UKRAINIAN DEBUTANTE BALLS: California's debutante ball raises funds to assist Ukraine (04/09/06)

UKRAINIAN DEBUTANTE BALLS

California's debutante ball raises funds to assist Ukraine

by Anne Kokawa Prokopovych

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. - It was a balmy, starlit evening here for the elegance and high spirits of the 2006 California Association to Aid Ukraine (CAAU) Ball and Presentation of Debutantes, held at the Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel, about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles.

The annual ball is a major fund-raising and community-building event for CAAU. About 300 guests were in attendance at this year's event, held on February 25, which spotlighted a new CAAU project, "Research Saves Lives: Support Biomedical Research in Ukraine."

Arching over the entry to the reception area was a festive "Vitayemo" (Welcome) sign leading to a Ukrainian flag on the opposite side, greeting guests as they arrived at the ball. The reception area was also filled with silent auction items, generating good-natured competition as guests bid for their favorite items. The Silent Auction has become an outstanding feature of the annual event, adding to the festivities while raising funds for worthy humanitarian aid projects. There were over 100 items on display, including hand-crafted pysanky and embroidery, designer jewelry and handbags, Hollywood memorabilia and tickets to the Magic Mountain theme park.

Following opening remarks by CAAU Chairperson Luba Keske, co-masters of ceremonies Dr. Paul Micevych and his daughter, Mary Micevych, introduced each of the five young ladies as they entered the ballroom for the presentation of debutantes. The group represents a distinguished array of accomplishments in art, academics, leadership and service.

Yulia Jakymyshyn is committed to community service, volunteering after school to tutor grade school children. Aaryn Kopinski Levy is an awardee of the Gold Seal Award, signed by the president of the United States, and has participated in leadership and volunteer projects in her school and community. Lisa Nesterova is a promising young artist and plans to pursue a career in architecture. Antonia Shcherban has already earned recognition for her photography, in addition to excelling in her school work. Andrea Swartzlander had already become an experienced leader in school, as well as a winner of multiple awards as a member of several dance and choir groups.

CAAU founded in 1990

The CAAU began about 16 years ago as a grassroots Ukrainian American community response to democratic developments in Ukraine. It continues to channel local resources toward projects in Ukraine, allowing the local community to have direct and positive impact in the fields of health, education, ecology, economy, cultural development and national democratic processes. Specific projects are adapted to local priorities and the changing needs in Ukraine.

In 2005 the primary project for the CAAU was its Wheelchairs for Ukraine project. The CAAU has a long-standing collaboration with Wheelchairs for Humanity that has supplied hundreds of wheelchairs to needy people in Ukraine. Volunteers at the Wheelchairs for Humanity facility in North Hollywood, Calif., refurbish and customize used wheelchairs for individuals with special needs. In the fall of 2005, the CAAU completed its eighth delivery in Ukraine, bringing over 170 wheelchairs, walkers, canes, commodes, other mobility aids and computers to Chernivtsi. The CAAU is committed to its long-term goal to deliver to each oblast in Ukraine, with the next delivery in 2006 tentatively scheduled for Poltava.

"Research Saves Lives"

The 2006 Ball spotlights an exceptional new CAAU project, "Research Saves Lives: Support Biomedical Research in Ukraine." The CAAU is pleased to support the Special American Business Internship Training (SABIT) Program, which is co-sponsored by the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Information Management and Technology Transfer (IMTT) program and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The main goal of the SABIT program is to help the university administration and research community in Ukraine understand that they can bring more value to society by ensuring that the scientific advances made at the university are brought to the market and have a positive impact on the health and welfare of the world at large.

The SABIT program teaches research centers and their scientists: how to design scientific studies, how to write a grant proposal, how to find funding for studies (in Ukraine, the European Union and the USA), how to manage research discoveries, so as to help the greatest number of people, and how to protect research discoveries so that universities can profit financially from their research, as well as invest in future research.

Eight scientists were selected from prominent research facilities in Ukraine to participate in the six-week program. They were also honored guests at the CAAU Ball.

