Новини / Recent Developments

A new home for our mission

CCRDF President and Chairman of the Board, Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky breaks ground on the Ukrainian Cultural Center of New Jersey with His Eminence Archbishop Stephen Soroka and other dignitaries.

On April 28, 2004, the Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund took part in the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Ukrainian Cultural Center of New Jersey. CCRDF is one of several community organizations based in Morris and Essex Counties that will be opening a new office in the new facility which is scheduled to be completed by 2006. In addition to 1,000 square feet of office space, the UCCNJ will house meeting rooms, conference facilities and basement storage space for our humanitarian cargo. This fall, the Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund is launching a capital campaign to help secure the funding we will need to create this permanent new home for our National Office. To help increase the impact of your gift, we are working with our partners at the UCCNJ to obtain challenge grants and matching funds from corporate and foundation sources. Your tax-deductible donations may be earmarked for this historic construction project and sent to Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund 272 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, New Jersey 07078. (On your check memo line, please indicate “UCCNJ Office Construction”.)

Archdiocese Provides Grant for AIDS Prevention

CCRDF is deeply grateful to Metropolitan Archbishop Stephen Soroka and the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Philadelphia for a generous seed grant of $20,000 to help create an HIV testing laboratory at the Lviv Regional Perinatal Center. The PCR laboratory will help to prevent the Mother-to-Child Transmission of the HIV virus through timely diagnosis and treatment in a very vulnerable region of Ukraine. The Archdiocesan grant compliments an earlier donation from the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) that enabled CCRDF to provide training for Dr. Olena Baran, a gifted laboratory technician from Ukraine who studied at the Immunology Laboratory at the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark.

Teaching-Learning Network releases
Documentary on Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund

(West Palm Beach) On April 5th, the Teaching-Learning Network released a half-hour documentary film on the Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund (CCRDF) providing a close-up view of the Fund’s partner hospitals and the impact of its mission on the lives of Ukrainian youngsters. The documentary is scheduled to be broadcast on many public television stations as part of the award-winning “Voices of Vision” series that features the work of outstanding American charities and humanitarian organizations. PBS stations are currently running the series in several major markets, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Miami, New Orleans, and Minneapolis.

CCRDF brings Ukrainian Toddler for surgery in New York

Mariyka Tkachyk and her mother

Vera anxiously wait for news about Mariyka's upcoming operation.

(New York City) On Tuesday, March 30, a twenty-month-old toddler from Kyiv, Ukraine underwent preliminary surgery at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary to help protect her breathing passage, and to repair damage to her vocal chords. Under the supervision of plastic surgeon Dr. Oleh Slupchynskyj, the Ukrainian child will undergo a series of delicate surgical procedures to correct a facial deformity caused by a virulent infection. Mariyka's trip to the United States was arranged by the CCRDF with the help of generous donations from several private individuals. Mariyka's plight was featured in a page 2 article in the April 1st edition of the New York Daily News. CCRDF is grateful to a generous donor who has pledged $15,000 to cover the next phase of Mariyka's surgery. More donations are needed to help restore Mariyka's voice and her facial features. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to CCRDF at 272 Old Short Hills Rd., Short Hills, NJ 07078 and may be earmarked for the Mariyka Tkachyk Account.

We have now received TWO more generous donations of $15,000 each, one from the Michael Scotto Foundation, and another from an anonymous donor. More donations are still needed.

Update on Mariyka Tkachyk: After initial surgery at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dr. Jay Dolitsky and Dr. Oleh Slupchynskyj continued Mariyka's medical treatments at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Mariyka has one more procedure scheduled, and if all goes well, she will be free of her tracheal tube and breathing on her own. Thank you to all who donated towards Mariyka's medical expenses and sent cards and well-wishes. The Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund would especially like to thank Dr. Andrew and Mrs. Valerie Burachinsky and their family for hosting Mariyka and her mother, Vera.

Second Viktory for Kids Raises Funds for the Children of Chornobyl

On October 4th 2003, an all-star cast of international skaters led by Ukrainian World and Olympic Champion Viktor Petrenko performed in a charity gala for the Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund. In his remarks before the show, Viktor underscored the dramatic impact that CCRDF has had on the quality of medical care in the Odessa Hospital where funds from the first Viktory for Kids were allotted for the establishment of a neonatal intensive care unit, "(CCRDF) has shown that we can achieve great results... Your money goes to the right place and you are working with the right people. Thank you, Children of Chornobyl." For the full story, turn to page 5 of the Christmas 2003 Newsletter.

