UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA
CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE

THE MINISTRY OF SAINT ANDREW UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX SOCIETY

St. Andrew’s Society is a philanthropic and charitable organization of faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

The Society was organized in 1990 to support the spiritual rebirth of the people of Ukraine by providing for humanitarian assistance to the needy, aiding theological institutions and seminarians, and publishing religious educational materials. With the fall of communism in the Soviet Union and the Declaration of Ukrainian Independence, faithful in the US have generously supported the projects promoted by Saint Andrew’s Society.

The Society has raised and funded over $830,000 in various philanthropic and church related projects. The major efforts supported by St. Andrew’s Society have been:

Humanitarian
Soup kitchens for needy elderly and orphanage support ($314,300)

Theological Seminaries and Scholarships including the Rev. Lewytzkyj Fund ($236,200)

Restoration of St. Michael’s in Kyiv
Rebuilding of the historic Cathedral which was destroyed by the communist state under Josef Stalin ($115,500)

Various church restorations, publications, medical projects ($147,000)

Present ongoing outreach projects include soup kitchens, seminary scholarships and orphanage support.

Since the founding of the Society, humanitarian support to the needy and disenfranchised has been essential to the mission of the Society. From the early years after the collapse of communism, the faithful here in the United States have supported efforts by the faithful in Ukraine in providing meals for poor elderly throughout the country. Presently, five centers are supported by the Society - Kyiv (2), Pereyaslav-Kmelnitsky, Chernihiv, Ternopil and Chernivtsi. Food is distributed at soup kitchens, cafeterias or delivered to home bound elderly in these four cities. The cost of each meal funded by the Society is approximately $3.

Recently, on his trip to Ukrainian orphanages with the College Age students Mission Team of the UOC of the USA, His Grace Bishop Daniel visited one of the institutions in the capital of Ukraine where residents of Kyiv and local villages gather once a month to receive food supplies, which are paid for by St. Andrew Society of our Holy Church.

The  Rev. Lewytzkyj Seminarian Scholarship Foundation, established in memory of Very Rev. Dr. Wolodymyr and Halyna Lewytzkyj, raises funds to provide merit and needs based scholarships to students in 3 Western Ukraine seminaries. Since 1990, 325 full scholarships have been granted. More than 150 scholarship recipients have been ordained and now minister to parishes across Ukraine. Several seminarians were selected to further their studies at St. Sophia Theological Seminary in South Bound Brook, N.J. 

Once a scholarship is awarded, the seminarian is subsidized for the duration of his studies providing program accountability requirements are sustained. Annually 30 scholarships are awarded. Plans are underway to add 15 more students in 2010. To make a donation specifically to the Scholarship Fund or for more information, please contact: Luba Lewytzkyj, Foundation Director, 14973 Estate Ave., Prior Lake, MN 55372; 952.440.5822 or luba@integra.net

Yearly visitations are made to selected orphanages in Ukraine by St. Nicholas bringing good cheer and gifts to needy and neglected children. The Society supports the ongoing support of homes with disabled children in Ukraine.

Please consider supporting the charitable work of the Society of St. Andrew. For further information, please contact Rev. Deacon Dr. Ihor Mahlay at imahlay@yahoo.com or 440-582-1051.

Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to:
St. Andrew’s Society
c/o Vitali Vizir
1023 Yorkshire Drive
Los Altos, CA 94024