Our History

1944 → TODAY → TOMORROW



80+ YEARS OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE

Helping Ukrainians Since 1944.

The United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC) was established in 1944 with a simple but powerful mission: Ukrainians helping Ukrainians.

Our work began during World War II, providing assistance to Ukrainians displaced by war and living in refugee camps across Europe. In the years that followed, UUARC helped more than 70,000 Ukrainian refugees resettle in the United States, giving families the opportunity to rebuild their lives and establish new beginnings.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, our mission expanded to support Ukrainian refugees from Poland and other Eastern European countries. By the 1970s and 1980s, UUARC was also helping Ukrainian communities in Yugoslavia and South America, with particular emphasis on schools, orphanages, and educational opportunities.

In 1985, UUARC established a self-sustaining microloan program in Brazil, empowering families and communities to build economic independence. Since its inception, the program has provided more than $1 million in loans, demonstrating our commitment to creating lasting opportunities rather than temporary solutions. 

Helped 70,000+

Ukrainian Refugees Resettle in America

Supporting Generations Through Changing Times

Following Ukraine’s independence in 1991, UUARC responded to the economic and social challenges facing a newly independent nation. As Ukraine transitioned away from the Soviet system, many families experienced poverty, weakened social services, and limited access to essential care.

UUARC expanded its humanitarian programs to support orphanages, schools, hospitals, children with disabilities, and vulnerable elderly populations. Initiatives included a USAID-funded grant program for children with disabilities, ambulance and medical equipment donations, the Adopt-a-Grandparent Program, and numerous community assistance projects.

Throughout these decades, our Assistance Committee continued providing direct support to thousands of individuals and families facing hardship.

Standing With Ukraine.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014, followed by the full-scale invasion in 2022, brought extraordinary new challenges to the Ukrainian people. Once again, UUARC answered the call, mobilizing humanitarian aid, medical supplies, emergency assistance, and community support for those affected by war.

For more than eight decades, our mission has endured through wars, displacement, independence, and rebuilding. What began as a commitment to helping fellow Ukrainians has grown into a lasting legacy of compassion, resilience, and service.

Today, we’re preparing for the next chapter.

UUARC is embracing a new generation of supporters, volunteers, creative thinkers, and community partners. We’re modernizing how we connect with people, share our stories, raise funds, and deliver humanitarian assistance—building on the trust and experience of our past while creating new opportunities for the future.

Our work is far from finished. As Ukraine continues to face the challenges of war and the long road toward recovery, we remain committed to standing alongside its people. New ideas. New partnerships. New generations of giving. And more exciting things are on the horizon.

Our History Is Our Foundation. Our Future Is Just Beginning.

For over 80 years, UUARC has brought people together to make a difference. With your support, we’ll continue that mission for generations to come.