UCCA Illinois proudly commemorated the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine and Unity Day with a powerful gathering rooted in unity, leadership, and solidarity.
Our community was honored to be addressed by distinguished members of Congress:• Congressman Danny K. Davis (Illinois’ 7th Congressional District)
• Congresswoman Robin Kelly (Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District)
• Congressman Mike Quigley (Illinois’ 5th Congressional District)
• Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (Illinois’ 8th Congressional District)
We were also honored by the presence of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponce de León, and other state, county, and city officials.
International solidarity was strongly represented by the Consul General of Ukraine, alongside Consuls General of Lithuania, Canada, and Poland, reaffirming unwavering support for Ukraine.
In a historic moment, Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponce de León proclaimed this day a day of commemoration for the entire City of Chicago, City of Chicago – Government recognizing the strength, resilience, and contributions of the Ukrainian community.
City officials also reaffirmed that Chicago is actively working to provide tangible assistance to Ukraine, including efforts to send generators to help restore energy and power infrastructure for communities under attack.
Keynote speaker Yevhen Hlibovytsky delivered an inspiring and thought-provoking address on unity and the path forward for Ukraine and the world.
Community Service Awards, earned through years of selfless dedication and tireless service, were proudly presented to:
• Roman Yatskovskyi
• Oksana Taratula
• Vasyl Mirutenko
The main messages of the day were clear and resolute.
Today’s polarized world is the result of appeasement. Only a decisive, united response can stop the suffering – the time to act was yesterday, not just talk.
In a freezing temperature and hardship, the Ukrainian people stand as a moral compass for the world, resisting dictatorship and oppression, and defending democratic values far beyond their borders.
Special appreciation to the dedicated Organizing Committee, whose leadership, commitment, and tireless work made this commemoration possible:
Dr. Maria Dmytriv-Kapeniak, Dr. Maria Korkatsch-Groszko, Motria Melnyk, Maria Dziuma, Nataliya Ponomaryova, Viktor Ivankiv, Marko Supronyuk, Nataliya Boivka, Oksana Chuyko, Pavlo Bandriwsky, Ihor Diaczun, Maria Klimchak, Roman Yatskovskyi, Marta Farion, and Lida Tkaczuk.
Special thanks to UCCA’s Director of Communications, Andrij Dobriansky, and Annie Swingen from the American Foreign Policy Council for their invaluable support and partnership. Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their continued support:
Selfreliance Foundation, Polsky Foundation, and Heritage Foundation.
Fundraiser for generators is ongoing. Please donate via the QR code.
This project is being implemented in partnership with the Ukrainian World Congress - Свiтовий Конґрес Українців and Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Embassy of Ukraine in the USA / Посольство України в США , ensuring critical energy support reaches Ukrainian communities in need.
We were also honored to hear from Bishop Benedict who reminded us of the importance of individual responsibility and how even small actions can create meaningful impact. Anna Cirili, Principal of St. Nicholas School, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral brought special attention to the needs and experiences of refugee children.