LAST CHANCE TO MAKE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS FOR 2024
Some battles continue long after soldiers leave the battlefield. For the brave defenders of Ukraine, the war doesn’t end when they return home. The psychological toll of combat—PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse—can be just as devastating as physical injuries, yet these wounds remain largely invisible. We can fund programs that address psychological injuries through your support of the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. Our partner organizations, such as the Nazareth Charitable Foundation in the Lviv region, continue to make remarkable progress in providing comprehensive care to veterans and their families.
In just six months, the Nazareth team provided over 800 individual and family counseling sessions to veterans suffering from war trauma. They conducted 448 group therapy sessions for 27 veterans and their families, delivering specialized care that addresses the unique challenges these heroes face. For 13 veterans battling substance abuse challenges, Nazareth had implemented targeted recovery programs that included therapeutic groups and specialized training sessions.
The physical aspects of recovery received equal attention, with 493 physical therapy services delivered to help veterans heal both mind and body. One of the most innovative and effective approaches has been equine-assisted therapy, with approximately 330 sessions provided. This unique form of therapy has proven remarkably effective for PTSD treatment, allowing veterans to form healing bonds with horses in a calm, supportive environment. Behind these services stand dedicated professionals who have been equipped with specialized training in trauma-focused therapy, ensuring the highest quality care for those who have sacrificed so much for their country.
For those struggling with substance abuse, the program provides specialized addiction recovery programs that include elements of the “12 steps” program and specific training sessions such as “Finding motivation for sobriety” and “Emotional competence.” The team recognizes that addiction often stems from attempts to cope with war trauma, and they address these issues with compassion and expertise. Despite these successes, many veterans remain hesitant to seek help due to stigma surrounding mental health issues, as well as the lack of access to such services.
The need remains urgent. We aim to expand these life-saving services to reach more veterans and their families. Your donation to the Even the Brave Struggle campaign, running until April 6th, 2025, will help provide continued specialized training for mental health professionals, expanded therapy programs for veterans and their families, and additional resources for holistic rehabilitation services. Your contribution today will be doubled thanks to the Myhal Family Foundation, which is generously matching donations up to $1 million until April 6th.
By donating today, not only will your contribution be doubled, but thanks to a special extension from the Government of Canada, donations made before February 28, 2025, can be applied to the 2024 fiscal year. This means your contribution today, in 2025, will also qualify for your tax filing for 2024.
Background
CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.