Page 34 - Dispatches - June 2022

Support for the
Philanthropy

By Kadir Tasdelen,
O.A.T. Country People of Ukraine
Manager, Poland

Wh Gr n C rcl F n i s d n t

—
t
p r r r g n r s r v l rs

Right: Ukrainian On March 4, a week after Putin began
refugees arriving his unconscionable invasion of Ukraine,
at the train station Grand Circle Foundation sent its first
in Wroclaw, Poland fundraising appeal. The outpouring
await assistance from of generosity from travelers has been
volunteers. nothing short of inspiring, with more
than $1 million raised in the first week
alone—and more than $2 million raised at
the time of this writing.

Our donors trust Grand Circle Foundation
to help in a way that is direct, legitimate,
and where every cent goes to people in
gor: Aged 17, arrived at the train station need—and it is our great responsibility
in Wroclaw, Poland, three days after his to honor that trust. Harriet and Alan Lewis
Imother and younger brother fled Kharkiv, know that those closest to a crisis know how
Ukraine. The only information he could best to help, and how to get things done fast.
provide volunteers was his mother’s general They look to regional associates like Stefan
location—yet they worked to successfully and me to provide facts firsthand, and find the
reunite them. most trustworthy organizations to partner
with. Often these groups are local, not huge
Magdalena and Ludmilla: Neighbors who
fled Kyiv with their children, leaving their bureaucracies that take too much time to set
husbands behind. After taking a bus from up and require too much in administrative
Kyiv to Lviv, they walked for 20 hours to the fees.
Polish border, where they boarded the train for In Romania, Stefan and fellow associate Salvo
Wroclaw. They had nothing but the clothing Cascino began by identifying five refugee
and supplies given to them at refugee camps— camps at border crossings that offered
but it meant everything that their children thousands of Ukrainians their first refuge
were now safe. from the war. In Poland, I began an ongoing
partnership with a parish priest in Wroclaw
These are just a few of the refugees I’ve met at
the train station in Wroclaw—and thousands named Father Arkadiusz to purchase and
upon thousands have similarly heartbreaking deliver supplies for refugees arriving at the
stories. My goal, along with my colleague train station. Ever since those first donations
The vast majority of Stefan Mototolea on the border of Romania, came in, we’ve been on the ground assessing
refugees at the Polish is to distribute funds raised by Grand Circle where the need is the greatest, and reporting
border are women Foundation, and help provide as many back to Grand Circle Foundation about
and children. Here, refugees as possible with lodging, supplies, additional areas where we can have the most
Kadir brings a smile to and the support they need to begin rebuilding impact.
a young face.
their lives.
DISPATCHES • JUNE

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