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:
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.
Society bears particular responsibility for a special category of children – children of Ukrainian defenders. This category of teenagers is outside the regular agenda of social and psychological projects, but they experience tremendous emotional tension caused by the war and family losses. Some of them have been experiencing war trauma since 2014. Against the backdrop of the war, Ukrainian teenagers are dealing with regular challenges of their age: immersing in the outside world, getting to know it, testing their capabilities in it, and figuring out a way to realize their potential.
The formation of healthy values shapes the capacity of the next generation to build a happy and prosperous future in Ukraine. Caring about the future of Ukraine, Razom fully sponsored a project called “School of soft skills development SSSD” designed and implemented by the Ukrainian NGO “ReSOURCE” and their team of experienced educators, psychologists, coaches, and activists.
From August 15 to 23, 2022, they organized a summer camp for teenagers from the families of Ukrainian soldiers who died defending their homes and those who continue fighting for peace and freedom on their land. Forty-six teenagers (12-16 yo) spent nine days at the sanatorium “Dibrova” in the Kyiv region. They had full board, attended workshops and excursions, and relaxed and socialized with peers.
Every participant got to learn how to:
assess their capacity for offline learning after almost two years of attending classes only online;
listen to each other and communicate productively;
work effectively in teams;
believe in themselves and inspire others;
share individual experiences;
respect and hold each other up.
Statistics of the 9-day program:
30 hours of studying;
20 hours of cultural and educational workshops;
6 hours of joint teamwork on self-started projects.
During the workshop “Ukrainian charms” on the first day of camp, the participants made patriotic guardian angel charms and bracelets. Some kids even made several charms to gift to their family and friends.
Soulful conversations and evenings together created unique emotions and joy that helped the teenagers get to know each other. They shared personal experiences and sangUkrainian songs supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the Karaoke evening “Guess the Melody.”
Together drew the picture “Ukraine is all of us!”; presented short TikTok videos “Soft skills of teenagers”; and simply chatted while playing board games.
One of the days, they watched the movie “Miracle” and discussed the questions about the meaning of life, family, friendship, love, and, most importantly, choosing to do good at every stage of life.
Another day, during the English-speaking club, they developed a business project called “Around Ukraine.” Working in teams, the participants chose exciting places in Ukraine they’d like to visit with friends, developed the route, supplies, and marketing plans, and then presented their business plan in English.
Morning group exercises energized and prepared the participants for the daily workshops. Inspiring hikes along the Ros River and the Arboretum of Oleksandriia provided an opportunity to learn more about the history and culture of the place where these children grew up. During the breaks, they talked about the Victory and plans for the future.
During the whole stay at the camp, each participant had the opportunity to receive individual psychological support on the issues concerning them.
This help wasn’t imposed, but instead offered casually during daily life. At times, psychologists and coaches supervising the camp noticed the change in the mood, behavior, or unwillingness to partake in one task. They asked them questions, trying to get to the root of the problem and find a solution together.
These conversations addressed a variety of issues: concern for the fate and health of parents fighting at the front lines; parents’ divorce; social anxiety; struggling with self-presentation and self-expression; isolation (as a result of remote schooling); inner conflicts in teams; uncertainty in choosing a future career.
The coaches were thrilled to see the drive, enthusiasm, and openness to knowledge that teenagers took with them into the world, and the feedback was the most gratifying thing:
“Everyone has to experience this.”
“This is a school that prepares for real life.”
“I finally became myself.”
“Incredible project.”
The “ReSOURCE” team completed this project with great faith in Ukrainian youth and admiration for their capabilities, ideas, and desire to do great things for the country. After all, youth is the driving force of any society, and Razom and “ReSOURCE” are happy to help Ukrainian children grow.
The Razom Grants team aims to help local Ukrainian volunteer organizations to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the war.
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 reportfor 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.
This week we want to shine a spotlight on a very special event coming to New York City this holiday season and warmly invite you to Notes From Ukraine, a concert on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at Carnegie Hall dedicated to 100 years of “Shchedryk” and highlighting Ukrainian music and the connections between Ukrainian and American cultures.
