February 5, 2005

UUARC Jubilee Banquet

The United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC) is a philanthropic institution which has been helping Ukrainians worldwide since 1944. The noble efforts of UUARC were commemorated with a 60th anniversary jubilee banquet held in Philadelphia’s “Dugan’s Restaurant” on November 28, 2004.

Mr. Metodij Boretsky, the chairman of the jubilee committee, greeted over 150 guests, among whom were the representatives of UUARC’s branches in Ukraine: Vira Prinko from Kyiv and Andrij Dyda, Ph.D from Lviv. The Ukrainian embassy to the United States in Washington was represented by: Natalya Holub, Yuriy Parkhomenko, Oleksander Shcherba and Oleksander Potyekhin.

A solemn moment of silence was observed in memory of all the deceased members of UUARC.

Mr. Ihor Kusznir, the Master of Ceremonies, noted that UUARC earned its reputation among countless immigrants who benefited from its aid during the critical post-World War II period. Today, UUARC continues its charitable activities throughout the world, especially in Ukraine. Its compassionate labors have merited well-deserved recognition from the community.

Most Reverend Basil Losten, Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, Connecticut, delivered the opening invocation by intoning the Lord’s Prayer, which was sung in unison by everyone present.

The Master of Ceremonies introduced the president of the UUARC, Larissa Lozynsky-Kyj, Ph.D, describing her selfless leadership of the institution over the last seven years.

Dr. Larissa Kyj began her address by focusing on the current events in Ukraine, which is experiencing momentous historical upheavals. She cited an excerpt from Taras Shevchenko’s poem “The Great Mohyla (Mound)” about the birth of two Ivans: one who will help Ukraine’s torturers and one who shall rescue her. By analogy Dr. Kyj compared them to the two Viktors (running for president of Ukraine): one a national democrat in defense of his people and one who chose to wage war on his own. Despite government pressure and shameful falsifications of elections on November 21, the people stood up for their rights and decided to share their fate under the leadership of the people’s President Viktor Yushchenko.

The president of UUARC briefly presented her interpretation of the history of the UUARC during and after the Second World War. The speaker stated that 70,000 refugees ended up in the United States thanks to the UUARC; eventually, various charitable campaigns were undertaken, e.g. the Brazilian Land Fund, which enabled Ukrainian farmers to become independent on Brazilian land purchased with the assistance of UUARC.

The Master of Ceremonies noted the numerous greetings that were received during the banquet, most of which appeared in a special banquet program booklet that was prepared by Mrs. Daria Laszyn.

Among the greetings from attendees was a brief address by Mr. Mykhajlo Sawkiw, president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, who emphasized that UUARC works within the framework of the UCCA, our umbrella organization. Especially today, in the process of democratization of Ukraine, UUARC provides moral and material assistance even on Kyiv’s “Maidan” (Independence Square), where the democratic processes are becoming entrenched right now. The UCCA president expressed his conviction that the Ukrainian nation has finally arisen from its knees and is heading toward victory. He noted that in unity there is strength and that UCCA is striving to unite the Ukrainian community in the United States.

Natalya Holub, the representative of the Ukrainian embassy in the United States, greeted the guests on the occasion of the jubilee; she then highlighted the current events in Ukraine, expressing her belief that those momentous occurrences are the fulfillment of our dreams.

Yaroslav Zalipsky, Ph.D., expressed greeting from the Shevchenko Scientific Society, reading a letter signed by the head of the society, Larissa Onyshkevych, Ph.D.

Mr. Kusznir introduced the guests at the head table: Vira Prinko, the UUARC representative in Kyiv; Dr. Andriy Dyda, UUARC’s representative in Lviv; Natalya Holub, the representative of the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, Mykhajlo Sawkiw, president of UCCA; Oleksander Potyekhin, an adviser at the embassy, along with his wife Inna; Metodiy Boretsky, the chairman of UUARC’s jubilee committee; Dr. Larissa Kyj, president of UUARC, along with her husband Dr. Myron Kyj; Osip Roshka, editor of the newspaper “America”, the official publication of Providence Association of Ukrainian Catholics; Olexander Lushnytsky, Ph.D., along with his wife Maria; Rev. Mitered Archpriest Roman Mirchuk; Rev. Msgr. John Bura, president of Providence Association; Most Reverend Basil Losten, Bishop of Stamford; Ihor Kusznir, along with his wife Daria.

