- PlanAxion launched a fundraiser to help a Ukrainian family settle in Quebec.
- More than 20 contributors from PlanAxion and its network participated in the initiative.
- The partners matched the contributions, and a total of $9,056 was presented to the family.
As a company, we have a duty to make a positive impact in our community and to make a difference. PlanAxion is already involved in various causes (you can read our article about our sponsorship of the Montreal Athletics Classic). With the current situation in Ukraine, we wanted to do something concrete. Our team discussions led to this initiative: we wanted to help a local Ukrainian family bring the rest of their members over. That is when we were put in touch with Sergiy Olishevsky.
Who are they?
Sergiy is one of the 40,000 Quebecers of Ukrainian origin in Canada. He immigrated to the country with his wife in 2010. Both are microbiologists who had a deep desire to contribute to the development of biotechnology in Quebec.
When the conflict in Ukraine broke out, Sergiy’s goal was clear: he had to find a way to bring his parents, sister, and nephew, who were still in Ukraine, to be with him. They had to flee their family home in the small town of Khorochiv, in the northwest of the country, where they had always lived. At the beginning of April, his family joined him in Quebec, successfully escaping the war.
Sergiy’s father, Valerii Olishevsky, is a retired geologist. Sergiy’s mother, Liubov Olishevska, spent her entire career teaching Ukrainian language and literature at a high school. His sister is also a teacher. Olena Yakubenko is 38 and teaches English to elementary and high school students. In addition to being pregnant, she has an 11-year-old son, Vladyslav Yakubenko, who will have to finish his 5th grade in Quebec in a language he has never learned. Liubov and Olena still teach classes online to Ukrainian students, despite the 7-hour time difference between the two countries. They are at their posts as early as 2 a.m.—quite an achievement!
PlanAxion gets involved
Moved by this story, our team committed to providing direct aid to Sergiy and his family. We launched a fundraiser. We are so proud of the response from our people! More than 20 PlanAxion contributors and project managers from our client UAP participated in this initiative. Furthermore, our 4 partners decided to match the total amount raised under the PlanAxion name.
PlanAxion had the honour of personally handing over $9,056 to this lovely family. We are confident that this amount will help them settle into their new daily life.
Thank you to our contributors for your great generosity, and to Annie Moisan for putting us in touch with Sergiy.
In the photo: Jean-François Oligny (left) and Nathalie Cusson (right) with the Olishevsky family.
Primary source: PlanAxion, testimonial and report on the fundraiser described in the article.
