Blue/Yellow USA Collaborating With Artist Tautvydas kaltenis
War In Ukraine: Unbreakable Ukraïna
California-based artist Tautvydas Kaltenis latest magnificent and unique card deck, Unbreakable Ukraïna will benefit Blue/Yellow USA (501(c)3) with its net profits going towards aid for Ukraine.
People from all walks of life have been contributing to aid for Ukraine in various ways: direct donations, in-kind donations, fund raisers, auctions, organization of various types of aid, volunteering on the front lines, and in so many other ways. Among them are the artists of various types who have contributed through their music, dance, and art.
California-based Tautvydas Kaltenis is one of these artists. Along with the contribution of his artwork towards an upcoming Blue/Yellow USA auction, he has designed a stunning deck featuring the heroes of Ukraine to mark 2/24/2022, the date of the full-scale brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A Kickstarter campaign has been organized to fund the completion of the project and initial printing of the deck. Net proceeds from the sale of the deck will benefit Blue/Yellow USA’s aid to Ukraine.
Any and all support is critical to our aid efforts. A free and democratic Ukraine is key to a stable world. To retain that freedom and the integrity of its borders Ukraine has been defending itself in an unprovoked, unilateral, genocidal war being perpetrated on its civilian population. Civilian targets have been Russia’s focus resulting in the obliteration of entire towns, necessary infrastructure (alone 715 hospitals and medical facilities), residential areas, a massive refugee situation, and the torture and murder of men, women and children. Recent exhumations in Izyum have recorded hundreds dead of which only 11 were military, beheaded, genitals removed, hands tied behind their backs, raped. Blue/Yellow has been providing much needed non-lethal aid, advocacy, and support directly on the ground in Ukraine.
Please join us - we can do none of this work without you. The Unbreakable Ukraïna deck will make a beautiful gift which can be used for years to come, while helping Ukraine.
Information and additional images of the Unbreakable Ukraïna deck are available at: www.unbreakableukraina.com
About Tautvydas Kaltenis
Artist and designer Tautvydas Kaltenis (1967) is a graduate of the Vilnius Academy of Arts (1990) He has created significant public and private interiors, produced industrial and graphic design projects including branding and illustration. He was the Chairman of the Lithuanian Designers Society between 2000-2018. As of 2019 he resides in California. His most recent work is the card deck and accompanying book, “Dausos”, based on Lithuanian mythology. Additional information is available at www.kaltenis.com
SUPPORT US/DONATE & ABOUT US
ASSISTANCE REQUESTS INCREASE-SUPPORT US-DONATE HERE
Assistance requests for the following and more from government entities and the population, have increased exponentially:
Tactical Medicine equipment and supplies
Optics equipment
Communications equipment
Night Vision equipment
Ballistic Vests
Vehicles
Drones
Helmets
Uniforms and related supplies
Bedding
Field equipment
Other various requested items
Medical assistance
Refugee assistance
SUPPORT US BY HELPING US GET WHAT IS NEEDED TO WHERE ITS NEEDED
DONATE/PARTICIPATE
We are a registered 501(c)3 organization.
You can currently donate to us here:
Direct link to our donation page:
https://blueyellowusa.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay
Bank:
BMO Harris, FO Blue Yellow Ukraine NFP, Routing#: 071025661, Acct#: 4827159173
Zelle: info@foblueyellowukraineusa.org
Additional donation and support options will be added here throughout the next 10 days.
FUNDRAISERS/FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS ARE LISTED IN THE FUNRAISERS & EVENTS SECTIONS BELOW THE VIDEO GALLERY
We cannot do any of the work we do without your help.
OUR HISTORY AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Blue/Yellow for Ukraine in Lithuania and Friends of Blue/Yellow for Ukraine USA (501(c)3) have transported over $30 million in defense and medical equipment over the Lithuanian border, through Poland and into Ukraine, donated privately from around the world, since 2014.
We are included among the top 10 worldwide NGOs supporting Ukraine per Forbes.
The organizations are led and inspired by Jonas Öhman, a former Swedish special-operations soldier, democracy activist and humanitarian. Öhman’s volunteer work first started when he assisted Lithuania beginning in 1990 as the USSR threatened to shut down the independence movement. He came to help and stayed. Fluent in Lithuanian, Russian, among many other languages, he delved into Lithuania’s painful history of brutal occupations while working as a journalist. He directed and produced three films about the various stages of the Lithuanian resistance and those who sought to kill it.
