‘He left a legacy of goodness’: Melnyk commitment to Ukrainian orphans remembered

Though Melnyk's philanthropy in Ukraine was largely off the radar for hockey fans in Ottawa, it had a profound effect there.

Blair Crawford for Ottawa Citizen.

Some of the biggest Ottawa Senators fans are in Ukraine.

Eugene Melnyk made sure of that when he would dole out Senators jerseys, shirts, scarves and other swag at the many children’s camps in Ukraine he supported through his tireless charitable efforts. Melnyk died Monday at age 62.

“He left a legacy of goodness for a lot of children,” said Ruslana Wrzesnewskyj, founder of the charity Help Us Help.

Established in 1993, Help Us Help brought humanitarian aid to Ukraine’s orphanages, which after the break up of the Soviet Union rivalled Romania’s in their squalor. Melnyk joined the charity a couple of years later and had been unfailing in his support ever since, both financially and with medical supplies through Biovail, the drug company that generated much of his wealth.

More here: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/he-left-a-legacy-of-goodness-melnyk-commitment-to-ukrainian-orphans-remembered

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