A hundred years ago Ukrainians used the soft power of music to preserve and promote their independence, and today Ukrainian artists are once again turning to culture to communicate with the world.
On October 5, 1922, the Ukrainian Republic Capella performed Mykola Leontovych’s “Shchedryk” in New York City’s Carnegie Hall for the first time to North American audiences, sparking its journey to becoming the beloved Christmas classic known around the world as “Carol of the Bells.” Back then, the concert was a part of a cultural diplomacy missionlaunched in 1919 to promote awareness of Ukrainian independence in Europe and the Americas and to counter Russian propaganda. Under the auspices of the head of the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR), Symon Petliura, and the Ministries of Education, Arts and Foreign Affairs, the national choir performed more than 200 concerts in North America alone at major halls and universities. The Capella shared Ukraine’s unique choral tradition while promoting the country’s sovereignty and distinctiveness from “the russian world.”
Check out this video to learn more about the incredible and little-known history of one of the most beloved Christmas melodies around the world and its origins.
Notes from Ukraine on December 4th will be a culmination of the collective dreaming, vision, and work of many people, over many years.
Produced by Ukrainian Institute-Kyiv, Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival (UCMF), and us (Razom), it will feature performances by 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, including 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 (a RazomPartner via the Serhi Zhadan Charitable Foundation), as well as American choral works with Ukrainian connections by composers Eric Whitacre, Leonard Bernstein, Valentyn Sylvestrov, George Gershwin, and others.
This project has never been as important as it is today, when the identity of Ukraine is again under threat and russia’s missiles have targeted cultural sites across the country. In buying a ticket to this concert you will not only discover amazing Ukrainian music and support Ukrainian musical artists and composers, but also become a part of Ukraine’s reconstruction. Proceeds from this event will go to United24 and allocated to the reconstruction of public services.
Notes From Ukraine is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations, and the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA. We are grateful for our sponsor Samopomich, Self Reliance Federal Credit Union of New York, and we are looking for more sponsors to become a part this momentous event for the Ukrainian-American diaspora in the U.S. and music lovers in NYC.
We hope to see you all together on December 4th at Carnegie Hall, but before then there are several other great opportunities to connect with Ukraine with events across the country. Here’s a few to put on your radar:
The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, the world’s leading national stage will showcase a Benefit Concert for Ukraine on October 18 at 7:30PM. The concert features joint performance by American violinist, Grammy Award-winner and global superstar, Joshua Bell, and the internationally acclaimed New Era Orchestra from Ukraine.
Upcoming premier screenings of Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom with director Evgeny Afineevsky scheduled to attend. Catch a moving, behind the headlines account of the Ukrainian people’s resistance and resilience during the 2022 Russian invasion. With unprecedented access to the events on the ground, it weaves together personal stories of civilians, soldiers, journalists, and international volunteers to give voice to the people whose lives have been turned upside down.
Hampton Film Fest in East Hampton, NY on Saturday, October 8 @ 5:00PM | Regal UA East Hampton and in Sag Harbor, NY on Sunday, October 9 @ 2:00PM | Sag Harbor Cinema
Mill Valley Film Festival in Mill Valley, CA on Tuesday, Oct 11 @ 3:30PM and Wednesday, October 12 @ 12:25PM
Brooklyn (home of the Brooklyn Cyclones Stadium) welcomes the Ukrainian National Baseball Team for charity baseball games to raise funds to rebuild Ukraine’s youth sports facilities and infrastructure. You’ll have a chance to meet some Ukrainian heroes (baseball players who are members of the Ukrainian military), while helping to raise awareness about the ongoing war in Ukraine. There are two games, each of which include pre-game performances and ceremonies, post-game fireworks, and raffle and silent auction opportunities. General admission is free, but you have to reserve your tickets here.
Game 1:Team Ukraine vs NYPD Baseball on Friday, October 14@ 7:00PM w/ pre-game performances and ceremonies starting @ 6:00PM.
Game 2:Team Ukraine vs FDNY Baseball on Saturday, October 15 @ 2:00PM w/ pre-game performances and activities starting @ 1:00PM.
