UUARC marks 60th anniversary with banquet, awards ceremony

by Lew Iwaskiw

PHIALDELPHIA - The United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC) is a philanthropic institution that has been helping Ukrainians worldwide since 1944. The noble efforts of the UUARC were commemorated with a 60th anniversary jubilee banquet held in Philadelphia's Dugan's Restaurant on November 28, 2004.

Metodij Boretsky, the chairman of the jubilee committee, greeted over 150 guests, among whom were the representatives of UUARC branches in Ukraine: Vira Prinko from Kyiv and Dr. Andrij Dyda, from Lviv. Ukraine's Embassy to the United States was represented by: Second Secretaries Natalya Holub and Yuriy Parkhomenko and Counselors Oleksander Shcherba and Oleksander Potyekhin.

A solemn moment of silence was observed in memory of all the deceased members of the UUARC.

Ihor Kusznir, the master of ceremonies, noted that the UUARC earned its reputation among countless immigrants who benefited from its aid during the critical post-World War II period. Today, the UUARC continues its charitable activities throughout the world, especially in Ukraine. Its compassionate labors have merited well-deserved recognition from the community.

Bishop Basil Losten of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, Conn., delivered the invocation by intoning the Lord's Prayer, which was sung in unison by everyone present.

The master of ceremonies introduced the president of the UUARC, Dr. Larissa Lozynsky-Kyj, describing her selfless leadership of the institution over the last seven years.

Dr. Kyj began her address by focusing on current events in Ukraine, which is experiencing momentous historical upheavals. She cited an excerpt from Taras Shevchenko's poem "The Great Mohyla" (Mound) about the birth of two Ivans: one who will help Ukraine's torturers and one who well rescue her. By analogy Dr. Kyj compared them to the two Viktors running for president of Ukraine: one a national democrat in defense of his people and one who chose to wage war on his own. Despite government pressure and shameful falsifications of the election on November 21, the people stood up for their rights and decided to share their fate under the leadership of the people's president, Viktor Yushchenko.

The UUARC president briefly presented her interpretation of the history of the UUARC during and after the second world war. The speaker stated that 70,000 refugees ended up in the United States thanks to the UUARC. She added that various charitable campaigns were undertaken, e.g. the Brazilian Land Fund, which enabled Ukrainian farmers to become independent on Brazilian land purchased with the UUARC's assistance.

The master of ceremonies noted the numerous greetings received on the occasion of the UUARC's anniversary, in a special banquet program booklet prepared by Daria Laszyn.

Among the greetings from attendees was a brief address by Michael Sawkiw Jr., president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, who emphasized that the UUARC works within the framework of the UCCA. Especially today, in the midst of Ukraine's democratization, the UUARC provides moral and material assistance even on Kyiv's maidan (Independence Square), where the democratic processes are becoming entrenched right now. The UCCA president expressed his conviction that the Ukrainian nation has finally arisen from its knees and is heading toward victory. He noted that in unity there is strength and that the UCCA is striving to unite the Ukrainian community in the United States.

Ms. Holub, representing the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States, greeted the guests on the occasion of the jubilee. She then highlighted the current events in Ukraine, expressing her belief that these momentous occurrences are the fulfillment of our dreams.

Dr. Yaroslav Zalipsky delivered greetings from the Shevchenko Scientific Society, reading a letter signed by the head of the society, Dr. Larissa Onyshkevych.

Mr. Kusznir introduced the guests at the head table: Ms. Prinko; Dr. Dyda; Ms. Holub; Mr. Sawkiw; Mr. Potyekhin, along with his wife, Inna; Mr. Boretsky, the chairman of the UUARC's jubilee committee; Dr. Kyj, along with her husband, Dr. Myron Kyj; Osip Roshka, editor of the newspaper America, the official publication of Providence Association of Ukrainian Catholics; Dr. Olexander Lushnytsky, along with his wife, Maria; the Rev. Mitred Archpriest Roman Mirchuk; the Rev. Msgr. John Bura, president of the Providence Association; Bishop Losten; and Mr. Kusznir, with his wife, Daria.

