Wills and Estates

Your Legacy Lives through Your Will and Testament

As we grow older we begin to reflect on our lives and take stock of our achievements. Many of us have successfully raised our children, provided them with a future, perhaps it is time to consider how we wish to be remembered. Even those of us who need to retain our nest-egg to live on, can make arrangements for the time we no longer need it. Most of us wish to be remembered for having done something generous and kind, that truly benefits mankind.

Our suggestion is - leave it for a special project through UUARC, an organization that has experience in bringing such projects to fruition, whether it is the renovation or construction of a library or a chapel in your family’s village, or outfitting a clinic, hospital or an orphanage, college scholarships for orphaned or abandoned students, sponsorship of an internat, home for the elderly or several people for a soup kitchen. Larger bequests can specify a mammogram machine for a particular oblast, an MRI machine or an ambulance.

Why Leave It To UUARC?

Perhaps someone in your family was helped in the immigration process by UUARC, which helped over 70,000 Ukrainians in their efforts to come to America after WWII Any project can be pre-planned with our office, and the feasibility assured though consultations with our staff in Ukraine. Our Kyiv office handles projects from Kyiv to Sumy to Luhansk to Odessa, and our Lviv office takes care of all of Western Ukraine. Over the years we have acquired experience in administering both large and small estate projects, with great success. Prayers and letters of thanks continue to come to us and to the families of the generous donors.

We all know that, without a will, the assets we have worked a lifetime to accumulate will be distributed by the government according to its rules and regulations. Unfortunately, there have been many cases where, if there were no close descendants, the money reverted to the state. After a lifetime of hard work you deserve the right to decide how your money should be spent. Wouldn’t it be wonderful that you could really make a difference in the life of someone who needs your help so much and will be so grateful for your thoughtfulness.

Any attorney can assist you in making a bequest to benefit the poor and needy people of Ukraine. If there are any questions, either you or your attorney can contact UUARC and we will be happy to meet with you to discuss potential projects and provide any necessary information, including Annual Reports and lists of internaty, homes for the elderly and hospitals that are in desperate need of help.

Recent Bequests to UUARC

Sylvia Blake Estate - UUARC, Inc. received a very generous bequest from the Estate of Sylvia Blake. Her Gift, $630,000 in the form of cash and stocks, was left to be used specifically to up-grade 14 children’s hospitals throughout Ukraine, including an ambulance for each hospital. What a legacy Ms. Blake leaves behind-how many children will survive and thrive because she thought to provide for their welfare! Her wishes are being followed to the letter, in keeping with her last will and testament.

The Petrach Estate - The $207,000 bequest from the Estate of William Petrach was used for extensive repairs, both structural and general, to one hospital and 11 schools/internaty for the handicapped and the orphaned. Repairs included roof replacements, heating system overhauls, installation of indoor plumbing, updating of kitchens, renovation of buildings in disrepair, replacement windows, etc. The hospital has even received a new ambulance. In this case, also, the Bequest was very specific-and had to be used in the region designated by the donor. In this case, this was in Staryj Dobrotvir and surrounding area in the Lviv oblast.

There have been numerous examples of smaller donations, for instance:

• $5,000 for a specific orphanage in Bukovyna
• $10,000 to build a chapel in a small village
• $3,500 for the Lviv Soup Kitchen
• $18,000 for an internat/orphanage in Chernivtsi

PLEASE HELP US HELP THEM!