Help us fight to save Ukrainian heritage!
The Ukrainian Cultural Center at the St. Andrew Memorial Complex in Somerset, New Jersey is under threat of sale, rezoning, and demolition. This sacred site, built through the generous donations of Ukrainian Americans since the 1980s, serves as the spiritual and cultural heart of our community and houses irreplaceable treasures of Ukrainian heritage.
Our Mission: Save Our Heritage
We are raising funds to mount a comprehensive campaign using every tool at our disposal to:
- Stop the unauthorized sale of this community-built cultural center
- Prevent rezoning that would destroy its spiritual and cultural purpose
- Challenge demolition plans through all available channels
- Mobilize community support and public awareness
- Negotiate alternative solutions that preserve our heritage
What Makes This Place Sacred
The Ukrainian Cultural Center was erected as a living memorial to churches, libraries, and archives destroyed in Ukraine. A plaque on the building reads: "ERECTED AS A MEMORIAL TO THE CHURCHES, LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES DESTROYED IN UKRAINE, THIS CENTER WILL PRESERVE THE TREASURES OF CHRISTIANITY OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE."
This complex includes:
- The largest Ukrainian religious and cultural center in the U.S.
- A Ukrainian school serving refugee children and families fleeing Russia's war
- Memorial Cemetery with over 8,000 graves of Ukrainian priests, soldiers, and cultural figures
- Irreplaceable archives and cultural artifacts
How Your Donation Will Be Used
100% of funds raised will support our comprehensive defense campaign:
Legal Action:
- Attorney fees and court costs
- Legal research and documentation
- Appeals process expenses
Community Advocacy:
- Public awareness campaigns and media outreach
- Community organizing and mobilization efforts
- Petition drives and grassroots advocacy
Alternative Solutions:
- Professional consultations on preservation strategies
- Financial audits and feasibility studies
- Negotiation facilitation and mediation services
Emergency Response:
- Rapid response to immediate threats
- Documentation and preservation of threatened materials
- Crisis communication and coordination
Transparency Commitment
We pledge complete financial transparency:
- Detailed reports of all expenses will be provided.
- Receipts and invoices will be made available to donors upon request
- Regular updates on our campaign progress will be shared with all supporters
The Urgency
Plans to sell and demolish this sacred space threaten to erase decades of Ukrainian American heritage. The Ukrainian school's enrollment has increased significantly due to families fleeing the war in Ukraine - these refugee children and families depend on this center now more than ever.
We will use every all legal means available to protect this sacred site.
Our Strategy
We are pursuing multiple approaches simultaneously:
- Legal action
- Community mobilization to demonstrate widespread support
- Media campaigns to raise public awareness
- Negotiations to find alternative solutions
- Political advocacy with local and state officials
- Heritage preservation documentation and protection
About Svitanok NYC
Svitanok NYC is spearheading this comprehensive defense campaign as an organization dedicated to advocating for Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States. We believe preserving this cultural center is our moral duty to our ancestors, future generations, and our community.
Join Our Fight
Every donation, no matter the size, strengthens our ability to fight on multiple fronts. Help us ensure that this sacred space continues to serve as a beacon of Ukrainian culture and spirituality for generations to come.
Svitanok NYC Inc is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 99-4541258, and your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
If you would like to contribute to the efforts in other ways, please reach out to us through our website.
This is not just about preserving a building - it's about protecting the soul of Ukrainian America.
Together, we can protect our heritage. Together, we will win.
Organizer
