Utah drive for Ukrainian Refugees receives $1 million in donations, hundreds of items

SANDY, Utah—The Driven to Assist community fundraiser and donation drive for Ukrainian refugees raised over $1 million in community donations and received 250 bins of items – enough to fill around 13 semi-trucks of donated goods.

The fundraiser, put on by the Larry H. Miller Company and the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, began March 3 when the Governor announced the “Utahns stand with Ukraine” initiative.

“The outpouring of generosity and love we’ve seen from this drive is absolutely astounding,” Gail Miller, chairman of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation said. “Your donations from a pair of socks or one dollar up to pallets of blankets and truckloads of diapers add up, and each act of kindness matters. Thank you for making a difference and enriching lives here at home and around the world.”

First Lady Abby Cox’s initiative, Show Up, will be helping to organize volunteer efforts to sort and prepare donations for distribution. Volunteer shifts will be available in the coming days for those who are interested.

“The governor and I have been humbled by the grace and generosity Utahns have displayed as we’ve taken in these donations. When there is a need, Utah shows up time and time again,” Cox said. “My team and I are working anxiously on a plan to organize these donations for our sisters and brothers overseas, and we look forward to coming together with Utahns in the coming days to sort and ship them. We’ve also received thousands of notes and pieces of artwork at the Governor’s Mansion, which will be included in the shipment and bring heart and hope to those who are suffering.”

The Larry H. Miller Company would like to thank the community partners who made this initiative possible, including:

• Utah Food Bank for transporting and storing donations.
• Show Up Utah for organizing volunteer efforts, including sorting donations and note cards for Ukrainian children.
• Vivint Arena, Rio Tinto Stadium, Smith’s Ballpark, Daybreak, LiveDaybreak, Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres at Jordan Commons, Thanksgiving Point, and Legacy Crossing for collecting donated items.
• Intermountain Healthcare for providing transportation from donation drop-off locations to the storage facility and other large donations.
• Sister Goods for encouraging the donation of period products.
• doTERRA for donating two pallets of emergency hygiene kits.
• Sunrun for donating 1,500 solar lights.
• Sew Sweet Minky Designs for donating 1,600 blankets.
• Onset Financial for donating 150 boxes of emergency items.
• Minky Couture for donating 900 blankets.

Monetary donations made to the Community Foundation of Utah (CFU) through LHM.com will be matched up to $2 million with contributions from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, Todd and Andie Pedersen Family, Ryan and Ashley Smith, Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation, Kem and Carolyn Gardner Family, the Huntsman Family Foundation, Jeremy and Kristin Andrus Family Foundation, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Ron and Janet Jibson Family Foundation, