NEWSLETTER-SUMMER 2025

Some of the happy graduates

Stash (Ukrainian) at the beach

Fr. Sean was planning to return to Pro Vita in mid-July but the kids’ and the Tanases’ vacation plans were complicated by the wildfires in Greece (their destination) so his trip is postponed until the Christmas holiday when everyone should be in residence.

An enthusiastic “THANK YOU” to our sustaining donors - Wendell B., Fotini C, and the generous parishioners of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Va whose St. John’s Dinner netted an addditional contribution.  Many thanks also to Dibby C., and Maria M, who are both very generous repeat donors. Elizabeth K. also made a generous donation.

Here’s the news from Melanie:

Pasha graduated from elementary school and will continue in the middle school in the fall.  Ionut and Catalina  (Romanian) graduated and will go on to High School, hopefully for their bacalaureat.  Maxim (Romanian) also graduated and will go to the technical school to become a baker.  Maxim and Dima (Ukrainians) will graduate from the special needs middle school and go on to the special needs technical school focusing on building and painting.  Another Dima (Ukrainian) turned 18 and has asked to continue his studies in Romania.  Yuri (Ukrainian) opted to return to Ukraine and attend a professional school there to learn a trade.

The older Romanian  children were supposed to go the Greece for vacation but a re-plan is now required.  (The Ukrainian children cannot leave Romania).  Many of the Ukrainians enjoyed a seaside respite during June and July.  The Ukrainian government continues to send teachers on a rotating basis to Pro Vita.

Rainy weather and a very busy contractor have delayed the start of the new house adjacent to the Social Center but (fingers crossed) it should get underway soon.  The Romanian courts continue to refer children to Pro Vita but there is no more room.  Currently the Tanases are trying to make space for 3 brothers and 1 sister who have been referred.

Andreii and Nectaria Tanase are awaiting the results of their exams to know which schools they will attend in the Fall.

The large house in Valea Plopului that was occupied for over two years by the Ukrainian elderly, their caregivers and priest, Fr. Roman, needs a major renovation before it can be used to house anyone.  The large dining room project started by Fr. Tanase remains unfinished until the renovations are approved and underway.

Finances and staffing several of the support positions, like psychologists, continue to be a challenge.  Pro Vita is not currently receiving any volunteers but hope to get some in the Fall through United Planet. The Romanian government has reduced the already small subsidies it was providing for the beneficiaries, thus aggrevating the already precarious financial situation.

AFPVO encourages you to include Pro Vita in your charitable giving plans.  We continue to be the largest and most consistent  source of non-Romanian financial support.  Your generosity to date has allowed the Tanases to plan ahead  for expansion and maintain the high level of support to all the beneficiaries.

To ensure 100% of your donation goes to Pro Vita, please use PayPal Giving which never deducts an administrative fee (please identify yourself so we can acknowledge your gift), employee matching (if you can) or send your check to:

AFPVO

4500 Audubon Sq., Apt. 507

Ashburn, VA 20147

Regular PayPal is also an option

Thank you,

Fr. Sean Cavanaugh, Chairman

Donna Shelton, President

Frank Doe, Treasurer

Kerry Garikes, Communications and Design