Olena Zelenska Met With Philanthropists in New York
The First Lady of Ukraine engaged with international donors to secure support for youth reconstruction projects.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Olena Zelenska held meetings in New York with notable philanthropists to advance the Olena Zelenska Foundation initiatives. Discussions centered on ongoing humanitarian efforts and infrastructure projects aimed at supporting Ukrainian children.
Why it matters
The foundation seeks international partnerships to fund essential programs like Safe School and Family Home. These projects address urgent infrastructure needs for children affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
The Children's Creative and Sports Center in Borodyanka currently provides sports training to 516 students and creative programming to 950 children. The planned reconstruction involves a new barrier-free facility spanning 3,000 square meters.
The players
Olena Zelenska
She is the First Lady of Ukraine and leads the Olena Zelenska Foundation to address humanitarian and infrastructure challenges.
Gail Miller
She is a prominent American philanthropist and business leader who has committed support to reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
Deborah Lehr
She is a philanthropist who met with the First Lady of Ukraine to discuss foundation projects in New York.
Mitzi Perdue
She is a philanthropist and author who participated in the recent discussions regarding aid for Ukrainian children.
Jonathan Tepperman
He is an editor and philanthropist who engaged in talks with the Olena Zelenska Foundation regarding humanitarian outreach.
The details
Zelenska met with Deborah Lehr, Mitzi Perdue, Jonathan Tepperman, and Gail Miller to coordinate support for humanitarian infrastructure. During the visit, the First Lady also recognized the contributions of Miller, who is backing the reconstruction of the Borodyanka facility.
Timeline
2024: Olena Zelenska and Gail Miller held their initial meeting in Utah.
September 2026: The First Lady conducted meetings with philanthropists in New York.
2027: The reconstruction project for the Borodyanka center is scheduled for completion.
Market Landscape
The formal recognition of international donors with the Order of Princess Olga reflects a strategic shift toward mobilizing private capital to supplement state-led reconstruction efforts. This approach positions the foundation as a bridge between global philanthropists and the acute infrastructure needs of the Ukrainian public sector.
These philanthropic efforts directly influence the speed and quality of essential infrastructure recovery for families in Ukraine. For supporters and potential partners, the focus remains on transparent, project-specific funding aimed at long-term community rehabilitation.
The takeaway
Strategic international partnerships are increasingly critical for maintaining social services in regions affected by conflict. Interested supporters should monitor the foundation's specific project milestones to ensure their contributions align with current humanitarian goals.
What happens next
The reconstruction project for the Children's Creative and Sports Center in Borodyanka is scheduled for completion in 2027.
Further reading
For more information on how global donors are supporting international humanitarian aid, visit the Philanthropy section.
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Do you believe private philanthropic support is an effective way to rebuild war-damaged community infrastructure?