Mr. Kusznir greeted the representatives of various organizations who came to participate in the banquet. He also introduced three diplomats from the Embassy of Ukraine who officially initiated support for Viktor Yushchenko immediately after the fraudulent elections of November 21, 2004: Mr. Parkhomenko, the second secretary of the embassy, and two Embassy counselors, Messrs. Potyekhin and Shcherba. The master of ceremonies expressed admiration and gratitude to them, while everyone present demonstrated their approval with a standing ovation.

Mr. Potyekhin seconded the greetings expressed by Ms. Holub. He expressed his desire that democracy in Ukraine would triumph without bloodshed.

The scheduled keynote speaker, ambassador Borys Tarasyuk of Mr. Yushchenko's coalition, was unable to attend as his presence was needed in Ukraine.

Ms. Prinko described the work of the UUARC offices in Ukraine. Citing the words of Goethe, she said she wanted to bow her head and fall on her knees in front of the generous people who understand the situation in Ukraine and have rushed in with assistance.

The UUARC president proceeded with the distribution of awards. The first was to Col. John Kark, who came to America as a child in 1947 through the efforts of the American Committee to Aid European War Orphans. He served 30 years in the U.S. armed forces as an infantry officer and later as an Air Force pilot. In 1993 Col. Kark founded the Committee to Aid Ukrainian Orphans and Children without Parental Care. His organization delivered 6,457 scholarships at 200 hrv each to children in Ukraine. His campaign Eyeglasses for the Orphans of Ukraine included 721 orphanages/boarding schools and distributed 20,387 pairs of glasses.

Hryhoriy Malynowsky, a patron who focused his attention on the educational needs of Ukraine, was honored for his generous contributions that funded the purchase of necessary textbooks and encyclopedias, as well as publication of textbooks. He purchased wheelchairs for the crippled, medical equipment, basic texts on human anatomy, and guides on health care for nutrition. Responding to various natural disasters in Ukraine, he sent aid to the victims through the UUARC.

Next on the list was the late Sylvia Blake, a teacher from Detroit, who bequeathed significant funds for a specific program to improve children's health care in Ukraine. This included funding 15 ambulances, equipment for children's hospitals and medical parcels for medical stations in areas remotely located far from regional centers.

Vasyl Petrach, who lived near Washington, donated a significant sum toward the repair and maintenance of 11 children's orphanages/boarding schools in the area of Staryi Dobrotvir.

Bohdan Kurylko was cited for his contributions to various causes. He donated 1,000 pairs of new shoes, medical equipment, wash-basins, showers and washing machines, as well as provided financial support to a small family business.

Commemorative citations for their many long years of service to UUARC were given to Dr. Ivan Skalchuk, the executive director of the UUARC in 1981-1990 and Stepan Hawrysz, who managed the home office for many years and later became Executive director.

The executive board of UUARC decided to recognize the following persons with awards for their last 15 years of volunteer work in support of UUARC: Lyubov Siletsky, for chairing the Assistance Committee; Mykhaylo Kowalchyn, the honorary chairman of the Assistance Committee; and Ivan Krych, longstanding recording secretary, for keeping the minutes of board meetings for many years. Awards were also presented to: Chrystia Charyna Senyk, Chrystia Kulchytsky, Dr. Natalia Pazuniak, Volodymyra Kawka, Mr. Boretsky and Dr. Kyj.

Dr. Lushnytsky, the editor of UUARC's jubilee book, noted that the book originated thanks to a group of professional people who accomplished a major task by publishing 400 copies of a large 280-page jubilee book at no cost. Everyone who attended the banquet received the book free of charge. Anyone interested in obtaining the book should contact the UUARC headquarters, 215-728-1630.

The master of ceremonies noted the presence of Stephanie Wowchak, one of the first and distinguished members of UUARC, who was a participant in its founding congress.

Toward the end of the evening, the Akkolada choir, under the leadership of its director, Bohdan Gengalo, performed a series of patriotic songs and ended with a Mnohaya Lita to all participants of this jubilee celebration. Solomiya Ivakhiv, a renowned classical violinist, also performed several pieces, accompanied by violinist C. Grossman.

The Rev. Mirchuk delivered the benediction and then all present sang the Ukrainian national anthem to conclude the jubilee celebration.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 20, 2005, No. 8, Vol. LXXIII

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