A New Gift Celebrates the Dedication, Commitment, and Vision of two community stalwart leaders, Bohdan W. and Christine Kulchyckyj, of the Ukrainian-American community in the United States
On June 4, 2023, family, friends, and members of the Ukrainian-American community gathered at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) in Philadelphia, PA to reflect on the life and role that Bohdan W. Kulchyckyj played in the Ukrainian-American Community in the United States. It was also a chance for the Kulchyckyj Family to thank the community for their generous donations in tribute to both their parents – Bohdan, who passed away on December 16, 2021 and Christine, who passed away on December 9, 2022 – and to announce and celebrate a special gift in honor of their legacy. Faith, knowledge, and pride in one’s ancestry were central foundational principles for both Bohdan and Chrystia in raising their children, in their service and commitment to the Ukrainian-American community, and in influencing the development of their ten grandchildren. Both believed that one’s abilities are infinite if one develops God-given potential and talents.
From left to right: Bohdan Kulchyckyj, Olha Zarichynska, Yulia Komar and Yaropolk Kulchyckyj at the memorial service honoring the late Bohdan and Christine Kulchyckyj
In their memory, more than $15 thousand dollars was collected from family and friends to honor their roles in the community. In order to memorialize their parent’s legacy, their sons Dmytro, Danyo, and Yaro along with their families pledged an additional $60 thousand dollars to the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation (UCU Foundation) to establish the Kulchyckyj-Luznycky Fund for a female of Ukrainian heritage and/or from Ukraine, to study within the humanities or within the faculties of theology, philosophy, or social sciences at Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv.
1. Leaders of Ukrainian American student organizations who succeeded Bohdan Kulchyckyj after his term in 1950-60s: Mr Andriy Chornodolskyj (1960-70s), Ms Kvitka Semanyshyn (1960-70s); Judge Bohdan Futey (1960-70s); Yaropolk Kulchyckyj (1980-90s).
On June 4, 2023, the Kulchyckyj Family along with the Ukrainian-American Community and staff from UCU Foundation announced the establishment of a perpetual scholarship in honor of Bohdan W. and Christine Kulchyckyj. The goal of the Kulchyckyj-Luznycky Fund is to ensure that Bohdan and Chrystia’s legacy is preserved within the Christian faith and in the belief of an independent Ukraine. The event was filled with memories of the past and promise for the future.
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Maria Kulchyckyj (granddaughter), student at Harvard Kennedy School, presents her address on behalf of all grandchildren. Beside her are Yaro, Bozhena, Demyan, and Lukas Kulchyckyj
ВІЧНА ЇМ ПАМ’ЯТЬ
