Sunflower Collective

COLLECTIVE

ukraine

russian war

ukrainian refugees

sunflower state

us stands with ukraine

community

Fiscal Host: Open Collective Foundation

Helping Ukrainian refugees who are escaping the brutal Russian invasion, to settle in the Chicagoland area. Organized by three families from Evanston and Park Ridge. 100% of funds raised go to support sponsored families.

This is Sunflower Collective's page Sunflower Collective

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Financial Contributions

Goal

One Time Supporter

*Tax deductible donation* Provide a one time contribution to help us land families on their feet.

$3,822.09 USD of $10,000 USD raised (38%)

Starts at$25 USD

Latest activity by

+ 28

Goal

Platinum Family Sponsor

*Tax deductible donation* Include your family name or corporate logo on our fundraising pages, Facebook group, and future fundraising events to ev... Read more

$14,704.89 USD of $30,000 USD raised (49%)

Starts at$2,500 USD

Latest activity by

Top financial contributors

Incognito

$5,145.3 USD since Jul 2022

Ostrovskaya Laffan Family

$5,000 USD since Jul 2022

Aleksey Skryl

$2,500 USD since Jul 2022

Stacy Kelly

$2,500 USD since Jul 2022

Brady O’Connell

$500 USD since Aug 2022

Incognito

$300 USD since Jul 2022

Guest

$250 USD since Jul 2022

Leonid Sagalovsky

$250 USD since Jul 2022

Maura Cullen

$250 USD since Jul 2022

Troy H.

$200 USD since Jul 2022

Guest

$200 USD since Jul 2022

Sarah

$200 USD since Jul 2022

Christopher B Stier

$100 USD since Jul 2022

Mike B

$100 USD since Jul 2022

Breanna

$100 USD since Jul 2022

Lori Renaldi

$100 USD since Jul 2022

Amanpreet Singh

$100 USD since Jul 2022

Daniel Smith

$100 USD since Jul 2022

Karin O'Connor

$100 USD since Jul 2022

Susan E Twietmeyer

$100 USD since Jul 2022

About

About the Collective

The Sunflower Collective is made up of three families from Evanston and Park Ridge, IL that were distraught by the news of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, and felt helpless to assist efforts a world away. Looking to funnel their anger and disbelief into action, the families banded together with a common goal of directly helping Ukrainian refugees.

We are currently assisting families with resettlement in the Chicagoland area through Uniting for Ukraine, a sponsorship program through the Department of Homeland Security, that was recently announced by the Biden Administration.

The first family that the collective is sponsoring is the Studinskiy family from Kyiv.

The Studinskiys are family friends of Kostya Katz, one of Sunflower Collective founding members and are being directly sponsored by the Collective.

Company Match & Tax Deductions

The Sunflower Collective accepts donations through our fiscal sponsor Open Collective. Open Collective Foundation (OCF) is a 501c3 which means donations made to us are tax deductible. EIN 81-4004928.

When you donate, there is a 4% fee that goes to cover their operating expenses. Again, you may also choose to cover that fee so that 100% of your donation goes to the family.

To have your company match your donation, follow these instructions: https://docs.opencollective.foundation/how-it-works/financial-contributions/donation-matching

Meet our first family, the Studinskiy's

The Studinskiy’s (Andrei, Natasha, Nikita and Timofei) are a humble, hardworking family who never thought they would be facing an impossible choice between living in constant fear in their own home or leaving everything behind and fleeing their homeland. Natasha and her boys are leaving Andrei behind so he can fight for their country. They are stuffing what they can into a suitcase and backpacks, leaving Ukraine for Chicago.

Over the coming weeks, we will be assisting the family with travel. When they arrive, we’ll be focused on finding them an apartment, furnishing it, and helping the family with groceries, clothing, and helping get the boys into schools. As soon as we get them on their feet, our focus will turn to helping them with more permanent immigration status and helping Natasha find work to support her boys.

Our team

John Renaldi

Admin

Founding Collective member

Theresa R

Admin

Sarah Surisook

Admin

Kostya Katz

Admin

Connect

Let’s get the ball rolling!

News from Sunflower Collective

Updates on our activities and progress.

First two weeks in Chicago

Hello everybody and thank you once again for your amazing donations and for your kind messages for the Studinskyi family. They have now been in Chicago for 2+ weeks and we've been busy trying to get them acquainted with the surroundings, in...

Published on August 5, 2022 by Kostya Katz

On their way to Chicago!

The SAS Airlines strike is finally over, just In time for Natasha and the boys to head to Warsaw earlier this morning to bo...

Published on July 20, 2022 by John Renaldi

Countdown to Chicago

Hello everyone and thank you all once again for your amazing contributions and warm messages! We are counting down the days in anticipation of the arrival of our first Ukrainian family (Natasha and her boys), which should be happening later...

Published on July 18, 2022 by Kostya Katz

Budget

Transparent and open finances.

Financial contribution to Sunflower Collective (One Time ...

Credit from Bhavesh Shah to Sunflower Collective • August 6, 2022

+$100.00USD

Completed

Contribution #558521

Financial contribution to Sunflower Collective (One Time ...

Credit from Brady O’Connell to Sunflower Collective • August 5, 2022

+$500.00USD

Completed

Contribution #558296

Two twin mattresses

by Kostya Katz • July 29, 2022

-$539.98 USD

Pending

Receipt #88229

Today’s balance

$14,893.89 USD

Total raised

$17,572.21 USD

Total disbursed

$2,678.32 USD

Estimated annual budget

$18,526.98 USD