Neonatal Unit Full Story (PDF Document)

In the fall of 2002, thanks to a generous grant from the Ukrainian National Home of New Haven, Connecticut, CCRDF launched a new partnership with the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children's Hospital to radically improve the chances of survival for newborns in the region. In September, CCRDF delivered the first installment of state-of-the-art neonatal equipment to help doctors at the IFRCH to provide effective treatment for life-threatening complications and to prevent brain damage resulting from respiratory distress. The Fund delivered a neonatal care station complete with respirator, infant warmer, pulse oxymeter and other essential components. The Fund also provided photo-therapy lamps to help treat the many cases of jaundice in newborns.

Caption under picture of Archbishop and children: Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (USA) distributes toys and art supplies to the orphans at Zaluchya. Full Story (PDF Document)

On October 23d, a delegation of some 40 Orthodox faithful from across the United States and Europe traveled to the Zaluchya Orphanage to meet with the residents and to survey the progress that has been made in CCRDF's campaign to improve conditions there. Under the leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Antony, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (USA) has become the leading sponsor of an intensive campaign launched by CCRDF to overhaul the conditions at Zaluchya and in the Znamianka Orphanage in Kirovohrad Oblast (province) to ensure that the orphans receive more humane treatment. Archbishop Antony toured the Zaluchya dormitories and playrooms, blessing each child and helping the pilgrims to distribute gifts for the orphans. To learn more about this joint campaign, please contact CCRDF or contact Natalie Kapeluk at the Ukrainian Orthodox Youth Ministries office at (412) 488-9664.

CCRF Has Completed Its Medical Airlift

The 30th Airlift provided
Leukemia medications and
Diagnostic systems

In 2002, CCRDF completed its 30th medical airlift that arrived in Kyiv's Boryspil International Airport on April 19th. The airlift delivered over 11 tons of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and hospital supplies valued at $620,000 to hospitals in Chernivtsi, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lutsk, Yavoriv, Nizhyn, and orphanages in the provinces (oblasts) of Kirovohrad and Ivano-Frankivsk. Among the most valuable items were an ultrasound, a state-of-the-art endoscopy system and leukemia medication.

Lviv Infant Cardiac Conference

Dr. Roman Kovalsky, whose training at Boston's Children's Hospital and the Deborah Heart & Lung Center was arranged by CCRDF, examines one of his cardiac patients at the Lviv Regional Clinical Children's Hospital.

On November 22-23, 2002 CCRDF sponsored a special conference in Lviv focusing on the timely diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects in infants and young children. Made possible by a generous grant from the Medtronic Foundation, the conference drew over 300 cardiologists, surgeons, neonatologists, nurses, anesthesiologists and radiologists from across Western Ukraine. A follow-up conference is being planned for in the spring of 2003 in Kyiv. Currently, over 6,000 Ukrainian infants are born each year with life-threatening heart defects. Only one in six receives the corrective treatment or surgery they need. Earlier this year, in April of 2002, over 300 physicians and specialists in neonatal intensive care took part in CCRDF's Third National Neonatal Training Conference at the Pushcha Ozerna Sanatorium on the outskirts of Kyiv, where Dr. Ihor Bilyk and Renell Leichty presented lectures and provided hands-on training for their Ukrainian colleagues.

Capital repairs at the dormitory of the Zaluchya Orphanage for Handicapped Children. Contractors hired by CCRDF install a new floor in the once contaminated dining room to create a more sanitary environment.

Scaffolding at the dormitory building in Zaluchya

With financial support from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-USA, the very remote and once neglected orphanage in Zaluchya (Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Sniatyn District) has undergone dramatic changes. CCRDF has replaced the roof on the children's dormitory and the floors that were once contaminated by human waste. CCRDF has provided disinfectants, specially designed diapers, children's clothes, new mattresses, new linens, an industrial strength washer and dryer, wheelchairs, medication, skin ointments, and on-site supervision to make sure that the multiply handicapped orphans are receiving humane treatment and that their medical needs are being addressed. Recently, CCRDF purchased a freezer for the orphanage to store its food supply. CCRDF is investigating other orphanages where Chornobyl-affected children may be suffering from abuse and neglect.