Bar 9 Piano Bar in NYC, along with the NYC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Bronx School of Music, the Hellenic Progressive Association: Peter Karanous Bx Chapter #175, and the National Association of Real Estate Brokersare hosting a Musical Jam and Fundraiser for Ukraine on Wednesday, October 12 @ 6:00PM. Our own Alex Pryrodny will be one of the performers and fundraising for Razom! You can buy your ticket and even watch the event virtually here.
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.
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!
CALLING ALL CREATORS WHO SUPPORT UKRAINE
Monday, October 24th, 2022
Understanding and celebrating different culture is a necessity for peace and tolerance. Ukraine will have fought a horrific full blown war for 8 consecutive months on October 24th. What has lead Ukrainians to victory, time and time again, is the pride we share in our culture, and it’s what we want to share with the rest of the world.
This is an invitation for you to be a part of an international worldwide social media fundraising campaign for Razom. We have selected 10 Ukrainian mythological characters to highlight this Halloween season. If you choose to participate we would love to share these myths with you and let you create freely. The task is to create (art, music, dance, make up, fashion, etc) based on the myth assigned to you and to post this content on October 24th under the hashtag #UkrainianHalloween. Our team will not be micromanaging your process and we want to emphasize that this will be your work inspired by Ukrainian culture. All forms of artistry and creation are welcomed and encouraged.
This project’s goals are: – Celebrate and highlight Ukrainian culture in a unique way – Celebrate Ukrainian supporters through our close collaboration on #UkrainianHalloween – Fundraise for an imminent victory against our aggressor and also for the immediate rebuilding of a terrorized nation
To participate please go to our Instagram profile and click the #UkrainianHalloween link in our heylink!
Questions to: @aleksandr.krapivkin Illustration by: @bubblegum_effect
Razom was one of the winners of the 2022 Innovators Awards in Global Affairs from Network 20/20, their premier event showcasing emerging innovation, global leadership, and people-to-people diplomacy. The gala brought together prominent global leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, academics, and corporate supporters. Razom’s President, Dora Chomiak and Vice President, Lyuba Shipovich spoke at the gala and accepted the Communication and Civic Engagement award on Razom’s behalf!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about all the meaningful ways you can support Ukraine and immerse yourself and learn from its culture. We sincerely hope to see you at all of these incredible events because we’ll be there!
In our next newsletter installment, we’ll be sharing a deep dive into some new projects recently started by Razom as well as updates on our long standing work. There are some great stories coming your way.
Oksana Falenchuk, Razom Board Member, Treasurer and Hospitals Team leader, has recently returned from Ukraine. These are her field notes that both inform and inspire. And as Oksana believes: “It is a very special time to visit Ukraine. If you have any desire to, you should”.
~ by Oksana Falenchuk:
Visiting Ukraine during the war won’t be easy to forget, but fearing that memories fade I decided to put some of the thoughts in writing. I have not witnessed the actual war – the cities of Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk are away from the frontlines and, aside from an occasional air siren and 11pm curfew, everyday life feels completely normal. The fact that electricity is on, showers have hot water, coffee shops and restaurants are buzzing and store shelves are full, is a reflection of Ukraine’s resiliency. Faced with an existential choice, people decided to preserve their everyday lives – celebrate holidays, shop, party, go to concerts, and travel. Just like the Americans did after 9/11. It is a very special time to visit Ukraine. If you have any desire to, you should.
I am grateful to the people who gave me their time, met for coffee or dinner, shared a walk or a car ride. Too many meetings and unexpected run-ins to mention everyone.
Our Razom for Ukraine team in Lviv is incredible – they built a complex logistical operation within a short few months, they work hard, always with a smile. The coffee at the office is the best, and there was always something sweet and yummy to go with it.
Our medical aid partners Zdorovi Agency and Patients of Ukraine are effectively cooperating on distributing critical medical supplies, medications and equipment to Ukrainian hospitals, but are also planning for the future, focusing on projects that will bring modern diagnostic equipment and designing programs for physical and mental rehabilitation of the victims of war.
I was fortunate to visit the opening of Ukrainian Leadership Academy (UAL). Being among the brightest 16-year-olds gives you incredible energy and hope. The war has disrupted UAL’s life in a major way – last year, they operated in several locations across Ukraine, including Mariupol, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Kyiv. Now everyone is consolidated in Lviv. Close to 100 of UAL’s alumni and staff are fighting on the frontlines, and four of their boys lost their lives. The war takes our best.
