The Stefan Romaniw Youth Leadership Foundation — Paying tribute to our dear †Stefan Romaniw and empowering the next generation of Ukrainian leaders!
On the evening of the 2nd day of the AFUO XXIX 2025 Zyizd, 210 guests attended an incredible Gala Dinner to celebrate the life and legacy of the late †Stefan Romaniw, beloved leader and titan of the Ukrainian Australian community and global diaspora.
Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress – Свiтовий Конґрес Українців, launched the Stefan Romaniw Youth Leadership Foundation at the Gala Dinner — the Foundation is dedicated to empowering the next generation of Ukrainian leaders through recognition, scholarship and development.
We are very excited to announce an initial $68,660 was raised at the Gala Dinner on Saturday night! You can contribute to this incredible fund here: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/youth-leadership-foundation-in-memory-of-stefan-romaniw/
Thank you to Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company and Verchovyna Ukrainian Dance Ensemble for their stunning Ukrainian dance performances, Los Wages for keeping the vibes going with their renditions of Ukrainian and contemporary songs and to Natalie O’Donnell for her amazing job as MC.
On behalf of the AFUO, Chair Kateryna Argyrou was delighted to welcome special guests to the Gala Dinner: His Excellency Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko, His Eminence Cardinal Mykola Bychok, Very Reverend Archpriest Father Michael Solomko, Members of the Clergy, Anastasia Romaniw, Stefan’s children Peter and Teresa, members of the Romaniw and Moravski families, President of the Ukrainian World Congress Paul Grod, along with his wife Adrianna and their children, Senator Lisa Darmanin, Hon Keith Wolahan MP, Hon Iwan Walters, Co-Chairs of the Australian Friends of Ukraine Group of the VIC Parliament – Lee Tarlamis MP OAM and Hon Matthew Guy MP, Vivienne Nguyen AM, Timothy Beddoe, previous Chairs and friends of Stefan from the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Hass Dellal, Tassos Douvartizides, William Lye OAM KC, Cheri Ong and Professor Mark Rose, friend of the Ukrainian community and school friend of †Stefan Romaniw, who delivered Acknowledgment of Country, as well as other special guests.
We are grateful for the support of all of our vibrant and passionate Australian Ukrainian community!
Special thanks to our Sponsors –
- Platinum Sponsor: The Karparty Foundation
- Gold Sponsor: Future Ukraine Limited
- Silver Sponsor: Dnister Ukrainian Credit Co-operative
- Bronze Sponsors: Ukrainian Community of Queensland Inc., Australian League for a Free Ukraine, MIMIVIC Group