Ambulances Arrive in Odessa

Damen Ortega and Zenon Luciw help contractor from US State Department prepare an ambulance for shipment to Odessa

Three ambulances donated by American Medical Response in New Haven, CT arrived in the Port of Odessa at the end of February as part of CCRDF's 10th sea shipment. The ambulances were secured through the efforts of CCRDF Board member Orest Dubno and the President of AMR, Mr. Robert LaTorracca. All three units have been assigned to the Odessa Regional Children's Hospital where CCRDF installed a state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit made possible by the "Viktory for Kids" ice skating gala featuring Olympic and World Champion Viktor Petrenko.

A New Laboratory in Lutsk Helps Children Thrive

Dr.Natalia Schneider meets with Chief Doctor Valery Rutsky

Dr. Natalia Schneider and Chief Doctor Valeriy Rutsky admire the renovated biochemistry laboratory at the Volynian Regional Children's Medical Center in Lutsk. Local businessmen, craftsmen and patrons donated labor and materials to completely refurbish this former storage building that now houses state-of-the art chromosome and blood analyzers to help diagnose high-risk pregnancies and to conduct research on the high rate of normally rare birth defects in this region. CCRDF donated the first BACTEC Analyzer to this laboratory.

Volyynian Pediatric Center Breaks Ground on New Perinatal Center

The construction site for the new Volynian Perinatal Center

CCRDF's partner hospital in the city of Lutsk has broken ground on a new perinatal center in the northwestern region of Ukraine heavily affected by fallout from the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. The perinatal center is being built with funds contributed by local businesses and private donors in the hopes of improving maternal and children's health and providing effective treatment for pregnancy complications. CCRDF has helped to bolster the Volynian Regional Pediatric Center with laboratory equipment, advanced neonatal ICU instruments, and surgical supplies.

Viktor Petrenko examines a newborn infant undergoing intensive treatment with state-of-the-art equipment delivered by CCRDF. This technology was purchased with funds raised at the Viktory for Kids skating benefit last March in Connecticut.

Doctors at the Volynian Regional Children's Medical Center gather around a BectonDickinson blood analyzer installed by CCRDF in the new Bacteriology Laboratory.

Children of Chornobyl Photographs by Joseph Sywenkyj

"Chornobyl is a word we would like to erase from our memory. Not until the year 2016, at the earliest, will be known the number of those likely to develop serious medical conditions…Three million children require treatment and many will die prematurely."
   -Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, April 26, 2000

Lviv Children's Specialized Clinic
The Dead Zone
Neonatalogy
Sanatorium

Petrenko’s Victory for Kids” Raises over $100,000 for Children of Chornobyl

Olympic and World Figure Skating Champion, Victor Petrenko skates for the kids in his hometown, Odessa, Ukraine.

Full story

(Simsbury, CT) On the eve of the Chornobyl 15th Anniversary, Ukrainian ice-skating champion Viktor Petrenko invited his friends from the international skating community to help him raise public awareness and funds to help some of the thousands of children who are still being affected by the world's worst nuclear disaster.

Full Story

On July 7th, 2001, the Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund delivered five large crates (skids) of humanitarian aid to the Slavutych, the command vessel of the Ukrainian Navy. The 1.8 tons of donated medical supplies, valued at over $85,000 are destined for a naval hospital at the ship's home port in Sevastopol, Ukraine.

Full Story

On May 11, 2000, three tons of medication and hospital supplies arrived to the Krasnodon Regional Central Hospital to aid the victims of the Barakova coal mine explosion that took place in March. Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund (CCRDF) volunteers delivered the humanitarian cargo, valued at $108,000.

Full Story

On April 19th, 1999, the CCRDF held a special awards reception honoring the First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton for the lifetime achievement in promoting women's and children's health. Despite a harrowing schedule, the First Lady came to the Ukrainian Institute of America to accept the award in person and to express her enthusiastic support for the work of CCRDF.

Full story

On October 18-20, 1999, the Volynian Regional Children's Medical Center (VRCMC) was the site of a historic medical conference when over 100 neonatal specialists from all 26 provinces of Ukraine came together in Lutsk to strengthen their technical skills and to develop new strategies for combating infant mortality.