Irpin

Advanced Wireless donates wi-fi access points to Friends of Be an Angel for schools in Irpin Ukraine

Friends of Be an Angel facilitates donation of 840 Wi-Fi access points to Sister City Irpin

Humanitarian Aid /

Advanced Wireless donates wi-fi access points to Friends of Be an Angel for schools in Irpin, Ukraine

Pictures by Lee Matz, Milwaukee Independant

A wireless technology firm based in Franklin is contributing more than 820 Wi-Fi access points to the city of Irpin, Ukraine, to aid the local education infrastructure there. Advanced Wireless, Inc. is making this donation to Milwaukee’s sister city, which has seen significant damage to its educational facilities, with 20 schools affected by the ongoing conflict with Russia. These Wi-Fi access points will be set up across the school district, extending connectivity to bomb shelters, hospitals, and government buildings.

To facilitate the shipment of these Wi-Fi access points to Irpin, Friends of Be An Angel, a charitable organization based in Milwaukee that focuses on humanitarian aid to Ukraine, is stepping in to manage logistics. Shipments are expected to begin within two weeks, as stated by Anya Verkhovskaya, Board Chair of Friends of Be an Angel, which has a history of delivering significant aid to Ukraine, including medical supplies and food, amounting to $63 million.

Verkhovskaya praised the partnership with Advanced Wireless and highlighted the impact that businesses can have in providing crucial support during times of need. Morin also emphasized the importance of community support from businesses in the area. Milwaukee’s Mayor, Cavalier Johnson, acknowledged the contributions and stressed the importance of continuing to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

“We are very proud to work with Advanced Wireless,” Verkhovskaya said. “Darryl’s leadership showed us today that one business can make the difference in the lives of those who need it most.”

Anya AnthemAward Foreground min
Anya Verkhovskaya

Advanced Wireless’ leadership showed us today that one business can make the difference in the lives of those who need it most.”

Donation part of ongoing grant program at Advanced Wireless

This donation is part of a larger initiative by Advanced Wireless to support educational technology, with the company having already invested over $2.5 million in Southeastern Wisconsin through its wireless schools initiative grant program. Though the exact financial details of the donation to Irpin remain undisclosed, Morin described it as a significant investment.

Halyna Salapata, president of Wisconsin Ukrainians, recognized the donation as a crucial support for Ukrainian education, noting the extensive recovery and construction needs of the country. She highlighted the increased demand for internet access for education due to limited physical learning spaces.

Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn expresses his thanks

Irpin’s Mayor, Oleksandr Markushyn, expressed his gratitude for the support from Milwaukee, emphasizing the strength of the partnership between the cities during challenging times. He noted the displacement of approximately 25,000 people in Irpin, the highest in the Kyiv region, and reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to fighting for democracy and freedom.

Consul of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago Koledov Serhiy, who also spoke virtually, said this effort shows “how sistership relations can be used effectively.”

“Your help is invaluable,” he said.

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Odesa Life Anya Feature Generators Hospitals

Odessa Life: $44 million and generators for Odesa hospitals: where did the help come from

Sister City Project /

$44 million and generators for Odessa hospitals: where did the help come from

Odesa, Ukraine, Jun 29, 2023

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As Seen on Odesa Life Magazine

Anya Verkhovskaya is a philanthropist, volunteer and human rights activist from Milwaukee, USA. Anya worked with Steven Spielberg on a project to document the testimonies of Holocaust survivors. Now she is in Ukraine with a humanitarian mission. Anya began to help our country and Odessa from the first days of a full-scale war.

Odesa Life Anya Feature Generators Hospitals

“I just couldn’t help it. I have always taught my children that you can’t just stand there and watch and do nothing when injustice happens. If people had not allowed it, the Holocaust would never have happened.”

“From February 24, I just started calling different numbers, people who I don’t know in Ukraine and asking if they need help and what kind of help they need. Nobody was surprised. I coordinated the evacuation of people, gave them the names and contacts of people who could help them on the spot.”

“So, quite by accident, I met Andreas Toelke, a German journalist and philanthropist, the founder of the Be an Angel foundation, which was involved in the evacuation of people from Ukraine through Odessa. I suggested that he start a partnership organization in Milwaukee called Friends of Be an Angel.”

Since the beginning of the war, Anya and her team have sent medical supplies, generators, and anti-radiation equipment worth $44 million. Hospitals and maternity hospitals in Odessa received powerful generators from Friends of Be an Angel during the blackouts. This allowed medical institutions to continue to operate and save lives.

In addition to delivering relief supplies, Anya helps children with Muscular Atrophy Syndrome (SMA) receive life-saving treatment. SMA is a genetic disorder. Children with this diagnosis lose the ability to move and eventually breathe if they do not receive adequate treatment.

Together with Irina Suslova, head of the Women’s Movement For Future Foundation, Anya evacuated 20 children with this disease from Ukraine to Europe and the USA.

Treatment of one child abroad costs 2.5 million dollars. This amount is covered by relevant charitable programs and medical insurance payments in the host countries. After completing the full course, the child can live a full life.

Odesa Life Anya Feature Generators Hospitals

Also “Friends of Be an Angel” is the official sponsor of the program “Irpin and Milwaukee” – sister cities. Anya and her team organized a teleconference between the mayor of Irpin, Alexander Markushin, and the mayor of Milwaukee, Cavalier Johnson. The authorities of Milwaukee promised financial support for the construction and restoration of educational and sports infrastructure in the city, as well as donate equipment for connecting to the Internet.

