DONATION MATCHING
They will watch donations up to a total of $10,000 and $20,000.
The first $10,000 donated in this time will be TRIPLED in value.
The next $10,000 donated will be DOUBLED in value.
This is an exciting opportunity to help Ukraine in a way that is really effective.
A2 for Ukraine is dedicated to supporting the resilient people of Ukraine by providing critical medical supplies to those in need. Our upcoming fundraiser dinner brings our community together to make a tangible difference.
Each day, on her Twitter feed Rima asks, "What are we doing to help Ukraine today?" It is a simple call to charity that I hope will inspire you as it has inspired me.
Join us on Ukrainian Independence Day Sunday August 24th, 2025 6:00pm St. Francis of Assisi Parish The Assisi Center for Fine Dining, Ukrainian Songs, Beautiful Music, and an Inspiring Talk by Beloved Catholic Author and Apologist Joe Heschmeyer
All proceeds from ticket sales and your generous donations will be spent buying life-saving medical supplies and equipment for the brave men, women, and children of Ukraine in benefit of the work of an American volunteer combat medic who is operating on the zero-line in Ukraine, Rima Ziuraitis. Rima is a combat medicine (CMC/CPP) certified / NAEMT certified tactical medicine instructor who, since the earliest days of the full-scale invasion, has volunteered to save lives and to teach combat medicine in Ukraine.
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In the event of a lasting cease-fire, Rima plans to stay in Ukraine and work to rebuild Ukrainian hospitals and medical facilities; over 2,100 hospitals and medical facilities have been destroyed or damaged since the start of the full-scale invasion. She would also work with disabled veterans and civilians, provide medical support to teams performing de-mining operations, and continue to provide training in combat medicine in Ukraine
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The money for Rima in our fundraiser will go to buy basic medical supplies like tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, trauma bandages, decompression needles, IV tubing, airway tubes, as well as more sophisticated life-saving medical equipment such as portable ventilators, defibrillators, and ultrasound machines.
The medical supplies procured for Rima’s work are coordinated to help meet the needs of over 100 Ukrainian battalions, as well as those of evacuation teams, de-mining teams, and refugee organizations.
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Rima’s work in Ukraine is supported by Blue/Yellow Ukraine USA, a US registered 501(c)(3), that is dedicated to the procurement of medical, non-lethal, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine’s crisis and war zones, as well as the provision of critical training and logistical support.
Blue/Yellow USA is an independent non-governmental organization and receives no government funding. It relies entirely on donations like yours to fund the important work it does to support the people of Ukraine.
Read more about Blue/Yellow USA’s work!
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Sunday August 24th
Ukrainian Independence Day
Silent Auction at 5:00pm
Dinner at 6:00pm
At the St Francis Assisi Center
2250 E. Stadium Blvd.
Ave Ann Arbor, MI
Catered by Polish Village Cafe
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The Guest Speaker: Beloved Catholic Apologist, Author, and Pod-Caster
Joe Heschmeyer
Catholic pod-caster Matt Fradd of "Pints with Aquinas" recently named Joe Heschmeyer the "GREATEST CATHOLIC APOLOGIST OF ALL TIME."
Joe Heschmeyer’s first foray into the world of public speaking came as a high school and college debater, skills which he honed as a law student and eventually, a litigator. His introduction to Catholic apologetics came with his blog Shameless Popery which he launched in 2009 to share the truth of Jesus Christ and his Catholic Church.
Joe has a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., a philosophy degree from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, and a theology degree from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. He enjoys speaking (and debating) on a wide range of issues, including the papacy, the beliefs of the earliest Christians, the Eucharist and sacramental theology, and pro-life issues.
Mr. Heschmeyer will be speaking on the topic of the Church before Constantine.
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Donations are collected by "A2 for Ukraine" on behalf of Blue / Yellow Ukraine USA, an NGO and 501(c)(3) operating in the state of Illinois. (EIN 84-2588803) All proceeds minus the small processing fee will go to support Blue / Yellow's work in Ukraine. The dinner is provided to donors as a gift from "A2 for Ukraine." Donations to support Rima's work are made to a "single beneficiary" and are therefore not tax deductible.
Contact us:
Rima Ziuraitis
is a brave combat medic and volunteer in Ukraine since 2022 whose service
inspires courage and dedication in those around her. An American of Lithuanian
descent, Rima is driven by her family’s historical trauma under Russian
oppression. She works to provide critical medical aid on the front lines,
saving lives in a war zone marked by brutal conflict. As a certified Tactical
Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) provider, having graduated at the top of her class,
she delivers emergency care under extreme conditions and trains Ukrainian combat
medics in life-saving techniques. Her role as Special Program Manager at Atlas
Global Aid and Director of Media for the Lithuanian Research and Studies Center
demonstrates her long commitment to humanitarian causes. Ziuraitis and her work
have been featured in articles from Voice of America, Naperville Public
Television (NCTV 17), and PR.com.
Combat
medics like Rima face immense challenges in the fighting in Ukraine. The war is
savage. About 25% of casualties arrive in
hemorrhagic shock and 15-20% need blood transfusions, demanding specialized
supplies like tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, chest seals, decompression
needles, and blood transfusion kits. These are critical for addressing massive bleeding,
the leading cause of preventable battlefield deaths. However, supply lines are
frequently disrupted by attacks, and the lack of reliable power for
refrigeration limits blood product storage, making consistent resupply vital.
Donations are essential to procure these items. A single medic backpack,
capable of treating up to 15 wounded, can cost $3,000, but a CAT7 tourniquet
that can mean the difference between life and death is only $35. Without
adequate supplies, medics are forced to improvise, putting lives at risk.
Around 90%
of the medical supplies used on the front-lines in Ukraine are obtained by
donations. Rima’s efforts rely heavily on donations such as yours to sustain
her work. The funds we raise will help to support the purchase of
TCCC-compliant first aid kits, which include advanced QuikClot dressings to
stop severe bleeding, and enable training programs to teach critical medical
skills. Ukraine has a severe shortage of trained medical personnel: the Armed Forces
of Ukraine operate at less than 50% of required combat medic staffing. Your
donations will help Rima to train new tactical combat medics. Donations also
facilitate medical evacuations, which are complicated by the inability to use
helicopters due to artillery and air defense threats, requiring off-road
vehicles and anti-drone systems to protect medics and casualties. Rima’s
tireless advocacy, recognized by an award from Global Lithuanian Leaders,
underscores the urgency of supporting medics who face relentless casualties,
ensuring they can stabilize and evacuate the wounded effectively, ultimately
saving countless lives.
A2 for Ukraine is collecting donations on behalf of Blue/Yellow Ukraine, an NGO and 501(c)(3) that has been providing non-lethal aid to Ukraine since 2014. Blue/Yellow Ukraine supports the work of several combat medicals including Rima Ziuraitis.