NPR KUOW Radio
It’s been four years since Russia invaded Ukraine. The fighting thus far has killed more than 15,000 civilians and 140,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The tragic events inspired a lawyer from Anacortes to travel to the war-torn region.
What Marketa Vorel witnessed during her trip in 2023 inspired her to create the Sunflower F.U.N.D. to raise money for, “the most urgent needs of civilians and their defenders in Ukraine.” So far, she has raised more than $800,000 for the cause. Vorel talked to KUOW’s Angela King about her work.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Angela King: What made you decide to go to Ukraine in 2023?
Marketa Vorel: I grew up behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia, so I know what Russian oppression feels like on a civilian population. My childhood nightmares are still made of Russian tanks rolling in on the cobblestone streets of my hometown. So, when I saw what was happening in Ukraine some 40 years later, after I had escaped from that regime, it really struck a nerve.
When Ukrainians liberated towns like Bucha, Irpin, and Izyum, and atrocities came to light, I felt a despair and helplessness that I just couldn’t shake. At first, I did what most people do, I donated money. But in a couple of months, it just became really clear that I needed to go to Ukraine and figure out how I can help on my own and directly.
Did you ever think you could raise nearly a million dollars when you started your fund
No. Angela, I had no idea. Of course, I’d love to raise more, because more is needed, but I never thought that I would be here today, four years into the war.
Where does that money go and how do you decide who gets it?
Since 2023, we have regularly supported a women and children’s shelter for the internally displaced mothers and kids, located near Odessa; two frontline evacuation teams in eastern Ukraine; a war crimes investigation team in Kharkiv; and an army aid foundation that supports Ukrainian military units on the front lines.
The one thing that we do require for anyone to qualify for funding is that we have to meet them in person. We observe what they do to get to know each organization and its leadership. These in-person relationships really help us build trust, as they ensure transparency and the efficiency of their operation. That’s also why we go back to Ukraine every year. We follow the money. We try to assess what their needs are now and in the future. So, these are really close and personal relationships with each organization.
I understand you started a pen pal project between students at Island View Elementary School in Anacortes and those in Ukraine. Tell us about that.
Read more and listen to the interview at
https://www.kuow.org/stories/anacortes-lawyer-has-raised-800-000-to-support-ukraine