Odessa Life: $44 million and generators for Odesa hospitals: where did the help come from Read More »

Press Release Generators ABC News

Milwaukee-based “Friends of Be an Angel” is saving lives and offering hope in war-damaged Ukraine

Humanitarian Aid, Winter Support /

Milwaukee-based "Friends of Be an Angel" is saving lives and offering hope in war-damaged Ukraine

MILWAUKEE, May 9, 2023 /CNW/ 

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Winter Support

Wisconsin-based NGO Friends of Be An Angel provides more than 1,700 generators worth $2.2 Million in continued support of Ukraine

Entire cities in Ukraine have been destroyed, displacing more than 14 million residents from their homes, schools, and livelihoods for the past year.

Wheelchair Generator AI ImageUpscale

Since the early days of the war, Milwaukee-based nonprofit Friends of Be an Angel has made extraordinary efforts in assisting hospitals, daycare centers, Internally Displaced Persons’ centers, community centers, and religious establishments across Ukraine. Additionally, support services were offered to thousands of refugees who were forced to flee their homeland.

In response to the attacks on critical Ukrainian electrical power infrastructure, Friends of Be an Angel led an effort to deliver more than 1,700 generators this winter, totaling a market value of 2.2 million USD to Ukrainian hospitals, refugee centers, first responders, and other critical locations.

In total, more than 8,017 kilowatts of energy are being provided for critical infrastructure powering lights, medical facilities, and heating devices in homes and community centers.

Together with other NGOs, creating strength through unity, we were able to join forces to fuel the initiative for a greater impact

Anya Verkhovskaya

Director of Friends of Be an Angel

Standing in the warehouse in Ukraine this past February, surrounded by walls of generators, was genuinely awe-inspiring, but what really hit home was knowing the people who would benefit from this. I saw firsthand many of the patients suffering amputations from frostbite due to Russia's weaponization of winter against the people of Ukraine. These generators from Friends of Be an Angel undoubtedly saved lives and prevented far greater devastation and suffering for literally thousands of Ukrainians.

Dr. Douglas Davis

Ukrainian Medical Association of North America
Our Partners

The project was initiated in August 2022 in anticipation of the energy crisis in the winter months. Friends of Be an Angel formed a coalition with other NGOs and donors to work together to be able to obtain high-quality generators at wholesale prices.

Beginning in late September 2022, the critical infrastructures in Ukraine were attacked. Over the course of several months, Russian missiles damaged all thermal power plants, most of the combined heat and power plants, and all hydroelectric plants. Hospitals, refugee centers and homes lost power, heat, and access to water overnight.

This resulted in a dire need for non-grid energy sources such as generators, causing shortages, and driving the prices of generators to unaffordable levels for Ukrainians who were already struggling in the war-torn economy.

The generators were distributed to more than 150 hospitals and medical clinics, 80 warming stations, 478 refugee centers, 231 community centers and religious institutions, 238 disadvantaged families with disabilities and medical needs requiring power, 15 orphanages, and 34 schools were given generators to continue their life-sustaining operation.

The remaining generators were distributed to frontline medics and rescue operations. An estimated total of 20,475 people have been directly impacted by this initiative.

Press Release Image Generators2

Hundreds of missiles rained down on residential homes with one goal: to terrorize and break the will of the Ukrainian people. Millions of Ukrainians froze in their own apartments and houses," said Irina Suslova, director of the Women's Movement for the Future. "Doctors in hospitals had to fight for life in difficult conditions, and the cities were left without water and heat. Generators have become not only vital for us both on the front line and in the rear, but they gave us hope that we will not be broken.

Irina Suslova

Director of the Women's Movement for the Future
Representative of the Commissioner of Children, Family, Youth and Sports

Friends of Be an Angel thanks donors, participating charities, and supporters for creating such a monumental impact on the lives of so many suffering Ukrainian people. Together, with the strength and courage of the brave Ukrainian people, this coalition has helped them persevere through these difficult winter months.

Our gratitude goes out to Women’s Movement for the Future, Rotary Clubs across Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Ukraine TrustChain, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, Project Kesher, White Stork, Landbell Group, Daar Foundation, House of Ukraine, Create an Impact Charitable Foundation, Vilni Liudy, Berlin to Borders, Project Aid & Rescue, World of Connections, Blau-Gelbes Kreuz Deutsch-Ukrainischer Verein e.V, The Small Projects Fund, Ukrainian Medical Association of North America, Liberty Ukraine Foundation, Mountain Seed Project, LNOB Civilfleet Support e.V, Historical Cultural Center in Uman, Adam Carmel, Igor Turin, and Ukraine Freedom Project.

Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Be an Angel, we managed to survive the coldest and deadliest winter of our lives, we managed to bring light where there was darkness and save the lives of those who were on the verge of death. From the bottom of my heart and the Ukrainian people, I want to thank you for your help. And may there be light and peace in the world again.

Irina Suslova

Director of the Women's Movement for the Future
Representative of the Commissioner of Children, Family, Youth and Sports

Milwaukee-based “Friends of Be an Angel” is saving lives and offering hope in war-damaged Ukraine Read More »

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