Building Ukraine Together (BUR) has always been a personal favorite grassroots organization. BUR is renovating housing for the displaced people so they can integrate into their new communities. They have grown and institutionalized, but the camps are still run with minimal comforts as my son Mark can attest. That’s part of the charm!
Ukraine’s cultural life is vibrant. Marjana Savka, over coffee at her bookshop, noted that the sales of modern Ukrainian literature have gone up since the war, as well as requests for translations from overseas. Pavlo Gudimov’s YaGallery’s current exhibit bears this slogan at the entrance: “Glory to Ukraine and glory to the Armed Forces, which give us the opportunity to engage in culture: to build the future in wartime!”
Ukrainian businesses have mobilized for the war but continue to innovate, among them Fest , Promprylad, Urban Space. One of the ways we can support Ukraine is to buy Ukrainian and keep the economy going. I didn’t do much shopping on the trip but got some sustainable fashion at Framiore, floral ceramics at EtnostylFaino and stocked up on everyone’s favorite beverage П’яна Вишня.
Finally, the main purpose of the trip – the first medical mission to Ukraine, a joint project of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), Razom for Ukraine and INgenius. 14 American surgeons and nurses for a week operated on patients with severe injuries of face and neck at the Ivano Frankivsk Oblast hospital alongside the Ukrainian colleagues led by an incredible Dr Komashko. Close to 40 procedures, some lasted as long as 10 hours. The group brought $325K in medical supplies (including custom designed implants) and donated ~$300K in the value of surgeries. Razom z Toboyu therapists provided counseling and psychological support . A chance of new life for 31 patients. People from Bucha, Izyum, Kherson, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy. People with wounds and burns from shelling, mine explosions, direct gunshots, artillery fire. None of those things had to happen to them. The real scars of war are only beginning to show. And healing them will take generations.
Razom has been at the forefront of humanitarian response in Ukraine since day one of the full scale invasion. As the war continues to rip our country, we are focusing our efforts on winter preparedness, supporting the local healthcare institutions and grassroots NGO, and advocating for Ukraine on the global stage. Please support our efforts.
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.
Since February 24, 2022, many groups have reached out to Razom with initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine. One of the first was NYC Moms, a group that formed during COVID-19 to navigate parenting during the pandemic. It is these incredible Moms that Razom wants to thank wholeheartedly for having turned to us in solidarity and organized an event that helps us carry out a humanitarian aid project in Ukraine. Faced with the reality of russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the New York City mothers decided to act to support Ukrainian people by forming NYC Moms for a Cause.
The Moms put together an Evening for Ukraine: A Cocktail Reception to Benefit Ukrainian Families. The event and auction were held on the evening of April 12. It was one of the first events in New York City uniting people in solidarity with Ukraine and collecting funds for Razom’s Emergency Response Project. The gala gathered guests in the French gothic style mansion of the Ukrainian Institute of America on the Upper East Side and showcased various elements of Ukrainian culture.
“The moms recognized the critical need to help families in crisis,” the group said when announcing the event. “Additionally, several group members have personal ties to Ukraine through family, colleagues, and nonprofit work in the region.”
Along with words of solidarity and support for Ukraine, the event immersed the audience in all-things-Ukrainian including a demonstration of how to decorate Ukrainian pysanky (Ukraine’s traditional decorated Easter eggs), an exhibit of art, performances of Ukrainian music and dance, and the sale of blue and yellow angel ornaments made by children. All of this was accompanied by drinks and treats including traditional Ukrainian cuisine.
The pinnacle of the evening was the silent auction which collected funds for Razom’s humanitarian relief work in Ukraine. Together with the sale of the lots, individual contributions in the form of crypto currency donations checks, the event yielded over $100,000. Hundred percent of it was entrusted to Razom to convert into aid for vulnerable civilians in Ukraine. As NYC Moms for a Cause envisioned, this sum entered Razom’s pool of funds that our teams strategically allocate toward providing aid for displaced families, the delivery of medical supplies, and other critical relief.
