“Razom for Ukraine” Charitable Foundation’s project Toy Drive provides the assistance to children from families of Ukrainian militaries who died or were injured during the combat operations. Our volunteers constantly monitor and collect inquiries from the families on-site and comprise a permanent base of mentees. RAZOM, together with numerous partners and donors in the USA and Ukraine delivers schools supplies, and Birthday and Christmas gifts.
The children of the fallen defenders in Ukraine are under constant stress. They are in dire need of help. As grown ups must understand that we owe them an unpaid debt as we could not save them from the horrors of war. The “RAZOM TOY DRIVE” team will do everything to wrap little children’s hearts with our warmth and love.
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Razom’s earliest efforts involved fundraising to deliver clothing, food, and protective implements to the protesters in the Maidan throughout the winter of 2014. Our humanitarian projects have evolved to adapt to the changing needs and situation in Ukraine. Our methods, however, remain the same. With participants both in the United States and in Ukraine, we hope to identify areas of need where we can provide materials, supplies, or expertise. Toy Drive was one of the first Razom projects, started in May 2014.
Toy Drive for the Children of Fallen Heroes is an initiative carried out by Razom volunteers to render aid to families of Ukrainian military who died in action. We are collaborating with Волонтерська Сотня, Допомога Дітям Героїв, Майбутнє України and Логістичний штаб to identify potential donors, assemble care packages in the U.S. and deliver them directly to the families.
The war has brought tragedy to many Ukrainian families. Soldiers are giving their lives for Ukraine — for peaceful skies above their homeland. The least we can do is take care of their families. Our volunteers in Ukraine meet with the families to learn about their needs and pass the information on to us. Razom, with the cooperation of numerous partners, then organizes Toy Drives around the U.S. and mails package with donations to the families.
Preparing a child for school is a responsible and pleasant mission of parents. But when your husband is at the front and all the family’s funds are used to buy military equipment, then there is a problem with the purchase of school supplies. And if there are 5-6 children in the family, then these are considerable expenses that not every family can afford. For families of dead defenders, it is also an act of remembrance about them, which is always commemorated by widows. Therefore, we decided to support the families of our defenders in such a difficult time for all of us, by presenting the children of our defenders with everything they need for school.
Every child waits for his Birthday all year long. This is one of the most favorite holidays for them! Because they are waiting for gifts. Of course, we could not leave without attention and gifts those children whose parents are defending Ukraine or gave their lives for it. For their Birthday our mentees receive greetings in our group and a gift by a delivery service. Going to the post office to get a gift from “RAZOM TOY DRIVE” has already become a good tradition for our mentees.
Christmas holidays for children are a pure fairy tale that they are waiting for the whole year. Making miracles a reality is also the task of our project. When there were fewer children, they wrote letters to Saint Nicholas, and we tried to fulfill their wishes. Now these children have grown up and know that there are such wonderful fairies, who are called volunteers, and who fulfill their wishes. Therefore, we try to make children believe in fairy tales for as long as possible, and then in good people. Usually, our children receive a sweet package and a gift from us in the form of toys, clothes, educational kits or gadgets.
As part of the “Toy Drive” program, we provide assistance to the following categories of families:
◾️ Families of militaries died in the Russian-Ukrainian war;
◾️ Large families of participants in the Russian-Ukrainian war;
◾️ Families of combatants with disabilities of the first group.
If your family fits the above mentioned categories and you want to become a mentee of the project, then you need to fill in the application form of the candidate for participation in the program for each child.
Liudmyla Kravtsova
Head of the “Toy Drive” program in Ukraine
“Toy Drive” project coordinator
Head of the “Toy Drive” program in the USA
DMYTRO KAVUN
Spokesman of the “Toy Drive” program
The number of mentees is 823
The number of families with mentees is 640
You can mail a check to 140 2nd. Ave., Suite 305, New York, NY, 10003
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In 2018 we’re planning to cover expenses for 30 teams (6 people per team) at Oblast STEM competitions.
Total Budget is $4500
Director, writer and cinematographer with three completed award-winning shorts as well as a feature documentary in post-production. After starting his filmmaker career at 2009, Ruslan brings his skills in project management, process analysis and systems models (received during obtaining MA in cybernetics 2003-2008) and applies them to the creative thinking and artistic thought-processes of film. He also holds BA in Film and Television directing (from the Kyiv National University of theatre, cinema and television by Karpenko-Karyi).
“A chance to participate in The Co-Pilot project it’s an amazing opportunity to help others and to tell the story that will engage and inspire people around the world”
We are gearing up for our 2017 Mission trip. It’ll be a 3-month adventure during which we plan to work with neurosurgeons from several centers from all around the country. Dr.Tomycz has also been invited to deliver an address at the annual Ukrainian Neurosurgery Conference 2017 in Kharkiv.
