New Yorkers Raise Funds for Wheelchairs to Ukraine

The Ukrainian Institute of America hosted a charity fundraiser in New York City on Dec. 10, 2004, to offer hope and independence to physically disabled residents of Ukraine who badly need a wheelchair but cannot afford one. All proceeds went to the Wheelchair Foundation.

Libby Pataki, the First Lady of New York and a supporter of the Wheelchair Foundation mission, was in attendance to show her support of the Foundation, Ukrainian Americans and the Ukrainian people in their fight for democracy.

The fundraiser was the direct result of a Wheelchair Foundation presentation earlier in the year on the real need for wheelchairs in Ukraine. Orysia Dmytrenko, who coordinated the fund-raising event, was particularly impressed that the Foundation provides a very concrete way to help disabled people with a tangible gift of mobility.

Previously, the Wheelchair Foundation had made a significant effort to bring wheelchairs to disabled people in Ukraine, in part due to the county’s high number of disabled residents and its extreme shortage of usable wheelchairs. The Foundation then decided to turn to the Ukrainian community in the United States to partner with them in this charitable mission.

Ms. Dmytrenko worked closely with the Ukrainian Institute of America to host the event, which was co-sponsored by the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America. More than 150 Ukrainians from all over the New York area turned out to show support to their countrymen.

If you would like to be part of this project help disabled people of all ages in Ukraine, please contact the Wheelchair Foundation toll free at (877) 378-3839.