Baltimore-Ukraine Sister City Challenge

PROTECT BALTIMORE'S SISTER CITY ODES FROM RUSSIAN ONSLAUGHT - EMERGENCY FUNDRAISER LAUNCHES TODAY SUPPLIES, LIFE-SAVING PROTECTIVE GEAR FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES AND CRITICALLY NEEDED MEDICINES

Today, two organizations with Baltimore roots announce they are partnering in response to the deadly war in Ukraine to deliver critically needed humanitarian supplies to Ukraine and to Odesa - Baltimore’s sister city which is under attack. The Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee (BOSCC) and Mission to Ukraine’s immediate goal is to raise $500,000 in the Baltimore-Ukraine Sister City Challenge!

“The urgency for this campaign cannot be understated as battles intensify daily and lives continue to be lost in Odesa and throughout Ukraine,” says Karina Mandell, Chair of the BOSCC. “My heart is with Odesa. When the recent missile attacks on Odesa killed both an innocent mother and her 3-month-old baby, I knew we had to respond urgently. Then Mission to Ukraine emailed us asking if we would like to expand on the fundraising success of the Sister City Challenge in Cincinnati last month. We thought it was a great and immediate way to help Ukrainians and our sister city of Odesa.”

One of Mission to Ukraine’s co-founders, Mark Kreynovich, is from both Baltimore and Ukraine. He was born in Kharkiv and emigrated to Baltimore in 1998 at 6-months old. Mark returned to Kharkiv for summer breaks throughout his childhood. He attended Towson High School. His father, Alex, is a software engineer at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and his mother, Slava, runs a nurse practitioner practice.

The Baltimore-Ukraine Sister City Challenge follows the successful fundraiser that Mission to Ukraine did with Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Partnership which raised over $250,000 in 72-hours.

HOW TO DONATE:

1. Donations for IMMEDIATE use: www.spot.fund/missiontoukraine

2. Tax-Deductible Donations: www.gogukraineaid.org/ | Global Operations Group Ukraine Aid, Inc. is the fiscal sponsor for the Baltimore Ukraine Sister City Fundraiser and a local 501(c)(3). EIN: 88-1121767. Payment Options Include: Check | Donor Advised Fund (EIN: 88-1121767) | Wire Transfer | Paypal | Venmo | Zelle

CONTACTS:

Karina Mandell (BOSCC, Chair)

+1(443) 632-6600

email: chair-odesa@baltimoresistercities.org

Kathleen Carroll (M2U, Fundraise Lead)

+1(201) 970-8066

email: carroll.kd@gmail.com

Mission to Ukraine Contact information and links to all media coverage

https://allmylinks.com/missiontoukraine

Cincinnati Sister City Challenge Campaign

https://www.wlwt.com/article/cincinnati-fundraiser-ukraine-war-supplies-help-donate/39739274? fbclid=IwAR1X4YFzUWJq0-rD-woBw9XDg98guAzaj09ikWJ2bdosVkBeqy6KG379xy4

** “Mission to Ukraine” is NOT affiliated with the Indiana-based organization of the same name. The only website affiliated with Mission to Ukraine is www.spot.fund/missiontoukraine. **

Watch Mark and Dillon of Mission to Ukraine and Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov's request for Baltimore to come to Odesa's Aid