Mr. Kusznir greeted the representatives of various organizations who came to participate in the banquet. He also introduced three diplomats from the Ukrainian embassy who officially initiated support for Viktor Yushchenko immediately after the fraudulent elections of November 21: Yuriy Parkhomenko, the second secretary of the embassy, and embassy advisers Oleksander Potyekhin and Oleksander Shcherba. The Master of Ceremonies eloquently expressed admiration and gratitude to them, while everybody present demonstrated their approval with a standing ovation.

Embassy advisor Mr. Potyekhin seconded the greetings expressed by Ms. Holub. He expressed his desire that our cause would triumph without bloodshed.

The scheduled keynote speaker, ambassador Borys Tarasiuk from the Viktor Yushchenko bloc, unfortunately was unable to attend as his presence was needed in Ukraine.

Vira Prinko described the work of the UUARC offices in Ukraine. In the words of Goethe, she wanted to bow her head and fall on her knees in front of the generous people who understand the situation in Ukraine and are rushing in with assistance.

The president of UUARC proceeded with the distribution of awards. The first was to Colonel John Kark, who came to America as a child in 1947 through the efforts of the American Committee to Aid European War Orphans. He served 30 years in the U.S. armed forces as an infantry officer and later as an air force pilot. In 1993, Col. Kark founded the “Committee to aid Ukrainian orphans and children without parental care.” His organization delivered 6,457 scholarships at 200 Ukr hryvnyas each to children in Ukraine. His campaign “Eyeglasses for the orphans of Ukraine” included 721 orphanages/boarding-schools and distributed 20,387 glasses.

The next award was to Mr. Hryhoriy Malynowsky, a patron who focused his attention on the educational needs of Ukraine. His most generous contributions enabled the purchase of necessary textbooks and encyclopedias, as well as publishing of textbooks. He purchased wheelchairs for the crippled, medical equipment, basic texts on human anatomy, mothers and children, and healthy nourishment. In response to natural disasters in Ukraine, he sent aid to the victims through UUARC.

Next on the list was the late Sylvia Blake, a teacher from Detroit, Michigan, who bequeathed significant funds for a specific program of improvement of children’s health care in Ukraine. This included funding 15 ambulances, equipment for children’s hospitals, and medical parcels for medical stations in areas remotely located far from regional centers.

Mr. Vasyl Petrach, who lived near Washington, donated a significant sum for assistance in repair and maintenance of 11 children’s orphanages/boarding-schools in the area of Staryj Dobrotvir.

Mr. Bohdan Kurylko was the next patron known for his contributions to various causes. He donated 1,000 pairs of new shoes, medical equipment, wash-basins, showers, washing machines, and provided financial support to a small family business.

Commemorative citations for their many long years of service to UUARC were given to Dr. Ivan Skalchuk, the Executive Director of UUARC 1981-1990 and Stephan Hawrysz, who managed the home office for many years and later became Executive Director.

The Executive Board of UUARC decided to recognize the following persons with an award for their last 15 years of volunteer work in support of UUARC: Lyubov Siletsky, for chairing the Assistance Committee; Mykhaylo Kowalchyn, the honorary chairman of the Assistance Committee; Ivan Krych, longstanding Recording Secretary, for keeping the minutes of board meetings for many years. Awards were also granted to: Chrystia Charyna Senyk, Chrystia Kulchytsky, Dr. Natalia Pazuniak, Volodymyra Kawka, Metodij Boretsky, and Dr. Larissa Kyj.

Dr. Oleksander Lushnytsky, the editor of UUARC’s jubilee book, narrated the story of the book’s creation: a group of professional people accomplished a major task by publishing 400 copies of a large 280-page jubilee book at no cost at all. Everyone who attended the banquet received the book free of charge. Anybody interested in obtaining the book should contact UUAC headquarters (215-728-1630).

The Master of Ceremonies noted the presence of Stephanie Wowchak, one of the first and distinguished members of UUARC, who was a participant in its founding Congress. Toward the end of the evening, the “Akkolada” choir, under the leadership of its director, Bohdan Gengalo, performed a series of patriotic songs and ended with a “Mnohaya Lita!” to all participants of this jubilee celebration. Ms. Solomiya Ivakhiv, a renowned classical violinist also performed several pieces, accompanied by C. Grossman, also on violin.

Rev. Roman Mirchuk concluded the banquet with a prayer, and then all present sang the Ukrainian national anthem to end this successful jubilee celebration.

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