Our History
United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, Inc (UUARC) was established in 1944 and started fulfilling its mission of “brother-to-brother” by assisting Ukrainians in refugee camps during and after WWII, and then helping to resettle more than 70,000 of these refugees in the United States. This program continued on a much smaller scale into the 1960’s and early 1970’s with Ukrainian refugees from Poland and other Eastern European countries. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, the emphasis changed to aid Ukrainian communities in Yugoslavia and South America, especially schools and orphanages. In 1985, a self-sustaining micro-loan land project was established in Brazil, which still exists today and has made more than $1,000,000 worth of loans since its inception. In the 1990’s, responding to the greatest needs of Ukrainians in newly-independent Ukraine survive the hardships they were experiencing during their adaptations from a planned economy under the Soviet Union to a democracy.
Unfortunately, social programs suffered, leaving many in poverty and the social framework broken. As a result, UUARC placed their emphasis on orphanages, schools, hospitals, the sick and elderly, with such projects as the USAID-funded Grant Project for handicapped children, ambulance and medical equipment project, Adopt-a-Grandparent Program and numerous others. Simultaneously, throughout all these years, UUARC has been responding on an individual basis to thousands in need through the Assistance Committee.
Celebrating 75 Years of UUARC
On October 12, 2019 UUARC celebrated its 75th Jubilee. Approximately 200 people attended the reception held at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, PA.
The hierarchs and priests of the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Churches as well as representatives of many organizations were in attendance. Dr. Larissa Kyj, Luba Siletsky and Metodij Boretskyj were distinguished for their many years of dedication and commitment to the organization. Guests from Ukraine were Rev. Stepan Sus, head of the Military Chaplaincy Center, Vera Prynko, head of UUARC’s bureau in Kyiv and Andriy Duda from its bureau in Lviv.
The artistic program included pianists Anna and Dmytro Shelest, and the male chorus “Prometej”.
Since it’s beginning in 1944, UUARC has fulfilled and is continuing to fulfill its mission of helping Ukrainians in need in Ukraine and throughout the world. With the generosity of its many donors, its mission will continue into the future.
Pictures from the event below. Photo credit: Stephen Fartuszok.
In 2019, the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC) will celebrate its 75th anniversary. At the 2nd Congress of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, which took
place on 22 January 1944 in Philadelphia, with the participation of three fraternal organizations, the Ukrainian National Association, Providence Association and the National Aid Association, it was decided to create a separate non-political humanitarian aid organization to assist Ukrainian refugees. The Committee convened on June 20, 1944 in New York City, and UUARC started fulfilling its mission of extending a helping hand “brother-to-brother” by assisting Ukrainians in refugee camps during and after WWII, and then helping to resettle more than 70,000 refugees in the United States.
Few organizations survive and are viable for 75 years. Over the years UUARC‘s programs continually changed to reflect new needs of Ukrainians in Europe and South America, and since 1991 providing continuous aid to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. The Ukrainian American community understands that a permanent aid organization which can swiftly respond to the needs of Ukrainians throughout the world is necessary and has generously supported UUARC.
Without these donors the organization could not exist.
The executive board has formed a jubilee committee and approved the following commemorative plan: celebrate the 75 th anniversary of UUARC on October 12, 2019, and prepare a jubilee book in both languages, with special emphasis on the latter years. Chrystia Charyna Senyk and Myroslawa Mazurok Hill were chosen to co-chair the jubilee committee and Natalia Siletsky Mykijewycz was chosen as editor of the jubilee book.
Contact info
Phone: (215) 728-1630
Email: uuarc@uuarc.org
Address: 1206 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19154
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As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations to UUARC are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.