PBN Ukraine's Citizenship Programs  

Like many European nations, Ukraine's 48 million citizens compose a mosaic of diverse nationalities rich in their cultural and religious traditions. The PBN Company's 1996 entry into the Ukrainian market provided the firm with many opportunities to participate in the country's cultural renaissance and the rebuilding of the city of Kyiv, whose 1,500 year history makes it an undiscovered jewel. The PBN Company has been a strong supporter of Ukrainian music, theater and of various religious communities. A few of the interesting projects over the years are described below.

Under the auspices of the Ukraine Market Reform Education Program (UMREP), in 1996-1998, The PBN Company organized a series of pop-music concerts featuring Ukrainian artists such as Ani Lorak, Olexander Ponomaryov, Tabula Rasa and Plach Jeremyia targeting youth participation in the country's economic reform programs. Some of those artists are today's rising pop-music stars in Europe.

The PBN Company came to the aid of the Kyiv Jewish Community as it rededicated the 100-year old Brodskiy Synagogue in downtown Kyiv in March 2000. The Soviet period began with the persecution of religious groups, which resulted in the closing of the Brodskiy Synagogue and its subsequent transition into a puppet theater. Independent Ukraine's cultural revival saw the return of many historic architectural sites and monuments to their rightful communities and owners. The PBN Company was honored to be a part of this effort.

Pope John Paul II made his first trip to Ukraine in 2001, and The PBN Company was there to help with media and other preparations. Roman and Ukrainian Greek Catholic communities throughout the country greeted the Pope in Kyiv and Lviv, the center of Ukraine's five-million strong Greek Catholic Church.

Tough economic times in the transition to a market economy and a prolonged state budget finance crisis endangered many of Ukraine's cultural institutions. Since 2000, The PBN Company has joined other corporate donors in supporting the Ivan Franko Drama Theater located in the center of Kyiv. With corporate donations the theater not only maintained its premier theatrical performances, but even took Ukraine's rich drama traditions to many European capitals.