Credit union donates $500,000 to The Ukrainian Museum

N.Y. Self Reliance grants to other groups total $330,000

NEW YORK - Celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding with a gala concert on April 29 at The Cooper Union Hall in Lower Manhattan, the Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union, presented a gift of $500,000 to The Ukrainian Museum in New York City.

That donation was in addition to $130,000 of donations presented to 13 other organizations, $150,000 for educational organizations in Ukraine to be distributed through U.S. foundations, and $50,000 to St. George School and Academy in New York City.

Thus, Self Reliance New York disbursed a total of $830,000 in donations to community institutions and organizations as well as Ukrainian causes to mark 50 years of service to the Ukrainian American community.

As well, the credit union shared its largesse with its members, paying out additional dividends totaling $540,000 to its depositors.

The half-million-dollar gift was presented to The Ukrainian Museum's representatives, Olha Hnateyko, president of the board of trustees, and Maria Shust, museum director, by Myroslav Shmigel, chairman of the board of directors of Self Reliance, and Bohdan Kekish, president and CEO, during a ceremony at The Cooper Union.

Museum officials expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that for many years the credit union has been a steadfast supporter of the museum, underwriting many of its programs and needs. The current gift, according to a press release issued by The Ukrainian Museum, "is an eloquent endorsement by Self Reliance of the institution's necessity, validity and importance to the fundamental structure and well-being of the Ukrainian community."

The donation from Self Reliance New York will be matched dollar-for-dollar through a $1 million Challenge Grant the museum had received from Eugene and Daymel Shklar last year.

Although the funds from the gift will be used to cover the cost of the construction of a new museum facility, the match from the Challenge Grant will be deposited in the Eugene and Daymel Shklar Endowment Fund, which the couple opened at the museum. The income from the fund will be used to support the ongoing operating expenses of the museum.

(Full coverage of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Self Reliance New York will appear in upcoming issues of The Ukrainian Weekly.)

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 6, 2001, No. 18, Vol. LXIX

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