In Norridge, Illinois, the parish of St. Joseph the Betrothed hosted a charity event called "Love, Marigolds...", dedicated to the 211th anniversary of the birth of Taras Shevchenko. The purpose of the event was not only to honour the work of the Great Kobzar and raise funds to support the Ukrainian military, but also to inform young people about the importance of preserving national identity.
This was reported by the Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago.
The Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago, Sergiy Kolesov, was a special guest at the event. In his speech, he emphasised the relevance of Taras Shevchenko's work in the context of current events and thanked the organisers and guests for their support of Ukrainian culture and the military.
During the evening, guests had the opportunity to enjoy Taras Shevchenko's poetic lines performed by talented artists, as well as unique displays of authentic clothing collections presented by Roksolana Prokopiv and Tatiana Melnychuk. Children from Kateryna Grod's StarKids modelling school and students from the School of Ukrainian Studies at St Joseph the Betrothed parish took part in the shows.
In addition, the audience witnessed a ritual performance, martial arts masters from Siver Griffin Martial Arts, vocal performances by the Oberig Studio, and dance performances by the Vyshyvanka Dance School and The Elegy Studio.
"For the second year in a row, we have taken part in the Love, Marigolds charity event. This event is, as always, incredible as we come together to honour the legacy of Taras Shevchenko - our poet, our artist, our eternal pride and the heart of Ukraine's struggle for freedom. Shevchenko's words and work have always been the soul of our nation, a powerful reminder of our resilience, our history and our indomitable spirit. His legacy lives on in us, showing us the way in the struggle for the future of our beloved Ukraine," said The Elegy Studio. The Elegy Studio.
Ruslana Prokopiv, one of the organisers of the event, noted that the idea of the charity evening dates back to 2024, when the first event "Love, Marigolds..." introduced the audience to the beauty of Ukrainian women, wedding rituals and national art. In 2025, the theme of the event evolved from beauty to struggle.
"The struggle continues, and it is becoming more and more violent, so that 'the fire of the violent does not burn', as Shevchenko wrote. We want young people to understand this struggle and its significance for Ukrainians all over the world. This evening is not only about history, but also about our present," said Prokopiv.
The event was attended by Ukrainian soldiers who are undergoing prosthetics and rehabilitation in the United States with the help of the Revived Soldiers Ukraine Foundation. The funds raised during the charity auction will be donated to the Hero's Defense Fund at St. James the Betrothed Parish, which provides treatment for Ukrainian soldiers.ри парафії Святого Якова Обручника, який займається лікуванням українських воїнів.
In addition to the charitable purpose, the event also aims to unite young people around Ukrainian culture and history.
"The second goal is to unite young people, especially young people, around Ukrainian, around this struggle, to give them a little more understanding of why it is important and what these guys stand for. Those who, by losing theirs today, win our tomorrow," Prokopiv emphasised.
The organisers expressed their gratitude to all those involved in the preparation and execution of the event, as well as to those who supported the initiative with their presence.
Фото: Peter Koutun, Anastasija Olijnuk
Author: Inna Mikhno