A Memorable Evening, “United with Ukraine”

More than 150 Rotarians from Southeastern PA District 7450 and their guests showed their support for Ukraine last Tuesday evening, raising tens of thousands of dollars to help Rotary Poland and Ukraine deal with the growing crisis and devastation caused by the war.   

“United with Ukraine” Fundraiser highlights

The event, held at Lia's Catering, The Ballrooms at Boothwyn, was highlighted by Slavic cuisine, Ukrainian music, polka dancing, and incredibly powerful speakers; Eugene Luciw, President of the Philadelphia branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and Michael Sawkiw, Jr., Executive Vice President of UCCA and former Director of the organization's Washington D.C. bureau.

Luciw gave an informative and impassioned brief history of the Ukrainian nation which goes back for centuries. Sawkiw provided information on how and why the U.S. and its allies must provide even more help than they are currently. One example he pointed out is that Ukraine is the “breadbasket” of Europe and the world. Russia has interfered with the production and shipping of grain around the globe which may cause a world-wide famine.  

District Governor Roger Taylor emceed the evening and District Governor Elect, Piotr Jankowski, Rotary Poland and Volodymyr Bondarenko, District Governor, Ukraine made a video appearance.  

Volunteers from 50 Rotary clubs in the Philadelphia area organized the event to raise money for a special relief fund created to help Ukrainians impacted by the Russian attacks. Rotary District 7450 is working directly with Poland’s Rotary District in a coordinated "on the ground” response to the worsening humanitarian crisis. Event proceeds will be used to purchase food, clothing, medical supplies, generators, transportation, and accommodations.

The origin story about how Philadelphia Rotary members started the Ukrainian Relief Effort

The event was an extension of the original initiative to help Ukraine that began shortly after the war broke out by Philadelphia Rotarians, Ken Myers and Joan Batory. "We have to do something. I don't know what that is or looks like, but we have to mobilize support to provide aid and assistance," said Myers.  She directed Myers to contact Rotary Clubs in Poland. “I knew that the clubs were severely impacted by the enormous number of refugees pouring into Poland. If anyone was getting anything done, it had to be the Rotarians there,” said Batory.  

Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Philadelphia Ukrainian Catholic Church, addresses event attendees

A centerpiece of the evening was a video appearance by Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of the Philadelphia Ukrainian Catholic Church. Gudziak who spoke about Rotary's important humanitarian role and helping Ukraine during this crisis. He also commented about his friendship with General Secretary of Rotary International, John Hewko whose family is also from Ukraine. Hewko's father helped start the first Rotary Club in Kyiv. 

However, the most visceral stirring moment of the evening was when Ukrainian performer, Yuliya Stupen, led the singing of the national anthem of the United States followed by Ukraine, while more than 150 guests stood at attention and sang along. DG Roger Taylor read the English translation of the anthem before Stupen's beautiful rendition. 

"Ukraine has not perished
Nor her glory; nor her freedom
Upon us Fellow Ukrainians
Fate shall smile once more
Our enemies will vanish
Like dew in the morning Sun
And we too shall rule brothers
In a free land of our own
We will lay down our souls and our bodies
To attain our Freedom
And we’ll show that we are Brothers
From the Kozak Heritage."

The night was capped off by an exciting live auction led by Rotary Peace Scholar and Honorary member of Philadelphia Rotary, D.F. Pace. The live and silent auctions raised an additional $25,000 for needed generators, medical backpacks, and pantry items. Pace's "day job" is an Inspector in the Philadelphia Police Department.  

All proceeds from the event go to the Ukrainian Relief Fund of the Gundaker Foundation of Rotary District 7450. From there the funds get sent to a special account in Poland used by local aid workers to respond to the needs of Ukrainians now in Poland and those still in their homeland.

A big thanks goes out to all the Rotary District 7450 members, guests and sponsors who supported this amazing event. 

“United with Ukraine” Event Committee
Joan Batory, Chair
Stacey Ballard
Julianna Blazey
Francy Cross
Renee DeCoskey
Michelle Gromilovitz
Dave Haradon
David Houtz
John Kopcha
Lisa Leonard
Eugene Luciw
Karen Mazzarella-Russo
Meghan Miller
Ken Myers
Jay Pennie
David Reinfeld
Roger Taylor