Philanthropist 2008 National Competition: Start Announced

July 3, 2008, Head of the Board of Directors of the Ukraine 3000 Foundation Oleksandr Maksymchuk took part in a press conference announcing the start of the Philanthropist 2008 national competition. Among other participants of the event were Head of the Organizing Committee Serhiy Letenko (Children’s World All-Ukrainian Charitable Fund), Panel Head Svitlana Kuts (Center for Philanthropy, President), and Director of the Ukrainian Philanthropists’ Forum Anna Hulevska-Chernysh.

“Charity is an integral part of a country’s development, and we believe it should get the best promotion,” Mr. Maksymchuk said in his speech. He is also certain that philanthropists should be celebrated on the state level.

Mr. Letenko and Mrs. Kuts described the contest’s progress in more detail. The competition will continue till late November 2008. The awards ceremony will take place in December, on Philanthropist’s Day. Private persons and organizations from all Ukraine’s oblasts can participate. “The competition’s goal is celebrate Ukraine’s most generous people in a decent manner,” Mr. Letenko said.

The press conference also featured a presentation of the Philanthropist 2008 national competition’s official website.

The Philanthropist of the year national competition is being held in Ukraine for the second time. Its organizers are the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation, Children’s World All-Ukrainian Charitable Fund, Center for Philanthropy, Ukrainian Philanthropists’ Forum, and Civil Space Informational and Analytical Center. The contest’s major goal is awarding and celebrating representatives of Ukrainian public for charitable activities aimed at solving urgent social problems and popularizing philanthropy in Ukraine. Physical and legal entities, who have granted one-off or recurrent charitable aid for solving social problems, can take part in the competition. The panel includes experts and public figures having authority over the society.