Dmytro Hovorun, Ph.D., D.Sc., is deputy director, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (IMBG), National Academy of Sciences in Ukraine (NASU), Kyiv.
Yuriy Kit, Ph.D., is affiliated with the Institute of Cell Biology, NASU, Lviv.
Denis Kolybo, Ph.D., is affiliated with the Department of Molecular Immunology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, NASU, Kyiv.
Roman Lesyk, M.S., Ph.D., D.Sc., is dean of the Pharmaceutical Faculty, Lviv National Medical University, Lviv.
Halyna Lougovska, Ph.D., is affiliated with the Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, NASU, Kyiv.
Lyubov Lukash, Ph.D., D.Sc., is head of the Department of Human Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NASU, Kyiv.
Oleksander Nadraha, Ph.D., M.D., is professor of pediatrics, and scientific secretary and general secretary of the University Council, Lviv National Medical University, Lviv.
Rostislav Stoika, Ph.D., is head of the Department of Regulation of Cell Proliferation, Institute of Cell Biology, NASU, Lviv.

Distinguished guests

In addition to the eight scientists, CAAU was honored to welcome several esteemed guests: Sandor G. Vari, M.D., director, International Research and Innovation Management Program, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles; Edward Prunchunas, senior vice-president of finance and chief financial officer, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and his wife and daughter; James D. Laur, deputy general counsel, Department of Legal Affairs, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles; Oxana Tcherniantchouk, M.D., fellow in hematopathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, who also volunteered her time to provide logistical support for the eight scientists during their stay; and James Conwell, Certified Rehabilitation Therapy Specialist, New York, who volunteered to travel to Chernivtsi with the Wheelchairs for Ukraine team in 2005 to assist with the fitting and delivery of wheelchairs. Mr. Conwell has already volunteered to assist with the next delivery in 2006.

CAAU awards

CAAU accomplishments over the years have been made possible by fund-raising and countless hours of volunteer time and effort. The board of directors of CAAU awarded special recognition to two exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements.

Roman Kulczycky received the CAAU Humanitarian Award. Since 1997, Dr. Kulczycky has devoted many thousands of hours to one of the most recognized and successful CAAU humanitarian aid projects, Wheelchairs for Ukraine. He has literally put his blood, sweat and tears into refurbishing and distributing wheelchairs to needy people in Ukraine and around the world.

Bohdan Malaniak was presented the CAAU Volunteer of the Year Award. In addition to tirelessly pursuing several professional and community pursuits, Mr. Malaniak has served on the board of directors and advisory committee of the CAAU for over 10 years, devoting incredible amounts of time and resources toward successful achievement of the CAAU mission. Whether fund-raising for a benefit event, or working on a project, he is a reliable and experienced resource who willingly volunteers his support, advice, time and efforts.

Mr. Malaniak has also been deeply involved with the Wheelchairs for Ukraine program. Months in advance of each humanitarian aid shipment to Ukraine, he provides hundreds of hours of administrative support, coordinating documentation and communication with consignees in Ukraine, government officials and the Wheelchairs for Ukraine organization.

Art exhibit

This year's CAAU Ball was the first to host an art exhibit showcasing talented Ukrainian artists. The exhibit was organized by Mrs. Keske, and included works by renowned actor Jack Palance, Ivan Bondar, Andrew Demus, Oksana Ivaniuk, Nestor Kyzenko, Victor Makogonenko, debutante Lisa Nesterova, Natalia Ostapenko, debutante Antonia Shcherban, Christine Vertein, Yurij Viktiuk and Victor Zakrynychny.

Also on display was a selection of ceramics and embroidery generously loaned from the collection of Helen (Dzida) Kastaniuk.

Collection for hospitals

In 2005 the Wheelchairs for Ukraine delivery team was impressed by the dedication and professionalism of medical staff, but shocked at the lack of bed linens in the hospitals. It is a common practice to require patients to bring their own bed linens if they are to have any.

It has become a tradition at the annual CAAU Ball to ask attendees to bring specific items for shipment to needy people in Ukraine. This year's direct appeal for bed sheets and pillowcases brought in over 300 items, which will be shipped to hospitals in Ukraine.

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CAAU is a non-profit 501(3)(c) corporation. Contributions and inquiries may be addressed to CAAU, c/o Roman Wasylyn, 4645 Noeline Ave., Encino, CA 91436, or by e-mail to caau_info@earthlink.net.

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