In a heartfelt demonstration of generosity and compassion, Archbishop Daniel in his capacity of the President of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA recently received a significant donation of $10,000 for Ukrainian orphanages. The benevolent contribution, sponsored by Halyna and Victor Lisnyczyj, serves as a shining example of the church community's commitment to supporting those in need.

The philanthropic gesture unfolded as Halyna and Victor Lisnyczyj, life-long members of Holy Evangelist Luke Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Warners, NY, expressed their deep concern for the well-being of orphaned children in Ukraine. Their desire to make a tangible impact on the lives of those less fortunate culminated in the substantial donation presented to Archbishop Daniel.

Archbishop Daniel graciously accepted the generous contribution during a meeting at the Consistory offices of the Spiritual Center of the Church in South Bound Brook, NJ. In his remarks, the archbishop expressed profound gratitude to Halyna and Victor Lisnyczyj, acknowledging the importance of their donation in providing essential support to Ukrainian orphanages.

Responding to Vladyka’s remarks, pani Halyna stated: “I was asked by our children to compile all of their favorite family recipes that they enjoyed while growing up. During the pandemic, I had lots of leisure time, so I decided to organize all of those recipes. Once our daughter, Tanya Petroff, who is a marketing specialist, saw them, decided to put them into a book form. My husband, Victor, is a retired professor of photography, took the pictures of the selected recipes for the book. I started making those recipes at home so that they could be photographed and included in the book. During that time, we ate really good!

The book came together very nicely. Our daughter-in- law, Laura Lisnyczyj, an English professor did a major editing of the text. With all that completed, Tanya designed a fantastic book for our family members and our five grandchildren. This was only going to be a “Legacy Book” of “Baba’s Favorite Recipes”, so we thought!

A longtime friend, Tony Omelian, saw the book and was so impressed and said he would like to have two copies, which we did not have at the time. We said the book was only meant for our family. However, more requests came from others who saw the book. At this time the war in Ukraine broke out. We thought that the book would be a great fundraiser to support Ukrainian Orphanages that our family has been supporting through the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. We ordered more books to meet the demand. So, for each $100 donation to the Orphanage Fund, one would receive my book as a thank you. We decided to cover all the expenses of publishing the books. To date, $30,000 was raised and donated to the Ukrainian Orphanages. We are honored and grateful of the generosity of all those people that supported the Orphanages in Ukraine through this effort.”

This third in a row donation of $10,000 (totaling in $30,000) is expected to have a meaningful impact on the lives of orphaned children across Ukraine. The funds will likely be allocated to address crucial needs such as education, healthcare, and daily essentials, fostering an environment that nurtures the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the young recipients.

Halyna and Victor Lisnyczyj's commitment to aiding Ukrainian orphanages aligns seamlessly with the humanitarian values upheld by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Their act of kindness exemplifies the church community's collective responsibility to extend compassion beyond its immediate boundaries and make a positive difference in the lives of those facing adversity. Collaborative efforts to support vulnerable populations, especially children in need, reflect the essence of community and shared responsibility that lies at the heart of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

As news of this benevolent donation spreads, it is expected to inspire further acts of kindness within parishes and individual parishioners from across the country and beyond. The ripple effect of such gestures amplifies the impact of community-driven initiatives, showcasing the power of collective goodwill to effect positive change.

In conclusion, Archbishop Daniel's acceptance of the $10,000 donation for Ukrainian orphanages from Halyna and Victor Lisnyczyj exemplifies the UOC of the USA's commitment to compassion and service. The generous contribution not only addresses the immediate needs of orphaned children but also serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating how individuals within the church community can come together to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of those in need.