The Vovk Foundation partners with Ukrainian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (UVCA)

by | Aug 30, 2023 | News

The Vovk Foundation partners with Ukrainian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (UVCA)

 

August 30th, 2023—The Vovk Foundation 501(c)3 is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the Ukrainian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (UVCA) to collaborate on 1) supporting individual entrepreneurs, scientists/engineers, students, and investors, as needed and appropriate, through the business startup and maturation process, 2) facilitating introductions to the same to make said individuals aware of the Vovk Foundation and its sponsoring organizations, 3) conducting discussions and reviews around specific deal flow, specifically in the defense, and security sectors, 4) collaborating on conferences, workshops, and related activities, and 5) working towards the establishment of a physical presence in Ukraine for this partnership.

UVCA, a member of Invest Europe, was established to spread the word about Ukraine’s achievements and opportunities and to support investors in every aspect, from providing reliable information to establishing international connections at the industry and government levels. UVCA shapes the future direction of the private equity industry by promoting investment opportunities of Ukraine, representing interests of private equity investors to policymakers and improving the investment and business climate of Ukraine. 

“For me personally and for the Association as well,” says Dmytro Kuzmenko, UVCA CEO “this partnership means a new page in the promotion of the ecosystem of Ukrainian startups and new opportunities for fruitful cooperation with American investors and companies. As for Ukrainian tech entrepreneurs and startups, this is a great opportunity to open new markets, attract more investments, achieve new results and support our country in its fight for freedom and independence. I believe that this partnership will allow us to create a strong and sustainable basis for the further recovery and development of the Ukrainian economy by creating greater opportunities for joint investment and joint ventures with the most outstanding Ukrainian entrepreneurs.”

The Vovk Foundation was established in 2023 to offer assistance and support to Ukrainians and those of Ukrainian ancestry. The foundation focuses on advocacy in the following areas:

  • Education—Provide targeted financial support and scholarships
  • Entrepreneurship—Support the development of entrepreneurialism
  • Innovation—Promote defense and commercial innovation activities
  • The Rebuild—Help restore scientific, industrial, and educational infrastructure
  • Truth Seeking—Amplify the facts about Ukraine and Ukrainian nationalism

“We are very pleased to partner with UVCA and play an active role as it supports one of the critical focus areas for our foundation, namely, entrepreneurship and new technology development,” says Yurij Wowczuk, director of The Vovk Foundation. “Our missions are aligned and this commitment will help deliver strong and sustainable growth of the Ukrainian venture ecosystem.”

For immediate release
Contact Nikki Bowman Mills, nikki@newsouthmediainc.com or call 304.413.0104

 

Graduate Student at Prestigious School Selected by UNWA for First Vovk Scholarship

by | Aug 16, 2023 | News

Graduate Student at Prestigious School Selected by UNWA for First Vovk Scholarship

NEW YORK – A Ukrainian-American student in the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, has been selected by the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA) as the first recipient of an inaugural $4,000 scholarship offered in partnership with the Vovk Scholarship Foundation. 

Maria Kulchyckyj is pursuing a Master’s degree in public policy at the prestigious school with a focus on democratic reform in Ukraine.  

“I want to use the knowledge gained from graduate studies to join international development teams engaged in reconstructing Ukraine,” says Ms. Kulchyckyj. “I strive to be a senior U.S government advisor to Ukraine and assist Ukraine in becoming a full member of the European Union and other Western alliances.”

The UNWLA Vovk Scholarship award is granted to persons of Ukrainian descent, including Ukrainian-Americans, who have completed their freshman year at an accredited U.S. university as full-time students and maintain a very high academic standing.  It is being offered for the first time in 2023.

“This is a very challenging scholarship program,” says UNWLA president Natalie Pawlenko.  “It is aimed at identifying and developing potential leaders of the Ukrainian community in the United States with the appropriate skills to influence government policy.  We are very pleased to be partners with the Vovk Foundation in this regard.”

