CCRF's Hartford chapter honors individuals, institutions with awards (06/08/03)

CCRF's Hartford chapter honors individuals, institutions with awards

HARTFORD, Conn. - The greater Hartford chapter of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund on Sunday, May 18, hosted a gala awards dinner honoring several individuals and institutions for their outstanding support of the Fund's medical mission.

The honorees included Olympic and World Champion Viktor Petrenko, who launched the "Viktory for Kids" ice skating gala in 2001 that raised over $120,000 for CCRF to create a neonatal intensive care unit at the Odesa Regional Children's Hospital.

Also honored was award-winning photographer Joseph Sywenkyj, a native of Windham, Conn., and a former intern for CCRF whose riveting photos of Ukrainian orphans and children undergoing treatment for cancer helped to inspire new initiatives among CCRF donors and volunteers.

On behalf of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Danbury, Conn., the Rev. Luke Mihaly accepted an award for his parishioners who have organized a series of very successful fund-raisers, including the annual Holy Trinity 5-kilometer road race (now in its seventh year) to benefit CCRF. The Ukrainian National Home of New Haven, Conn., was honored for its generous gift of over $71,000 to CCRF to purchase state-of-the-art medical technology for the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children's Hospital.

The dinner was moderated by Hartford chapter co-chairs Irene Oleksiak and Natalie Korsheniuk-Pollock who thanked all the donors and guests who packed the banquet hall at the Ukrainian National Home in Hartford to celebrate the achievements of CCRF and to mobilize new support for medical programs in Ukraine. Ukraine's consul general in New York, Serhiy Pohoreltzev, and his wife, Svitlana, traveled from New York City to express their nation's gratitude for CCRF's work and to praise the efforts of Mr. Petrenko and the other honorees.

Since 1990, CCRF has launched 30 airlifts and 14 sea shipments, delivering over $50 million worth of humanitarian aid, medical technology and training programs to Ukrainian hospitals and orphanages that specialize in the treatment of children stricken with thyroid cancer, leukemia, birth defects and life-threatening illnesses. Mr. Pohoreltzev acknowledged the fund as one of the most effective and professional organizations aiding Ukraine.

In accepting his award, Mr. Petrenko began his speech in Ukrainian, thanking the crowd for their warm greeting and for the award, then continued his remarks in English in deference to the culturally diverse audience. "Although I've traveled across the world as an international skater, I will always have a special place in my heart for Ukraine and for my hometown of Odesa," said Mr. Petrenko. He thanked all the volunteers and donors who contributed to the success of the Viktory for Kids program, and who helped him to realize his dream of creating a model neonatal unit in his homeland. "As the father of a young child, I know the importance of what you are doing," he said.

Mr. Petrenko received a standing ovation and was obviously moved by the crowd's response. After the program, he graciously signed autographs and met with well-wishers. Mr. Petrenko was joined by his wife Nina, also an accomplished skater and Olympic trainer, his agent Liz Desevo, and the Ukrainian ice-dancing championship pair of Olena Hrushyna and Ruslan Honcharov.

Speaking on behalf of the CCRF National Office, Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky praised the Ukrainian community of Connecticut as a "stronghold" and "an engine of ingenuity" for CCRF. "From Danbury to Willimantic, from Bridgeport to New Britain to New London, you have reached out to local corporations and political leaders, medical centers, universities and civic associations to find new sources of support from within and from beyond the Ukrainian community," Dr. Matkiwsky said. The co-founder and chairman of CCRF's board of directors went on to say, "In countless ways, you have made us stronger, and you have given us new hope that we can improve the lives of a new generation of Ukrainian children."

Most of the proceeds from the May 18 event were designated for the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children's Hospital, to build on the success of the Ukrainian National Home of New Haven, Conn., that provided a generous grant of $71,000 to modernize the local newborn intensive care unit. Attorney Irene Romanelli presented an award to the president of the Ukrainian National Home of New Haven, Conn., Paul Paluha who helped lead the association's campaign for CCRF. Dr. Matkiwsky announced that CCRF had just purchased a pediatric ultrasound and other vital equipment to supplement the large CCRF shipment that reached Ivano-Frankivsk last fall.

CCRF's Executive Director Alexander Kuzma presented the award to Mr. Sywenkyj for his photographic documentary work at the Zaluchia Orphanage for Disabled Children and his photographs of Ukrainian children suffering from AIDS. "You captured the essence of the orphans' lives at Zaluchia, and you portrayed them with heart-rending clarity," said Mr. Kuzma.

It was information from the Hartford chapter and Mr. Sywenkyj's photographs that helped draw international attention to the deplorable conditions in which the Zaluchia orphans lived. Since 2000, CCRF has mobilized an intensive campaign that provided the orphanage with major capital improvements, including a new roof and floors, industrial laundry equipment, medicine, clothing, bedding, and a variety of technical assistance.

In accepting his award, the Rev. Mihaly told the audience that it was a privilege to support the CCRF relief effort. "Truly, you are engaged in holy work," the Rev. Mihaly said. A graduate of Yale University and St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary, the Rev. Mihaly has worked closely with the business community in Danbury to secure corporate sponsorships and press coverage for the annual 5-kilometer road race.

Defying the small size of their parish, the 40 families active in Holy Trinity Orthodox Church have raised thousands of dollars for CCRF and helped attract support from this affluent area of Connecticut. In his introductory remarks before presenting the award, Andrij Rudko, the president of Vantage Enterprises hailed the Rev. Mihaly and his parish for validating the observation of famed anthropologist Dr. Margaret Meade: "Never underestimate the power of a small, determined group of people to change the world."

Among the other celebrities attending the awards dinner were state Sen. John Fonfara, attorney Igor Sikorsky Jr. (son of the Kyiv-born aviation pioneer and inventor of the helicopter), acclaimed children's entertainer Rob Gottfried, and Moki Kokoris, who a month earlier became the first woman of Ukrainian descent to reach the North Pole.

At the conclusion of the banquet, several individuals stepped forward to offer additional financial support for CCRF. Among them were Ivan Zakoworotny of Winsted, Conn., who pledged $5,000 for a medical program in Kharkiv, and Bohdan and Ella Sowa of New Haven, who donated $1,000.

CCRF is continuing its campaign to expand its hospital partnerships in 14 Ukrainian oblasts. To support this effort, tax-deductible donations may be sent to CCRF, 272 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078. To volunteer, please call (973) 376-5140 or (860) 652-0458, or consult the fund's website at: www.childrenofchornobyl.org.

Following the Hartford CCRF awards banquet, several honorees and guests greeted the crowd.

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