As Ukraine’s economy has grown, so too have philanthropic and charitable activities, which manifest themselves in corporate, community, and individual giving. In recent years, various foundations have been established to encourage and promote philanthropy and charity. One such initiative is the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation, whose chairperson is Ukraine’s First Lady, Kateryna Yushchenko.

The Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to renew traditions of charitable giving in Ukraine and to involve and empower citizens to resolve the country's most pressing issues. It works largely through local non-governmental organizations to encourage the development of a tradition of charity in Ukraine. A central imperative of the foundation is to work with hundreds of likeminded organizations on shared initiatives within three distinct program areas:

1) The Yesterday Area includes programs related to archeological, ethnographic, and cultural research, as well as to the preservation of Ukraine’s historical and cultural heritage, and promotion of knowledge of the country outside its borders.

2) The Today Area is at the core of the foundation’s work: to help fellow citizens and the country to work for the common good. Specific initiatives include improving Ukraine’s healthcare system, developing civil society, in particular, aiding the development of philanthropic and charitable activities. Among the Foundation’s priorities is providing support to orphaned children and contributing to the fight against children’s homelessness in Ukraine.

3) The Tomorrow Area focuses on building long-term strategies for Ukraine’s societal development. The most important initiative is the Children’s Hospital of the Future project (www.likarnya.org.ua/eng/about/), a major medical initiative for which approximately $52 million out of a required $120 million has already been raised. The Children’s Hospital of the Future is planned to be constructed by 2009, and is the biggest charitable project in modern Ukraine’s history.

Magister & Partners serves as pro bono legal counsel to Ukraine 3000. The Foundation's website can be found at http://ukraine3000.org.ua/eng/index.html