Ukraine's Top Fashionistas Bring Their Runway to Arlington Heights to Help Children of War
Ukrainian Children's Aid and Relief Effort (UCARE) will spotlight Vogue-featured ethno-fashion influencers at a fashion show fundraiser for orphans and war displaced children in Ukraine.
On Oct. 1, from 1:00-3:00 pm: Four renowned fashion designers will leave Europe's runways and boutiques to fundraise for displaced and orphaned Ukrainian children during the "Healing Through Art" fashion show at Chez Hotel in Arlington Heights.
By raising funds for UCARE's "Healing through Arts" program, Vogue featured designers Khrystyna Rachytska and Olesya Hryn, embroidery influencer Oksana Rushinets and haute couture jewelry designer Orysia Valovka will help provide critical humanitarian aid for children traumatized by Russia's invasion.
"We're expanding our critical support system for orphaned and psychologically scarred children of war while giving these exceptional artists an opportunity to demonstrate and share how Ukrainian folk traditions have inspired their haute couture designs," explains UCARE founder Vera Petrusha.
All funds raised at the event will be used to procure psychiatrists and social workers specializing in PTSD treatment, painting supplies and musical instruments for art therapy, seven summer and winter and recreational and educational camps in the Carpathian Mountains, as well as life-changing stipends and scholarships. Former UCARE scholarships recipients will be in attendance to share their stories of transformation and describe how they are giving back to enable another generation of orphans to achieve their dreams.
UCARE original members are children of WWII refugees who settled in Chicago. "Healing Through Art" event coordinator Natalie Konowal explains: "Fashion lovers everywhere can appreciate Chicago's Northwest Suburbs only 4 Star Luxury Boutique Hotel as an appropriately chic, but also conveniently located venue that brings together both established and new Ukrainian communities, as well as Chicagoland's larger philanthropic community which has been offering unprecedented support since Russia's invasion."
For information, https://ucareinc.org/events.
ABOUT UCARE
The Ukrainian Children's Aid and Relief Effort has been delivering supplies and support to Ukraine's orphanages, as well sponsoring scholarships and organizing therapeutic summer camps since 1997. After Russia's full-scale invasion in February of 2022, the 501c3 non-profit expanded its scope to include war displaced minors as well as children of soldiers fighting for Ukraine's sovereignty. To date, UCARE has impacted hundreds of children.