KYIV FRIENDS

In order to create an opportunity for our working patrons to contribute financially to the services provided by the UEC, the UEC Friends Club was started in March 2006. Our idea was that when a person's donations reach $100, they would become a member of the Friends Club and receive special library privileges. The opportunity to give was advertised at the Center throughout the spring months, and the UEC started receiving its first donations. We are happy to inform you that God has richly blessed this project. 24 people have made donations. Two people, Yury Kryukov and Oleg Skutsenya, have already joined the Friends Club, and 10 people have become regular donors.

Throughout these months, we were amazed to see how much our patrons care about the Center and its work. Valery Statkevich, who is retired and in his late 60s (a representative of the most socially unprotected group in Ukraine), gave $2 saying that he would love to become a Friend of the UEC if only God gives him enough time to live. The average monthly pension is around $80. Oleg Skutsenya was overjoyed to become our "Friend." We hardly know Galina Litovchenko (pictured above), except for maybe recognizing her as one of our many patrons, but she also expressed her appreciation for the UEC's work and has gladly become a regular donor. As much as our Friends Club project has been a tangible help for UEC activities, it has been a great encouragement to the UEC staff as well.

Posted on August 29, 2006