The Ukrainian Studies Department announced a significant planned gift to support the development of the Ukrainian Studies program at Columbia University. Columbia University will receive a $2 million donation from Sviatoslav Bozhenko, a prominent Ukrainian diaspora member in the United States.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Studies Foundation.
On behalf of the Ukrainian Studies Program at the Harriman Institute of Columbia University, I would like to say that we are honored to have such outstanding Philanthropists like Sviatoslav Bozhenko who contribute to the program with foresight and vision," said Dr. Mark Andreychyk, coordinator of the Ukrainian Studies Program and professor of Ukrainian literature at Columbia University.
It should be noted that Bozhenko has been cooperating with the Ukrainian Studies Program for many years and approached the Foundation himself to plan a legacy gift.
"Mr. Bozhenko's life story demonstrates his unwavering love for and commitment to Ukraine. His donation to our program will ensure that Columbia students and faculty can continue to build knowledge about Ukraine and emphasize its global importance," Dr. Andreychyk added.
According to the foundation, Bozhenko's contribution places him among the prominent philanthropists shaping the future of Ukrainian studies in the United States.
For reference: Sviatoslav Bozhenko was born in Kyiv in 1929. His family suffered under Stalin's repressions. They were deported to Turkmenistan and later forced to migrate to Germany, Brazil, and finally, the United States, settling in Chicago and California. Mr. Bozhenko attended the University of Chicago, where he later earned a master's degree signed by then-Governor Ronald Reagan. He taught at the University of San Francisco for more than two decades, spoke five languages, and supported international students. After retiring, he painted. Mr. Bozhenko died in San Francisco, California, on April 16, 2025, at the age of 95.
The Ukrainian Studies Fund (USF) is a charitable educational organization founded in 1957 by the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States. Its main goal is to support and develop university educational programs and disseminate knowledge about Ukraine and Ukrainians around the world.
Author: Inna Mikhno