(Photo : Vadym Novynskyi Foundation)

In the spring of 2022, Ukrainian businessman Vadym Novynskyi donated 43 tons of goods to Kharkiv, Ukraine. The charitable aid from his foundation included baby food, cereal, canned fish, canned meat, canned vegetables, pasta, flour, sugar, oil, condensed milk, and prepared meals. The cargo was received by the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Onufriy of Kharkiv and Bohodukhiv.

The director of the Vadym Novynskyi Foundation, Dmytro Sergeyev, said, "This charitable aid will be distributed to Kharkiv residents living in Kharkiv and Kharkiv regions, the most affected by hostilities, residents hiding in bomb shelters and metro stations, defenders of Ukraine, the wounded, large families, and all those in need." Helping those most in need has been a consistent mission of the foundation. As the war shifts, Novynskyi and his team are there to do their part. They're committed to helping their compatriots, including those who have stayed to protect their homeland from the enemy.

Since the war started, Novynskyi has donated around $1.6 million worth of products and more than $2.2 million worth of medication and medical equipment to residents in Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Bucha, and Irpin. These cities have been nearly destroyed, making these supplies a light in the dark for anyone feeling left behind.

In addition, the foundation has given to cities that receive refugees so they have enough support to continue their heroic work. In total, Vadym Novynski's company, Smart-Holding Group, and his foundation, donated nearly $7 million worth of supplies from the time the war began to late April. The organizations continue to give whenever and wherever they can, including ambulances, minibuses, and fuel to ensure that people can evacuate if and when it's no longer possible to stay.

The Life of Vadym Novynskyi

Vadym Novynskyi may not have been born in Ukraine, but he's dedicated much of his life to bringing prosperity to the country. Known for being the owner of Smart-Holding Group, one of the largest investment firms in Ukraine, Novynskyi began his journey with a degree in engineering management systems. His education taught him many lessons about everything from structure to form to conservation.

Working in Russia for oil producer Lukoil, he arrived in Ukraine and spotted an opportunity to unite the metallurgy industry. After coming to the country in the mid-1990s, Novynskyi would receive his citizenship in 2012 for his distinguished services.

His foundation has been helping people since the beginning of the war, but it was established long before then. His focus is on family protection, historic preservation, and cultural celebrations. Vadym Novynskyi is a noted philanthropist in Ukraine who's received several awards from both church and state. He's been awarded the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the Order of the UOC The Nativity of Christ, and the Chest Cross of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, as well as the Order of Merit from the government.

In addition to continuing philanthropic efforts, he hasn't given up on doing business in the country. Smart-Holding Group may have seen serious losses from the fighting, but its CEO and owner both remain optimistic about rebuilding. This is as much about keeping spirits alive as it is about keeping economic opportunities afloat. Even amid the devastation, they have plans to come back bigger and stronger than ever before.