In 2014 Jonas witnessed the grassroots student-led Maidan protests against Ukrainian government corruption leading to a change in government. He and other like-minded volunteers founded Blue/Yellow for Ukraine in Lithuania and began providing concrete help to the Ukrainian regions that were invaded by Russia, finding himself and his team on the front lines. Our USA 501(c)3 followed with its founding in 2019.
Öhman is highly respected by Lithuanian, Polish, Latvian, Estonian, and Ukrainian leaders. They join our team for fundraising events, documentary films, interviews. He was awarded Lithuanian citizenship:
Our Blue/Yellow team includes those who were on Maidan and kept on working for Ukraine. Our unparalleled network experience in logistics allows us to coordinate the procurement and delivery of the exact aid needed to the location where its needed in record time, coordinating with governments and more than 100 battalions especially on the front lines, hospitals, and refugee organizations. Two very recent documentaries re: Blue/Yellow, are the films “Route to Kiev” and “Together to Victory” which show the results of the Russian war on Ukraine up-close: the bombings, killings, death, massive destruction, WW2 masses of refugees, all its horrors, and the work local volunteer organizations are doing. A CBS documentary about Blue/Yellow will be released shortly providing additional information on the critical nature of the on the ground military and humanitarian situation in Ukraine , encouraging strong US policy support and continued strong private support for Blue/Yellow for Ukraine.
PRESS/media & NEWSLETTER
PRESS, MEDIA, AND PUBLICATIONS
News Links:
https://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2022/06/01/in_ukraine_less_is_often_more_835075.html
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3504959-supplying-freedom-in-ukraine/
https://www.newsmax.com/john-gizzi/ukraine-russia-war-blue-yellow/2022/05/30/id/1072176/
Litauen und die Ukraine: "Es ist auch unser Krieg" | ZEIT ONLINE
https://m.delfi.lt/en/article.php?id=90145687
https://www.lrp.lt/en/media-center/news/the-president-granted-lithuanian-citizenship-by-exception-to-jonas-ohman/31424
https://forbes.ua/inside/svitova-pidtrimka-ukraini-zrosla-do-18-mlrd-i-tse-lishe-finansovoi-ta-gumanitarnoi-dopomogi-15042022-5458, https://forbes.ua/company/bogi-fandreyzingu-khto-zaluchiv-naybilshe-groshey-dlya-ukraintsiv-ta-armii-pid-chas-viyni-renking-vid-forbes-07042022-5327
https://lithuaniatribune.com/lithuania-is-an-example-and-inspiration-for-ukraine-says-activist/
Interview with Finnish journalist Rud Pedersen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkJIrhAi8cw&ab_channel=RudPedersenPublicAffairsFinland
https://www.newsy.com/stories/volunteers-deliver-gear-to-ukrainian-troops/
https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1151792/ukrainian-snipers-outgunned-by-russia-report
https://euromaidanpress.com/2021/12/29/lithuanian-help-ukraine-volunteer-helping-ukrainian-army/
MSNBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H35Dggcjgg
Films:
Kyjivo Trasa (Route to Kyiv – directed by Pancerovas): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hoRIhY0ZMc
Kartu iki Pergales (Together to Victory-directed by Dominykas Kubilius): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqlTzOl6hGI
Concert/documentary from 1/13/2021 (the anniversary of the January 13th 1991 Russian aggression against the unarmed Lithuanian population): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RCVGVvPhuA
Publications:
“Cyborg World” by Dovydas Pancerovas, about the Maidan and Ukrainian fighters, nicknamed cyborgs, who were fighting the Russians (a/k/a little green men) in the Donbass and elsewhere. Pancerovas discusses Ohman and Blue/Yellow. https://english.lithuanianculture.lt/lithuanian-culture-guide/2021/01/12/the-land-of-cyborgs-the-story-of-russias-war-against-ukraine/,
“Donbass Jazz” by Ohman about the Maidan, the war in 2014 up to the 2/24 major invasion offensive.