Razom and all the people whom we’ve been able to support on the ground in Ukraine during the war say “dyakuyu” to Moms for a Cause for their solidarity with Ukraine and support for Razom’s humanitarian efforts.
Razom for Ukraine co-organized a three-day event in Washington DC called the “Ukraine Action Summit”. During the Summit, Razom and other pro-Ukrainian organizations, all participants of the newly minted American Coalition for Ukraine, met with American legislators on the Hill, where they spoke about Ukrainian issues currently of the greatest concern to their constituents.
On the first day of the Ukraine Action Summit, advocates from all over the US gathered in the afternoon at Georgetown University for an advocacy workshop. During the workshop, they strengthened their advocacy skills and prepared for two days of Congressional meetings. About 40% of attendees were first-time advocates! Participants received advice from former Ambassador Steven Pifer, former Ambassador Michael McFaul, Robert McConnell and Emily Channel Justice on engaging with current administration staffers and gave more context on current American foreign policy.
In total, over 150 meetings were held with constituents, with most occurring between September 18-20. Over 30 states and 110 Congressional districts were represented. A further 24 meetings with principals and experts who joined the Summit to offer their expert opinions and timely research. Advocates spoke with their representatives and elected officials about expedited military aid to Ukraine, increased financial aid, and more robust sanctions against russia. Using the advocacy handbook that was prepared by the Razom Advocacy’s Research Team, advocates also discussed specific pieces of legislation currently before the House and Senate that would help Ukraine win the war.
The Summit concluded with a reception at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event was kicked off by renditions of the American, sung by Summit participant and US veteran Mark Lindqvist, and Ukrainian, sung by Eurovision winner and Ukrainian music star Ruslana, national anthems. Speakers included Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Tom Malinowski, and Peter Meijer, as well as Zaher Sahloul of MedGlobal and the Syrian-American community. Attendees also heard Ukrainian songs performed by Duet Malvy on the Bandura and Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar music performed by the Kobzarska Sich chorus.
Razom is honored to have stood with all of the advocates and organizations in the American Coalition For Ukraine, speakers, and performers who participated the Ukraine Action Summit! Bringing so many people together to fight for a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine has been incredible, and we cannot wait to hold a summit like this one again. We look forward to continuing this important work together – #Razom.
To learn more about the Ukraine Action Summit and the American Coalition for Ukraine, you can check out AmericanCoalitionForUkraine.org or check out the hashtags #UkraineActionSummit and #AmericanCoalitionForUkraine on social media. And don’t forget to add your voice to advocacy for Ukraine by writing or calling your Representatives!
In the two weeks since we last published a newsletter, an incredible amount of work has been achieved both in Ukraine and the states. Razom’s Grant Program and Advocacy work took center stage. After the huge wins of Ukrainian forces liberating large parts of occupied Ukrainian territory in the Northeast and East, the work of our Kharkiv based grantees went immediately into overdrive. The amount of starvation, destruction, and violence discovered in the liberated areas follows a similar pattern we have seen throughout the entire invasion. That’s why part of Razom’s Emergency Response has included partnering with over 100 Ukrainian NGOs on the ground who can immediately support the needs of civilians on the ground and grow into a force in the future reconstruction of Ukraine. We’d like to spotlight the impact of a few of those organizations today, as well as give you an opportunity to donate to those targeted efforts directly (click on their links below).
Yellow Help is a charitable organization born out of a collaboration between a few Kharkiv entrepreneurs that includes a taxi fleet, a CRM, and a robust logistics operation that delivers food and medicine, runs an informational call center, and connects builders and constructors who are willing to volunteer to rebuild destroyed buildings and houses.
Rescue Now is a charitable organization that’s aiding victims of russian military aggression across most of the Eastern Ukrainian region through evacuations, humanitarian aid, sourcing shelter, and procuring aid for the winter months such as heaters, generators, blankets, and warm clothes for the many people in the region without water, gas, and electricity.
Volonterska UA is a volunteer hub assisting residents of the Kharkiv region in a similar fashion but focusing on the most vulnerable populations such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and those turned destitute as a result of the invasion or occupation.
