BCU MARKS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR, STRONG MEMBER SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
2014 marked another year of growth and success for Buduchnist Credit Union. With net income totaling $2.7 million, BCU and BCU Foundation were able to provide over $1.4 million throughout the year in support of various community needs.
2014 was also a year without recent precedent for Ukraine and her people. The year saw the country take on new struggles in its quest for freedom and democracy, beginning with the EuroMaidan Revolution and culminating in the current, ongoing struggle for territorial sovereignty in eastern Ukraine. Sadly, these hard times have demanded continued sacrifice, and have demanded Ukraine’s sacrifice of her best men and women.
Throughout all of these events, BCU members responded generously and overwhelmingly, first to the Ukrainians who for many weeks stood on the Maidan for freedom, democracy, and dignity, then to the ill-equipped volunteer battalions fighting in the ongoing Anti-Terrorist Operation, and most recently to the rehabilitation of those injured soldiers returning from eastern Ukraine. BCU members have also continually been contributing to funding humanitarian aid sent to eastern Ukraine, as well as a fund for the families of the fallen heros of Maidan.
It was for emerging needs such as these that BCU and its members raised $750,000 in 2014. Of this sum, members allocated $100,000 from their 2014 dividends as part of the “Dividends for Ukraine Campaign.”
Currently BCU sponsors three major funds addressing urgent needs in Ukraine today. They are: Friends of Ukraine Defence Forces Fund (a project of the League of Ukrainian Canadians), Guardian Angels Ukraine(a rehabilitation project of the Leaugue of Ukrainian Canadian Women), and the Nebesna Sotnia (Heavenly Hundred) Fund, which provides support to families of the victims of the EuroMaidan attacks.
Guardian Angels Ukraine Project Launch
BCU was proud to be one of the lead sponsorsof the Guardian Angels Ukraine Benefit
Dinner held on December 19th supporting the establishment of rehabilitation centres
to treat Ukrainian servicemen injured during Anti-Terrorist Operations in eastern
Ukraine. The sold-out dinner welcomed special guests from Ukraine:Member of
Parliament and anticorruption activist Tetiana Chornovol; Dr. Ruslan Dobrovolsky,
Head Doctorof the Maidan Hospital; and Dr. Vsevolod Stebliuk, hero-medic and
Advisor to Ukraine’s Minister of Defence.
CEO of Buduchnist CU, Oksana Prociuk Ciz, signed the Ukrainian flag traveling
with ZynoviyMediukh through Ukraine with the inscripti “Ukraine will Triumph!”
Ukrainian Member of Parliament Tetiana Chornovol with Canada’s Justice Minister,
Peter MacKay (centre) and Canadian MPs Ted Opitz (left) and Bernard Trottier (right)
During the Christmas season, Buduchnist supported Ukrainian traditions in the
community such as Christmas concerts, Ukrainian New Year celebrations and
groups singing traditional carols – koliady.
Young carollers from the children’s choir “Zayvir” at Buduchnist Bloor Branch.
Volunteers distribute humanitarian aid funded through the League of Ukrainian
Canadians “Friends of Ukraine Defence Forces Fund.” This was one of several
funds on deposit with BCU to which our members contributed throughout the year.
