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03 September 2007 18:42

Kateryna Yushchenko Takes Part in Press Conference Dedicated to Give Your Heart to Children Beneficial Soccer Game

September 3, 2007, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund Kateryna Yushchenko took part in a press conference dedicated to the Give Your Heart to Children beneficial soccer game at the Hyatt Hotel. Among other participants of the conference were Ukraine’s national soccer team captain Andriy Shevchenko, President of the Obolon Closed Joint Stock Company Oleksandr Slobodian, Head of the Board of Directors of the Ukraine 3000 Fund Oleksandr Maksymchuk, and President of the Andriy Shevchenko Charitable Fund Olena Shevchenko.

The game is scheduled for September 4, 2007, at 7:00 p.m., at the Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium. Its goal is popularizing healthy lifestyle, positive values, and charitable traditions among the Ukrainians.

The receipts from the game will be channeled to the Ukraine 3000 Fund for the creation of the Children’s Hospital of the Future and to the Andriy Shevchenko Charitable Fund’s charitable projects.

Addressing the audience, Mrs. Yushchenko thanked Mr. Shevchenko for his initiative. “You all know how much prestige he has not only in Ukraine but abroad. Andriy is known and respected not only as a soccer player but also a public figure. The fund he directs has already done and keeps doing much to help Ukraine’s children,” she said. Mrs. Kateryna is convinced that the game will turn out an athletic and charitable event of the year. “I’m thankful to all who believes that everybody can and must do something to make difference. Thanks to all who thinks that rescuing little Ukrainians is everybody’s business. Thanks to all kind, generous, and caring people who bring a new meaning to the words ‘charity’ and ‘doing good’,” she said.

Mr. Shevchenko described how the idea of the beneficial match had emerged. “I had a dream to have such a beneficial game in Ukraine, combining strive for charity with an atmosphere of a vibrant athletic feast,” he said. “Such games are very popular in Europe.  The receipts from the tickets and other revenues have helped hundreds of thousands of children, who have nobody else to take care about them. Today I and my associates representing soccer, athletics, and show business are making our contribution into the construction of the Children’s Hospital of the Future.” Andriy Shevchenko thanked all those responding to his call to take part in the action. “I thank everyone who will come to the Dynamo Stadium September 4. I thank you on behalf of the kids who will see that their hope for your help, love, and care are not vain,” he said.

Oleksandr Slobodian said that thet the Obolon Company has been cooperating with Andriy Shevchenko fund for over a year within the framework of a promotional contract in Ukraine. “The decision to combine our efforts for a charitable project has been a logical extension of our cooperation and the company’s traditions,” he said, adding that Obolon Company had undertook all expenses for organizing the game. “Today we continue a long-term tradition of athletic sponsorship and philanthropy, since this is one of the priorities in our socially responsible activities,” he said. “Owing to Andriy and his friends, who he invited to take part in this project, together we will be able to raise more money for the children requiring our help. Combining our efforts, we’ll make a joint contribution into our children’s healthy and happy future.”

The Give Your Heart to Children beneficial soccer game was initiated by Andriy Shevchenko Charitable Fund and Obolon Company. By provisional information, the members of the teams will be Oleh Blokhin, Igor Bielanov, Volodymyr Klychko, Andriy Medviedev, Serhiy Bubka, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, Andriy Danylko, Paolo Maldini, Leonardo, Alessandro Costacurta, Gianni Morandi, et. al.