Rochester golf tournament benefits Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (10/13/02)

Rochester golf tournament benefits Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - On Saturday, September 14 at the picturesque Shadow Pines Golf Club in Penfield, N.Y., the Rochester Chapter of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund and the Rochester Ukrainian Federal Credit Union sponsored their 4th annual charity golf tournament to benefit CCRF.

Over 50 golfers enjoyed a relaxing afternoon of golf and camaraderie, followed by cocktails and an evening dinner that featured keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter. As a member of CCRF's honorary board and the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, Rep. Slaughter thanked the crowd that packed the clubhouse banquet hall for supporting CCRF. "You should all be so proud of what CCRF has accomplished in Ukraine," said Ms. Slaughter. "When I hear about the reductions in infant mortality and your success in fighting children's cancer and setting up these neonatal units, I'm just amazed."

Tournament co-organizer Bohdan Skrobach congratulated the winning team of Andrew and Jerry Randisi, Clark Cogan and Jim McKeegan. He especially thanked Delta Airlines and other corporate sponsors who donated raffle gifts.

CCRF Executive Director Alex Kuzma thanked the tournament organizers, the sponsors and golfers who helped to raise over $3,500 at this year's event.

The Rochester Chapter recently donated $15,000 to help establish a new neonatal intensive care unit at the Ivano-Frankivsk Maternity Hospital. With a grant from the State of New York arranged by State Sen. James Alesi, the chapter also provided $5,000 for prenatal vitamins to help reduce the incidence of birth defects and pregnancy complications in the Rivnen Oblast that was especially hard-hit by fallout from the Chornobyl disaster.

CCRF has completed a total of 30 medical airlifts and 12 sea shipments to Ukraine, delivering more than $49 million worth of aid to children's hospitals and orphanages. In recent years, the fund has concentrated its efforts on combating infant mortality through the creation of model neonatal intensive care units and through medical training programs. This fall CCRF is planning its international training conference in Ukraine, this one focusing on infant cardiac surgery.

The Rochester Chapter is planning two more fund-raisers before the end of the year: a family night and a spaghetti dinner sponsored by the Knights of Columbus on the weekend of November 2-3. For more information, please call Myron Babiuk at (585) 872-4263.

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