telemedicine, offered free appointments for attendees without health insurance.
Four large round tables were swarmed with kids and adults doing crafts and practicing in art therapy, led by wonderful volunteers – artist Mariia Lukashenko and psychologist Olga Dobrynina. Led by a Ukrainian singer Shanis, who participated in the Ukrainian Voice and did a voiceover for Elza in the Ukrainian version of Frozen, kids karaoke competition rocked the Ukrainian National Home with popular songs and Ukrainian classics such as “Stari Fotografii” by Skryabin. There were two kids who shared the first place and four more participants who got “silver.” Every kid received a cash gift card. Shanis beautifully singing “Let it go” in the end made the event special and encouraged those musically gifted kids to proceed with their passion.
When we took our final pictures, instead of saying “cheese” every voice joined the chorus thanking our heroes “Slava Ukraini – Heroyam Slava!” Everybody left asking when our next event would be, which will be posted to Razom’s calendar of events on Facebook, so stay tuned for our next event. We count it as a success!
Huge thanks to our partners, sponsors, and volunteers: Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, New York Immigration Coalition, International Rescue Committee, NYC Department of Education, Ukrainian National Home, Veselka, CYM, and Staten Island Jewish Community Center, Ophycare. And personally to Andrij Stasiw, Tetiana Sirman, Ya Taras, Mariia Lukashenko, Olga Dobrynina, Olha Akmetova and her daughters Olena and Tetiana, Doctors Larysa and Ihor Mykhailov, Anastasia Ponomarenko and friend, Yuliya Dolich, Serhii Khorun, and Vasyl Khokhla.
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.
