L-R: Katy Festa (Director of Membership & Engagement, Little Theatre), Oleksa (Alex) Nowosiadlo (Controller, UFCU), Oleg Lebedko (CEO, UFCU), Derek Reis (General Manager, Little Theatre), Susan Rogers (Executive VP & GM, WXXI), Matt DeTurck (Events & Special Programming Coordinator, Little Theatre), Roman Omecinskyj (CFO, UFCU), Lancelot Thomas (CFO, WXXI), & Wasyl Kornylo (President & Board Chairman, UFCU).

Rochester, New York | July 21, 2021

Known as “the premier cultural center for the presentation of American independent and foreign films, visual arts and music for the greater Rochester community,” The Little Theatre (“The Little”) faced an unprecedented challenge when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the U.S., perhaps more so than others. While shut down for 13 months The Little leveraged digital platforms such as its YouTube channel to reach viewers and offer virtual screenings, online film discussions, and interviews with the filmmakers. Among the films that were featured in the virtual Little was “Atlantis” (NR), directed by Valentyn Vasyanovych, a post-war, Ukrainian drama set in 2025.

As a credit union, it’s within our philosophy to help our communities however possible, and more so now than ever. Thanks to the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLBNY”), whose primary mission is to advance community development and housing opportunities. UFCU is again allocating grant funding to organizations throughout New York. On Wednesday, July 21, 2021, UFCU presented a $10,000 grant to The Little. We believe that these funds will provide some much-needed financial relief during this challenging time.

About the COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Grant

In 2020 UFCU applied for and received $200,000 in grant funding from the FHLBNY as part of a COVID-19 financial relief program. UFCU then allocated those funds to 47 different grantees across 9 counties in New York including various cultural centers, churches, museums, art foundations, youth associations, and other volunteer organizations. The program is intended to support the financial security and health of workers employed by organizations that have suffered a decrease in revenue as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

In 2021 UFCU reapplied for and received an additional $150,000 in grant funding from the FHLBNY as a continuation of the COVID-19 financial relief program. Eligibility in 2021 is limited to organizations in New York that did not yet receive grant funding.

FHLBNY is a private, non-governmental wholesale bank within the national Federal Home Loan Bank System.