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Odesa Mayor Honors Bright House Founder

31.03.2008, [15:06] // Charitable activities //

Odesa— Eduard Hurvits, mayor of southern Ukrainian Odesa, has honored Deacon Oleksandr Chumakov, founder and chief administrator of the Bright House refuge for children, with an award “gratitude.” RISU’s Ukrainian-language site posted the news on 31 March 2008.

According to odesinform.com.ua, Deacon Chumakov received the award “for active civic involvement, a significant personal contribution in the matter of the social protection of unfortunate children, teenagers, and youth,” and also on the occasion of his 50th birthday. Deacon Chumakov was also greeted by deputies of the Odesa City Council, members of the Bright House foundation, friends, and children who are helped by Bright House.

RISU note: On 19 March, RISU posted a story that the Odesa region’s Department of Justice is suing Bright House. The department accuses Bright House of violating its own statutes by granting free shelter to homeless children, and wants to liquidate the charity’s assets. Bright House considers the suit groundless and does not recognize the department’s demands.

Bright House receives ongoing pressure from various government agencies.

Source and previous related RISU news:

• http://www.odesinform.com.ua/index.php?news=3238&p=sin&r=3

• http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;21341/

• http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;19813/