The Vovk Foundation honors the memory of two patriarchs:   Ivan Vovchuk, a noted scholar, writer and leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN); and, his son Andrew, an accomplished engineer and technologist.

“We are thrilled to partner with such a storied and successful organization as the UNWLA to administer a scholarship program for students of Ukrainian heritage,” states Dr. Zenovy S. Wowczuk, Vovk Foundation President.  

“It is our intention to work in concert with UNWLA to have a permanent endowment that will allow for not only multiple scholarship awards, but also highlight the involvement and engagement of students in their heritage and culture.”

An active member of the Ukrainian-American community in Washington, D.C., Ms. Kulchyckyj completed her Bachelor’s degree (Magna Cum Laude) in International & Global Studies and Health: Science, Society and Policy at Brandeis University.  Her extensive studies and work experience have provided her with a strong background in public health. 

Ms. Kulchyckyj has also received honors and awards recognizing her participation in a wide range of activities including data collection for public health research and fund raising.

“When Russia launched a full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, I knew I had to help Ukrainians in need,” says Ms. Kulchyckyj.   

She led an online fundraiser that donated more than $20,000 to humanitarian aid organizations in Ukraine, including $2,000 to help a military hospital in L’viv to purchase an X-ray machine. 

In addition to the UNWLA Vovk scholarship, Ms. Kulchyckyj is a recent co-winner of the Eva Staszkiw scholarship, also administered by the UNWLA.

For more information:
UNWLA Press Service
609-964-9878

 

A New National and International Foundation to Help Ukraine Launches in Morgantown, W.V.

by | Jul 20, 2023 | News

A New National and International Foundation to Help Ukraine Launches in Morgantown, W.V.

The Vovk Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2023 to offer assistance and support to Ukrainians and those of Ukrainian ancestry.  Led by brothers Zenovy, Yurij, and Borys Wowczuk, the founders of Morgantown-based Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2), the foundation focuses on advocacy for Ukraine and Ukrainians worldwide, with initiatives embodying the legacy of their father and grandfather and their important lifetime contributions in the following areas:

  • Education—Provide targeted financial support and scholarships
  • Entrepreneurship—Support the development of entrepreneurialism
  • Innovation—Promote defense and commercial innovation activities
  • The Rebuild—Help restore scientific, industrial and educational infrastructure
  • Truth Seeking—Amplify the facts about Ukraine and Ukrainian nationalism

“Through the foundation’s projects, initiatives, and partnerships worldwide, we are excited and honored to support the rebuild and reconstruction of Ukraine after the defeat of the russian terrorist regime,” says Vovk Foundation Director Yurij Wowczuk. “Ukraine, with its immense natural resources, exceptional human capital, and a relentless nationalistic awareness is poised to emerge as a leading global economy. We look forward to supporting the country’s growth and success.”

The Vovk Foundation has financed a series of surgeries for Ukrainian soldiers, helped a children’s hospital in Ukraine (through a partnership with Brothers’ Brother) purchase analytic analysis equipment for the critical care of infants, and funded a university scholarship program in conjunction with the Ukrainian National Womens’ League of America (UNWLA) for students of Ukrainian descent.

For their work in aiding Ukraine, the Wowczuk brothers have recently been chosen as TOP 100 USA Entrepreneurs with Ukrainian Origins because of their unique Ukrainian heritage and the innovation and social impact of their business. They will be honored at a star-studded event in New York City on July 22, hosted by Kateryna Osadcha, host of  “The Voice of Ukraine”, “The Voice Kids”, and “Search for the Missing”, and Yuriy Gorbunov, host of “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Voice Ukraine”.

For more information about Vovk Foundation or to make a donation, please visit vovkfoundation.org. All donations will help ensure the successful reconstruction of Ukraine, a solid future for its citizens and the diaspora, and the preservation and evolution of its storied culture and heritage.