An international initiative to support young athletes from the families of Ukraine’s defenders has been launched with the support of American-Ukrainian singer and philanthropist Kelsey Kimberlin. The program will help children continue their training despite the war.
The “Ukrainian Champions” program, aimed at children of military personnel who are passionate about sports, has been launched in Ukraine and abroad. An article on Interfax provides details about the initiative: scholarships will cover the costs of training sessions, equipment, and participation in competitions.
“These children live under constant stress. Sports help them develop discipline, resilience, and self-confidence,” — Kimberlyn emphasized.
The face of the campaign is 16-year-old karateka Maria Hnes, the daughter of a soldier. She captured the world’s attention by refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent at a competition. Her actions inspired the creation of the music video “Champ,” filmed in Kyiv during air raid alerts. The video has been viewed nearly a million times in a month.
The funds raised through this initiative will be used to cover training, equipment, and tournament participation over a period of 6 to 12 months. The founder of the Kelsie Kimberlin Foundation was honored with a UN humanitarian award in 2025 for her contribution to supporting Ukraine. Her documentary film about the events in Ukraine has won awards at international film festivals.
