CHICAGO — Ukrainian Institute for Modern Art (UIMA) (https://uima-chicago.org) is partnering with Virtual Concert Halls (https://virtualconcerthalls.com), a Virginia based internet television producer, to host a global online fundraising effort to benefit UNICEF USA (https://www.unicefusa.org/streaming), who are committed to providing emergency aid to families and children in Ukraine.
On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, Virtual Concert Halls will broadcast a 18-hour live internet stream from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT (6 a.m. to 12 midnight ET) from UIMA's headquarters in Chicago, and distribute it to major social media platforms. The event, titled "Helping UNICEF in Ukraine", will stream to platforms which include YouTube (https://youtu.be/RXvVdO03-c0), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:6916459790688780288), Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/event/1997807), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/408615594406610), and Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/vchs20).
Throughout the broadcast, news anchors will interview a wide variety of people who are close to the situation in Ukraine, including historians, scholars, lawmakers, and young Ukrainian refugees who recently arrived in Chicago, among others.
Sir Shefik Macauley (https://shefik.info), known mononymously as Shefik, is an accomplished industry insider, who has appeared on MTV, SiriusXM, PBS, BET, network television, and in print media, as well as internationally on TRT World (Turkey). He is scheduled to speak during the event, around 7 a.m. CT (8 a.m. ET). Celebrating over 25 years in the entertainment and technology industries, Shefik has held senior-level positions at many Fortune 500 companies and celebrated brands, including IBM, NBCUniversal, MTV World, Merck, Merriam-Webster, and Wolters Kluwer.
"With my continued support of international matters, I am humbled to support the children of Ukraine," says Shefik.
UNICEF has been in Ukraine for 25 years — and it is on the ground now, delivering safe water, health and hygiene supplies, blankets, warm clothes, and psycho-social care to children and their families.
Security is especially crucial during this time, when many children and youth are separated from their families which leaves them in indescribably vulnerable. Donations are accepted any time before, during, and after the live stream at https://www.unicefusa.org/streaming. According to a recent statement by UNICEF USA, two million children have now been forced to flee Ukraine, as the war rages on.
"The situation inside Ukraine is spiraling," says Catherine Russell (Executive Director, UNICEF). "As the number of children fleeing their homes continues to climb, we must remember that every single one of them needs protection, education, safety, and support."
In a joint statement, Motria Melnyk (President, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art) and Marta Farion (Vice President, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art) says, "The war in Ukraine is breaking all of our hearts, and so the opportunity to make our facility the staging area for this amazing fundraising effort was enthusiastically welcomed by our board and staff."
"We are deeply touched and honored to be included in this project," says Anna Ouspenskaya (Co-Founder, Virtual Concert Halls). "People on our team come from different continents and backgrounds, but many of us share one thing in common: we carry scars and pains of being raised in the countries of the former Soviet bloc, or have relatives who endured the horrors of that terrible regime. Working on this project is the least we can do for Ukrainians who are enduring unimaginable pain. My colleagues at Virtual Concert Halls and I are putting our whole hearts into this effort."
"Helping UNICEF in Ukraine" is spearheaded by veteran public radio broadcaster Steve Robinson (President, New Media Productions). In 2003, for the victims of the tsunami, and again in 2010 for victims of the earthquake in Haiti, Robinson organized all-day fundraisers involving virtually all Chicago television and radio stations, raising $3 million in humanitarian assistance.
"I hope this 18-hour continuous stream raises millions of dollars for UNICEF in this emergency,” says Robinson.
About UNICEF
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (https://www.unicefusa.org) works in more than 190 countries and territories to pursue a more equitable world for every child. UNICEF has helped save more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world's most vulnerable children. Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of all children and helps every child thrive.
About Virtual Concert Halls
Virtual Concert Halls (https://virtualconcerthalls.com) is Virginia based independent live internet television broadcaster and production company, which focuses its programming on education and music. Founded in 2020, Virtual Concert Halls quickly gained international recognition as a leading expert in live internet television and hybrid live streaming of complex broadcasts with global reach. Since launching 18 months ago, Virtual Concert Halls earned its extensive experience in live internet television through production of over 600 live broadcasts with leading music, arts, educational organizations, and world class performers from every continent. Virtual Concert Halls are experts in reaching out with the message of beauty, collaboration, love, and peace, to international communities through social networks and global video platforms.
About Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA) (https://uima-chicago.org) preserves and promotes contemporary art as a shared expression of the Ukrainian and American experience. UIMA develops, utilizes, and encourages artistic talent through exhibitions, concerts, readings, lectures, and films to serve the cultural needs of our community and city, and thereby strengthen cultural understanding and diversity.
Media Contacts
Shefik
All Knight Access
+1 (914) 548-5033
shefik@allknightaccess.com
Steve Robinson
New Media Productions
+1 (312) 545-3535
steve@newmediaproduct.com
Joanie Bayhack
jebayhack@gmail.com
Last Updated: April 13, 2022
