A charity event, “Ukrainian Indiana’s Got Talent,” was held in Indiana, during which the Ukrainian community and friends of Ukraine raised $7,707 to support the newly established Anna Yaroslavna Ukrainian School.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Society of Indiana, Anna Yaroslavna Ukrainian School of Indiana and the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States.
The event took place on May 30 and combined a charitable fundraiser with a creative talent festival designed to support the opening of a new Ukrainian school in Indiana. The program included musical and dance performances, art presentations, voting for participants through charitable contributions, as well as an auction of Ukrainian lots.
Thanks to the support of the community, it was possible to raise $7,707, which will become the starting budget for the school’s operation. Namely, the funds will allow us to launch the first educational and cultural projects, as well as prepare for the start of the school year in September.
One of the organizers called this amount the largest charitable result in the history of the Ukrainian Society of Indiana.
“…we thank everyone who believes that Ukrainian children in Indiana deserve a place where they can learn their language, culture, history and traditions. The Ukrainian Society of Indiana is extremely proud to have helped launch and support this initiative from the very first days, and we are deeply grateful to the leadership team of the Anna Yaroslavna Ukrainian School in Indiana for taking on an important task - to create something that will serve our community for many years,” the Ukrainian Society of Indiana says.
The Match Challenge donation-doubling program was in operation during the event. In total, dozens of volunteers, performers, entrepreneurs and representatives of the local community joined the charitable initiative.
Among the partners and participants of the event were Gosia’s Rustic Kitchen, Passione Wood Oven Pizza & Wings, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Burmese American Community Institute and other organizations and businesses that supported the creation of the Ukrainian school.
The Embassy of Ukraine in the United States also congratulated the Indiana community on the opening of the educational institution.
“Ukrainian schools abroad play an important role in helping children stay connected to their language, culture and heritage, building strong communities far and wide. Today, more than 50 Ukrainian schools operate across the United States, educating and uniting new generations of Ukrainian Americans,” the Embassy noted.
The participants of the event were also addressed by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, sending a video greeting and words of support to the Ukrainian community in the state.
“A special thank you to the parents for allowing their children to perform, supporting and preparing them. Without you, this talent show would not have happened. And without your children, this school would not have happened. It takes a generation to create a school, but thanks to all of you, we have taken our first big step forward. We also thank the Embassy of Ukraine and Olga Stefanishyna for your warm wishes and words of support. “Ukraine is behind you” are words that will resonate in the hearts of our children and future generations. Ukraine is in our hearts, and Ukraine is the reason why this school began its existence and its path,” the school administration added.
The school organizers thanked the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Indiana Svitlana Yarmolenko, the Ukrainian Society of Indiana, donors, volunteers, performers, parents and children who joined the event. A special role in the celebration was played by the young participants of the talent show, whose performances became the central part of the program.
“This weekend, while helping to raise funds for the newly established Anna Yaroslavna Ukrainian School in Indiana, co-organized by the Ukrainian Society of Indiana, I performed my first solo dance in public. I am almost 40 years old. After the performance, people were incredibly kind. Some said that the performance moved them. Some said that tears came to their eyes. But the most important thing was not the applause. The most important thing was that I finally allowed myself to do what I had loved all my life. To stop asking myself if I “had the right” to be a dancer. To just dance. In a way, it was very symbolic. The school for which we raised funds also began with a dream,” shared her impressions Svitlana Yarmolenko.
The community emphasizes that the creation of the school is a long-term investment in the future of Ukrainian children. The new educational center will help students learn the Ukrainian language, culture, history, and traditions, as well as strengthen the Ukrainian community in Indiana.
After a successful start, the school's leadership is preparing to launch summer programs and open student registration for studies, which will begin this fall.
Photo: Runwithit Photography
Author: Inna Mikhno