UNA Gift-Giving Project to benefit Kyiv Mohyla Foundation (07/06/03)

UNA Gift-Giving Project to benefit Kyiv Mohyla Foundation

by Roma Hadzewycz

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - The Ukrainian National Association has announced a new joint program with the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Ukraine, whereby purchasers of UNA insurance policies can support perhaps the most unique educational institution in independent Ukraine, which also happens to be the oldest university in all of Eastern Europe.

"It's a natural fit," exclaimed Ihor Wyslotsky, president of the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of America. "The Kyiv Mohyla Foundation was seeking a broader appeal to the Ukrainian community and to raise awareness of the NUKMA and its mission beyond the borders of Ukraine, while the UNA," he continued, "more than any other Ukrainian organization in North America, is engaged in Ukraine."

That engagement takes the form of everything from the UNA's support for various institutions in Ukraine to programs for teaching the English language, and, lest we forget, the Kyiv Press Bureau of The Ukrainian Weekly - the only full-time Western press bureau in Ukraine.

Viacheslav Briukhovetsky, president of the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, welcomed the new program - dubbed the UNA Gift-Giving Project - and the potential it represents for his growing university.

But why should the program be attractive to members? For someone interested in providing significant support to an extraordinary institution - in leaving a legacy - the costs are low, but there is a substantial benefit to that institution in the long-term.

Via a gifting program, an individual purchases a UNA life insurance policy (whole-life or 20-payment life are the two plans that may be used for this purpose) and "gifts" that policy to the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation by designating the foundation as the policy's beneficiary.

Mr. Wyslotsky explained that holders of policies purchased under this program will be given special treatment by the NUKMA. Each will get a symbolic key to the historic Kyiv Mohyla Academy and when visiting Kyiv can take advantage of the opportunity to get a complete tour of the university campus and thus become familiar with the depth of its traditions and the breadth of its academic offerings.

Plus, those who enroll in the UNA through this program get all the membership benefits for which the UNA is known, such as substantial discounts at the association's Soyuzivka resort and on the UNA's newspapers, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, and student scholarships.

Dating back to 1615, the Kyiv Mohyla Academy was re-established after a 175-year hiatus soon after the proclamation of Ukraine's independence. In 1994, two years after its rebirth, KMA was granted the status of "national university." Today it combines age-old teaching traditions with the best offerings of modern Western education; it offers bachelor's and master's degree programs.

It should be noted that the Ukrainian National Association's involvement with the NUKMA did not begin with this gifting program. Dr. Briukhovetsky underscored that the UNA has supported his institution with scholarships for a special college-preparatory program designed for talented students from rural regions of Ukraine who wish to enter the university.

In addition, he said that beginning this year the UNA is helping to promote a NUKMA summer program for college students from the West who want to further their knowledge of Ukrainian studies. The 2003 summer program, which runs from June 23 to August 1, offers intensive courses in Ukrainian language and lectures on various aspects of the rich Ukrainian culture, with special excursions that support this learning through exposure to the Ukrainian capital city's cultural, historical and political life.

The university has applied for international accreditation of its summer program, which has been functioning since 1995, through the International Education Committee. Dr. Briukhovetsky added proudly, "We are the first college in Ukraine to apply for this type of accreditation." It is hoped that by next year all students from abroad who attend NUKMA in the summer will be able to earn college credits that will be applicable at their own colleges and universities.

"Since the UNA is the oldest and most influential Ukrainian organization in the diaspora," Dr. Briukhovetsky, "I anticipate more collaborative efforts between the university and the UNA."

Mr. Wyslotsky added in concluding his interview with The Weekly that those who opt to participate in this joint UNA-NUKMA program are actually participating in the development of a civil society in Ukraine as that is a fundamental mission of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. "Those who buy these policies will be part of the process of creating the new Ukraine," he emphasized.

In short then, the UNA Gift-Giving Project is a win-win-win situation. The insured gets to deduct the cost of his or her life insurance premium as a charitable donation since the beneficiary of the policy is the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation, a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) corporation; the UNA gets additional members into its ranks; and the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy gets financial support for its expanding programs.

For further information, readers may contact Oksana Trytjak, the UNA's fraternal activities coordinator, at (973) 292-9800, ext. 3071. Ms. Trytjak also advises readers to be on the lookout for more information about an upcoming benefit for the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation to be held in the autumn of this year in New York City.

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