NEWSLETTER #1: AID PROVIDED DURING THE 1st 100 DAYS OF RUSSIA'S WAR ON UKRAINE 2022
Our first newsletter is a compilation of aid we provided during the 1st 1oo days of the 2022 war. We have been providing similar aid to Ukraine for 8 years, and are continuing to provide assistance as requests from the government and population continue to increase:
over 250 transportation vehicles
over 9,000 units of protective equipment
over 297 units including sophisticated thermal camera drones and anti-drone equipment
over 9,300 units of uniform gear and ballistic vests
1,600 units of optics equipment including thermal, and night vision
24,902 units of tactical medical equipment and supplies
ca. 30,000 medical supplies, medications, and instruments
3,460 various types of units for communication
990 firearm accoutrements
220 units for the disarming of mines and bombs
4,000 units of CBRN protective equipment
1,780 units of miscellaneous tools and equipment
With the help of several other organizations:
2,000 refugees were evacuated
assistance was provided to Kharkiv's energy grid
A telemedicine program has been developed whereby physicians can provide health care to Ukrainians in need remotely
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FUNDRAISERS & upcoming events
FUNDRAISERS
LITHUANIAN WORLD CENTER
LEMONT, IL
DECEMBER 2ND AND 3RD
https://www.lcenter.org/events/holiday-craft-fair-4/
Please stop by and visit Blue / Yellow for Ukraine USA's table, LF8, to discuss our work, donate, get a t-shirt, a copy of Blue Yellow Ukraine Jonas Ohman's book "Donbaso Dziazas".
If you can't stop by, donate here:
US resident's and citizens: www.foblueyellowukraineusa.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
US HELSINKI COMMISSION CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
CROWDSOURCING VICTORY
DECEMBER 7TH, 2022
Blue / Yellow for Ukraine USA and Blue Yellow Ukraine 's Jonas Ohman and Rima Žiūraitienė will be testifying at the Helsinki Commission Hearing on December 7th in DC, with three other non-profit organziations: Razom for Ukraine @comebackalive and Благодійний Фонд Сергія Притули / Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation.
The hearing will be webcast on the Helsinki Commission's website.
DECEMBER 7TH 2022ov/international-impact/press-and-media/press-releases/helsinki-commission-announces-hearing?fbclid=IwAR3CynBMiWWPwATCypR_pL1wn3Q4ki40ybgybwMPCzV7bREk-BF1KCoA1Ho
Ukraine Action Summit, Washington DC
September 18-20
https://sites.google.com/view/americancoalitionforukraine/summit
PAST FUNDRAISERS & events
RECENT FUNDRAISERS
Thank you Kerry Secrest! Thank you to everyone who participated in the event. The bids on donated auction items, direct donations brought in over $15,000!
Brattleboro distillery hosts successful fundraiser for Ukraine | Business | reformer.com
"Kerry Secrest, Brattleboro resident and Honorary Consul to Vermont for the Republic of Lithuania, and her brother, Christian Stromberg, owner of Saxtons River Distillery, raised more than $15,000 for Ukraine at a fundraiser on Thursday at the distillery in Brattleboro."
RECENT EVENTS
On August 29th our MD, Rima Ziuraitis and Blue/Yellow Lithuania’s MD, Jonas Oehman, presented to a delegation of United States Congressional staff members brought to Vilnius by the Atlantic Council, on the work of both Blue/Yellow USA and Blue/Yellow Lithuania, and the current situation in Ukraine with frontline soldiers sharing their perspectives as well. It was a productive and informative afternoon! Thank you to the Atlantic Council!
STAFF-BOARD OF DIRECTORS-AWARDS
OUR STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Managing Director:
Rima Žiūraitienė
Board of Directors:
President/Treasurer: Aušra Tallat-Kelpša
Kestutis (Kasey) Eidukonis
Dr. John (Jonas) Prunskis, MD
Andriy Glebiv
Natalie Glebiv
Yuriy Makar
Advisory Board:
Jonas Öhman (Ohman, Ohmanas, Oehman)
Jonas Žiūraitis
Thomas Vaitys
AWARDS FOR SERVICE IN UKRAINE
(Partial list)
Service Cross, Ukrainian Marine Corps, 2016
Medal of Merit, Commander in Chief, Ukrainian Armed Forces, 2016
Army Support Medal, Ministry of Defense, Ukraine, 2016
Medal “For Services to Lithuania”, President of Lithuania, 2017 (given for work in Ukraine)
Badge of Honor, Ministry of Defense, Ukraine, 2017
Medal “For the defense of Avdiivka”, 2018
Ukrainian Cossacks Cross III rang, 2018
Combat Volunteer support medal, President of Ukraine, 2018
Awards
