Philadelphia historic sites to donate Saturday proceeds to help children in Ukraine

The African American Museum, Constitution Center, Betsy Ross House, Carpenters’ Hall, Independence Visitor’s Center, and Museum of The American Revolution will donate 100% of Saturday’s admission proceeds to UNICEF,

• Tom MacDonald/WHYY
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  WHYY reporter Tom MacDonald is a lifelong Philadelphia area resident who has worked in the region since the mid-1980s. Tom started in commercial radio covering the MOVE standoff with police for WFIL-AM. He was also City Hall Bureau Chief covering government and politics for more than a decade for WWDB-FM.
  Tom has been heard on numerous stations in the region during the decade he worked for Metro Traffic, doing news, traffic and weather.
  Tom has also been heard nationally, doing reports for NPR, ABC News Radio, NBC Radio, and CBS Radio.
  He has won the Associated Press award for his coverage of the protests of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and a Religious Communicators award for a post-9/11 documentary he did with the late Peter Jennings.
  
  Tom MacDonald is a lifelong Philadelphia area resident who has worked in the area since the mid 1980s. Tom started in commercial radio covering the MOVE standoff with police for WFIL-AM. He was also City Hall Bureau Chief covering government and politics for more than a decade for WWDB-FM.
  
  Tom has been heard on numerous stations in the region during the decade he worked for Metro Traffic, doing news, traffic and weather.
  
  Tom has also been heard nationally, doing reports for NPR ,ABC News Radio, NBC Radio, and CBS Radio.
  
  He has won the Associated Press award for his coverage of the protests of the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia and a Religious Communicators award for a post 9-11 documentary he did with the late Peter Jennings.

 Balazs Kaufmann / AP Photo

Refugees fleeing the war from neighboring Ukraine walk on a platform after disembarking from a train in Zahony, Hungary, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Some of Philadelphia’s most historic institutions are joining together this weekend in a show of solidarity for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

The African American Museum, Constitution Center, Betsy Ross House, Carpenters’ Hall, Independence Visitor’s Center, and Museum of The American Revolution will donate 100% of Saturday’s admission proceeds to UNICEF, which is providing aid to refugee children who have fled Ukraine.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who put the group together, said the donations could reach $100,000, but that the show of support is more important.

Former PA Gov Ed Rendell partners with Historic Phila. To dedicate day of revenues for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/YoRHJ2unNS

— Tom MacDonald–WHYY (@TMacDonaldWHYY) March 16, 2022

“The American people have to send a message loud and clear that we value democracy here and abroad, and we will do everything we can to protect it,” Rendell said. He added that the U.S. should be a leader in helping rebuild Ukraine after the war is over.

Renee Cutting of UNICEF spoke via video, saying that nearly one child every second is becoming a refugee in the country. The group, also known as the United Nations Children’s Fund, is providing supplies from blankets to clothes and food for Ukrainian kids as part of its relief effort.

Jeffrey Rosen, of the Constitution Center, is of Ukrainian descent. He spoke to how the city’s historic sites reflect the idea that everyone is created equal and has equal rights, sovereignty, and the rule of law. Rosen added that the Russian constitution is “full of empty words, and its soaring promises are a lie.”

For those not able to attend one of the participating historic sites on Saturday, monetary donations will be accepted at their respective sites through the end of the month for the UNICEF relief effort.

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