Liev Schreiber launches Thanksgiving appeal to fund generators for Ukrainian hospitals during blackouts

Liev Schreiber launched a new video appeal over the Thanksgiving holiday to raise money for Ukrainian medical facilities hit by blackouts following targeted Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid.

Schreiber, who has Ukrainian roots through his maternal grandfather, is an ambassador for the Ukrainian fundraising platform UNITED24.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched the platform last May as the main collection point for charitable donations in support of Ukraine after the February 24 Russian invasion.

The new campaign was fueled by Russia’s October 10 attack on Ukraine’s electricity grid, which left 10 million, or nearly a quarter of the country’s 43.8 million population, without electricity.

Schreiber joined the new fundraiser after learning the story of heart surgeon Borys Todurov and his team, who continued to operate on a little girl’s heart when the power went out due to Russian attacks

“I am grateful for Ukraine and the struggle its people fight every day, simply for the right to exist. I am grateful for the reminder to cherish and protect the freedoms and liberties we have in our own country. How important they are to our way of life,” Schreiber said.

“The best form of gratitude is concrete support. Ukrainian doctors have been working under fire and bombing since the first day of the war. Every day they perform miracles with their hands and save lives. I know they are brave enough to work in the light of candles and flashlights. To create a space where they can only do their work, the most important work is the least we can do for them.”

Mariia Karchevych, deputy minister for digital development, digital transformation and digitization at Ukraine’s health ministry, said the country needs another 1,000 generators to keep its medical facilities running during the blackout.

“We are very grateful to Liev Schreiber for his support and for this integral fundraising, as well as to every donor who brings light not only to our hospitals, but also to our hearts,” she said.