Nov 17, 2006

On October 26th, over 130 people attended a reception at Harvard University to remember Gene and to receive an update on The Eugene Kinasewich Fund.  It was an opportunity to meet and hear from some of the students from Ukraine who are recipients of scholarship funding from the Kinasewich Fund for this academic school year.

The importance of the program to these students is best told in their own words.  All dream of transforming this experience into a better life.  The schools benefit tremendously, for they see in these students inspirational commitment, citizenship, and a unique learning opportunity for other students.

Several of the students who attended the reception spoke of the difference that Gene made in their lives and the positive difference that Gene's Fund continues to make for them.  Here, for example, are remarks by Liza Ryabkina:

"I just wanted to say couple words about Gene and what he has done for me...

Most of you probably knew Gene a lot better than I did. However, we share something in common; he is the person who brought us all here tonight. He was a person who thought more about others than about himself.

I remember that one game when our Druzhba-78 team won… as we lined up and tapped our sticks on the ice trying to express how grateful we were to Gene, he was standing in stands and clapping to us, when we did nothing comparing to what he did.

Because of Gene I got an opportunity to get the best education. I'm going to a school that even most of people in the US don't get an opportunity to go to. In one and a half-years I have learned more at Berkshire more than I learned in eleven years at my school at home. Because of Gene, now I have an opportunity to go to one of the best colleges in the whole world. Because of Gene I got a chance in my life to be someone. To get a great education, to help someone the way he helped me, and no to be afraid that one day I will not be able to pay the bills the way a lot of people in Ukraine can’t. They live day after day thinking of how they are going to feed their children. And I have been given an opportunity to explore things, to live a life, to study, and to discover multiple features of myself. Because of Gene I got an opportunity to get to know whole different culture and different view that different people have on life. But most important thing that he taught me was how to be a giving and caring person.

I just hope that when I grow up that I’ll be someone like him.

Thank you for this chance."

We believe Gene would be very proud of these kids and pleased with the progress of the Fund named in his honor.