MacPaw launches foundation to support Ukraine

Apple joins chorus of global voices demanding end to conflict in Ukraine.

Ukraine-based Apple software developer, MacPaw has launched the MacPaw Development Foundation to raise funds for humanitarian aid there as Russia’s violence continues, despite sanctions.

MacPaw fights with its country

The MacPaw Development Foundation was originally constituted as an NGO supporting social projects in Ukraine since 2016.

It has been part of 30 social projects in the country since launch, including provision of ventilators for hospitals and providing fire fighting gear for the Kyiv Animal Rescue Group.

The MacPaw Development Foundation says it is in position to quickly source and distribute large quantities of food, medical supplies, hygiene products, and other humanitarian aid to those in need.

It says it can move more swiftly than the big aid agencies because it is working with local companies to handle the logistics of sourcing, transportation, storage and delivery. “Our plan is to purchase and distribute 7 truckloads of aid every day,” they say.

They argue that because they are on the ground they can respond to crises more swiftly than larger aid agencies can, which makes them a useful first response service.

What the Foundation is doing

The Foundation has already begun sourcing medical supplies and distributing them to hospitals, financing protective gear for military units, supplying defence forces with cell phones and computers, and printing maps for patrols.

MacPaw CEO Oleksandr Kosovan explains what his company is attempting to achieve in the video below.

“It’s those who are most vulnerable that are hit the hardest: children, elderly and disabled people, pregnant women, hospital patients,” the company explains in a blog announcing its work with the foundation.

I was incredibly moved by this interview that appeared this week.

Vira Tkachenko, Chief Innovations and Technology Office at MacPaw, is in Kyiv and has published images to show the kind of stress her people are under there.

Seventh day of a war. I’m staying in Kyiv and have to move to shelter several times a day. Food and medicine supplies are limited. Civilians in suburbs are attacked with bombes several times a day. But our defense forces are real heros and we’ll win!

F*ck putin! Слава Україні 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/DtohHHRZo6

— Vira Tkachenko 🇺🇦 (@iVira) March 2, 2022

You can donate to the MacPaw Foundation here, or contribute to the Red Cross or Medecins Sans Frontieres if you prefer.

We have heard very sobering reports of animal shelters west of Kyiv, which I'm reporting out.

But for now, this photo says quite a lot more than I can say: https://t.co/KyPYIyWvun

— Tim Mak (@timkmak) March 10, 2022

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