If you want to dive into the heartbreaking stories of some of the lives impacted by this type of work, read our Updates post. It follows a young man with broken legs to a family of three whose house burned down along with all their belongings.
Volonterska UA is currently running a special project, RELIVE, to renovate 1,700 basements in high-rise buildings across Kharkiv to be used as makeshift bomb shelters by equipping them with plumbing, electricity, and good ventilation. Even though it doesn’t make it to the top of the news reel anymore, russia is bombing Ukraine almost daily and Eastern Ukraine and Kharkiv gets the brunt of that violence. Help the volunteers of Volonterska (in partnership with the Youth Council of Kharkiv) to accommodate the safety of over 100,000 people in the city by donating to the project!
Meanwhile stateside, there’s a certain support that Ukraine needs that only governments can provide. That’s why Razom invested into building out an Advocacy team early on in the invasion. We’ve reported on their incredible work in the past but this week their work came to a head as they took part in the first ever Ukraine Action Summit in Washington DC! Razom, along with more than 34 other organizationsfrom around the US (and not only Ukrainian-American ones, check out the list here), convened in DC as part of the newly formed American Coalition for Ukraine to advocate for support to Ukraine. More then 270 advocates attended the Summit and almost half were first-time advocates! The participants of the Summit represented more than 35 states and more than 110 Congressional districts. Overall, more than 130 Congressional meetings took place during the Summit, both in-person and virtually, and over a third of the members had the Member present themselves.
To learn more about the Ukraine Action Summit and the American Coalition for Ukraine, you can check out AmericanCoalitionForUkraine.org or check out the hashtags #UkraineActionSummit and #AmericanCoalitionForUkraine on social media.
Even if you weren’t able to attend the Summit, don’t forget to add your voice to advocacy for Ukraine by calling your Representatives! Here’s a primer on the latest Legislative Priorities for Ukraine in the US Senate.
Saturday, September 24th @ 3:30pm, Bowling Green Park (Bull of Wall Street) We won the battle of Kyiv, and now we liberated almost the entire Kharkiv region and parts of the Eastern and Southern Ukraine. But the fight is far from being over. Join us at Bowling Green to continue pushing governments all over the world to support Ukraine and remind them that the fight is not over!
Don’t forget to put these upcoming events on your calendar. We’re super excited to announce something special coming to New York City this December for the holiday season.
Representing New York City:
On Saturday, September 24th, 6AM-6PM, New York Cycle Club’s 28th Annual Escape New York Ride (ENY’22) will have an opportunity to fundraise for Razom. Use Code RAZOM2022 to save $20 on registration and donate $22 of the registration fee to Razom. Riders who raise $500 or more will win a free jersey! For further details, visit enynycc.org/causes.
On Tuesday, September 27th at 6pm join us at an Art Party for A Cause! Traditional, NFT, and AI Art near Flatiron for an art exhibition and special guest EDM DJ. Register for tickets here.
On Friday, September 30th, 6:00PM – 11:45PM Otto’s Shrunken Head in the Lower East Side is hosting another Benefit for Ukraine with a lineup of great music and all donations going to Razom.
On Thursday, October 6th from 6:30-10PM the Ukrainian Institute of America is hosting the Sunflower Gala fundraising for Razom’s humanitarian relief work. The evening will include a special menu designed by Veselka, and special performances by Pavlo Glyntov, Vira Slyvotzky, Alisa Smarichevskaya, and opera singer Ludmila Fesenko.
Notes from Ukraine – 100 Years of Carol of the Bells @ Carnegie Hall!
The concert on December 4, 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the first performance of “Shchedryk” by Mykola Leontovych—known more broadly as “Carol of the Bells.” We will celebrate Ukrainian musical heritage through a beautiful variety of choral works sung by Shchedryks Children, choir of Trinity Church Wall Street, Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of NY, featuring special guests Janai Brugger and Marichka Marczyk.
The concert also features a new work by Trevor Weston with words set by Ukrainian poet Serhiy Zhadan and American composers with connections to Ukrainian culture – works by Eric Whitacre, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and more.
Notes from Ukraine is co-presented by: MFA of Ukraine, Ukrainian Institute, Razom For Ukraine, and Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival.
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
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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.”
