Oksana Baiul spices up for fundraiser
Vick444
Nov 26 2008
http://nyblueprint.com/articles/view.aspx?id=458
Just before stepping on the runway as part of a fashion show to
benefit Jewish children in the Ukraine, Oksana Baiul recounted the one
burning question she had when she spoke to her father a few years ago.
"I met my father face to face for the first time because he abandoned
the family when I was two and I had so many questions," she told The
Blueprint. "’Who am I? What am I?’ I asked if I had any Jewish blood
in me. I wanted to know."
Baiul, who won the Gold medal in figure skating in the 1994 Winter
Olympics, and lost her mother to cancer when she was a young girl, got
her answer. Her father told her that she was Jewish, as her maternal
grandmother was Jewish. Baiul said as she learned more about Judaism,
she became closely involved with Tikva Children’s Home, a non-profit
organization which helps to provide food, shelter and clothing for
orphans in the Ukraine.
"It’s a tough situation," said Rivki Gottlieb, director of marketing
for Tikvah. "The kids haven’t seen meat in a year," she said. "We’re
trying to make sure they have bread."
Baiul joined more than 15 models for an event that drew an estimated
400 people at Touch NYC in midtown Manhattan.
The event was the brainchild of Sam Bodenheimer, CEO and founder of
Spicerack Music. Bodenheimer told the crowd that he had the idea for
the event after seeing the children at the orphanage and seeing an 11-
year-old child who played the violin.
"I had a boring vacation planned and I thought this would be more fun
and more interesting," he said of his trip to the Ukraine. "It turned
out to be a life-changer. On the trip I saw something incredible. We
all hear about great causes. This one’s real... What really touched me
was to see kids picking their own pair of clothing to express their
individuality."
Emily Lehrman, vice president of strategic development and operations
for Tikvah, praised Spicerack for the event at a time where people are
pinching pennies.
"We are experiencing a major financial crisis, in Ukraine as are most
charities around the world," she said. This is a tremendous volunteer
effort of dedicated people here in New York to make sure that our kids
in Ukraine have food clothing shelters and all the essentials of
life."
Ia Janashvili, who grew up in Ukraine and now lives in Queens, said
the event was important because whenever she used to hear about
American contributions, it lifted her spirits.
"It gives you so much hope that there is actually someone out there
that knows about your existence and cares about you," she said. "It’s
a big deal. And now that I’m here, it’s great to be on the other side
of the road."
Baiul said she was fortunate to be in a situation where she could help
give back to the place where she came from. In a surprising turn of
events, the crowd watched different men bid on a date with Baiul. A
rabbi finally won the date with a winning pledge of $2,000.
Fashion designer Levi Okunov, who was on hand for the event, said it
took about a week to hand-sew Baiul’s dress, which if sold, could
fetch as much as $15,000. The former artist-in-residence at The Jewish
Museum, who is a friend of Baiul’s, sipped red wine and said this was
a unique show.
"In a certain way it’s got to do with my childhood roots," said
Okunov, whose father is Russian. "It’s great to give and I support
what they’re doing."
Baiul said she felt an obligation to do her part and raise awareness
for the organization which is the only resource for young people in
need.
"It has to be done," she said. "How can you not step up and do what
you can when it is for the children?"