The fundraiser in the Cowichan Valley on Oct. 15 to assist children in Ukraine impacted by the ongoing war raised $16,000.
Organizer Michele Sieffert said she had initially hoped that the Child of War fundraiser, which was sponsored by the Ukrainian Canadian Advocacy Group, would raise approximately $5,000 so she was delighted by the final tally.
“It was amazing and 67 people turned out at Birds Eye Cove Farm in Maple Bay for the event,” she said.
“The art exhibit (called War in Living Colour) the silent auction, live jazz music and dinner went very well, and the presentation by Yuilya Kozrp (who, along with her teenage daughter Viktoriia, escaped from Irpin, one of the first Ukrainian cities attacked by the Russians) was very well received. There was good karma there and everything went very smooth.”
Sieffert said the money raised will be sent by the Ukrainian Canadian Advocacy Group to Camp Petros in western Ukraine which is holding two-week camps for orphans from the war, and youths experiencing PTSD, where they will be treated by psychologists and other professionals before going back to their orphanages and homes.
“I want to thank Birds Eye Cove Farm, the artists, Yuilya Kozrp and everyone in the community that opened their hearts and wallets to make the fundraiser an incredible success,” she said.