May 20: arrive in Kyiv, Ukraine
May 22-26: meet with area surgeons at participating centers
May 29- June 9: two week master class with Igor Kurilets MD at the International Neurosurgery Center
June 12-13: Visit to Medical Institute of Sumy State University
June 14-16: Ukrainian Neurosurgery Conference 2017 in Kharkiv
June 19-23: one week course and master class operating in complex spine and craniocervical with Ukrainian spinal surgeons and trainees from Romadanov Institute and International Neurosurgery Center
June 24-July 7: Come back to United States for two weeks
July 10-21: two week master class with Dr. Schlegov at the Neurovascular Institute
July 24-August 4: two week master class in pediatric neurosurgery with surgeons at Lviv Children’s Hospital
August 5-18: travel to out-lying centers of excellence (Stryii, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odesa)
August 21-31: operate with surgeons at Central Military Hospital and International Neurosurgery Center in Kyiv
September 15: leave Ukraine for United States
The best way to train surgeons is by providing hands-on mentorship and assistance in the operating room. One of the primary goals of the Co-Pilot Project is the continued recruitment of high quality surgeons from United States and Canada to spend time with Ukrainian counterparts, consulting on patients and performing procedures.
Surgical Mentors traveling to Ukraine
Not all of the healthcare volunteers will be able to travel to Ukraine but they still will play an important role from home. Utilizing contemporary technology, including live streaming of surgeries and communication via social media the medical support staff will advice and mentor Ukrainian neurosurgeons as they confront difficult cases.
Medical Support Staff
Advisory Staff
Since our exploratory trip in 2016 we have identified a cohort of motivated and talented surgeons who are hungry for additional instruction and eager for collaboration.
Dr. Luke Tomycz is the newest addition to the pediatric neurosurgical team at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Dr. Tomycz finished first in his high school class of over 200 students and attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA where he double-majored in biology and chemical engineering. He accepted the prestigious Dean’s Full-Tuition Scholarship to attend medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he first developed an interest in neurosurgery. After medical school, he began his formal neurosurgical training at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN where he trained under the late Noel Tulipan, MD, a pioneer in fetal neurosurgery for myelomeningocele. During his seven-year residency, he spent two years obtaining an in-folded fellowship in endovascular surgery, becoming proficient in the treatment of aneurysms, AVMs, Moya-Moya syndrome, and complex dural AV fistulae of adults and children. After this, Dr. Tomycz spent an additional year at Seattle Children’s Hospital performing a large volume of complex epilepsy surgery with Jeff Ojemann, MD. Following an exhaustive job search, Dr.Tomycz was attracted to Austin as the city was in the process of launching a new medical school at the University of Texas.
Dr. Tomycz specializes in all aspects of pediatric neurosurgery including brain tumors, epilepsy, Chiari malformation, tethered cord syndrome, CSF shunting, and intracranial endoscopy. As one of the only dual-trained, pediatric and endovascular neurosurgeons in the country, he is particularly interested in Moya-Moya, brain aneurysms and AVMs, arteriovenous fistulae, and other complex neurovascular disorders in children as well as adults. His research interests include the use of engineering innovations to improve treatments for hydrocephalus and he has published on a wide variety of neurosurgical topics. Outside the operating room, Dr. Tomycz enjoys playing guitar and hiking in the mountains. He has travelled extensively to perform neurosurgery and take part in short-term medical mission work – in Cuba, Kenya, Honduras, Ecuador, and Ukraine.
Dr. Tomycz grew up with four grandparents who told stories of their youth and taught their grandchildren the language of their homeland – Ukraine. His parents were both born in refugee camps following the second world war, and came to this country in the early 1950s with virtually nothing. His father excelled in academics and went into medicine, and both Luke and his brother Nestor followed suit, pursuing a career in neurosurgery. During a long period of study and training that lasted more than 15 years, Luke resolved to return to the homeland of his grandparents and provide the kind of high quality care that children receive in the United States.
In 2014 at the peak of protests in the Maidan, Mariya joined several fellow Ukrainians living in New York City to create Razom, a young, energetic, and progressive start-up which seeks to amplify the voice of Ukraine to an American audience. An active member of the board, she is responsible for organizing cultural events as well as cooperating with government representatives, activists, and various civic groups and human rights organizations in support of Ukraine’s quest for democracy.
CPP info
Mariya is also heavily involved with fundraising for Razom’s projects via crowdsourcing, charity events, and online petitions. After graduating from Penn State University with a BA in Advertising and Public Relations and a dual minor in Entrepreneurship and International Studies, Mariya spent over 5 years in Manhattan working within the content marketing industry. She believes in the enormous potential of dedicated volunteers around the world working to rebuild Ukraine one project at a time.
Mariana Magala was born in Lviv, Ukraine. She graduated from The University of Chicago in 2013 and holds a B.A. in Economics and Slavic Languages and Literature. Currently, Mariana is a Strategic Analytics Manager at Interline Brands (subsidiary of The Home Depot) in Jacksonville, Florida. She specializes in analytics, business strategy, and nonprofit development. Mariana was the co-chair of a pro-bono consulting group for nonprofits in Chicago for 3 years and is currently the treasurer for a young professionals group at MOSH (Museum of Science and History in Jacksonville).
Mariana joined Razom’s Neurosurgical initiative in 2016. She is very excited to collaborate with the team and develop the initiative into a highly successful program.