Razom Ukraine Emergency Response Fund

Zoe Ripecky is organizing this fundraiser to benefit Razom, Inc..

Tax deductible

As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues, tragic news continues to flow out of the country. The Russian government's unprovoked attack has targeted civilians and is a threat to human rights and democracy not only in Ukraine, but around the world.

Born into Chicago's close-knit Ukrainian-American community in 1992, I have only known a world with a free and independent Ukraine. Growing up, my grandparents' stories of brutal occupying Nazi and Soviet forces often felt like a distant past. Over summer-long visits and a year living and working in Kyiv in 2015/16, I got to know the young and inspiring generation of idealists fighting for Ukraine's free and democratic future.

Today, Ukraine faces a renewed threat to its sovereignty and a ruthless attack on everything its young and idealistic generations stand for. Please join me in supporting Razom for Ukraine an organization saving lives in Ukraine today.

About Razom for Ukraine's Emergency Response Fund:

Razom has proactively focused on purchasing medical supplies for critical situations like blood loss and other tactical medicine items. Razom has a large procurement team of volunteers that tracks down and purchases supplies and a logistics team that then gets them to Ukraine. Through multiple meetings a day, they are coordinating with several partner organizations worldwide, including Nova Ukraine, United Help Ukraine, Revived Soldiers Ukraine, Sunflower for Peace, and Euromaidan-Warszava. They are also working with governments and embassies on humanitarian corridors for evacuations of civilians. Razom is a trusted organization with a highly vetted team of partners in Ukraine, Poland, and the US. Thank you in advance for anything you can give to support Razom to get resources to those on the ground who need them most.

Sharing below a few photos for a glimpse into some things I love about Ukraine:

1. A country built on the shoulders of strong women: With my Great Aunt Lalyusa, a force of nature who along with her 5 siblings survived World War II and the brutal occupations of foreign regimes.

2. A forward-looking young people: At the climate march in Kyiv, young demonstrators hold up a sign in front of the Ministry of Energy and Coal titled "Ukraine, Ministry of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency"

4. A culture of idealism and hope: Happier times in Kyiv.

5. Diverse in culture, language, and landscapes: A photo of my friend Lesya from one of many trips to the Carpathian mountains

6. Resilience in the face of adversity: A welcome sign in Slovyansk in Eastern Ukraine after the Ukrainian military recaptured it from Russian-backed forces in 2014. Painted a patriotic blue and yellow, bullet holes were turned into red flowers.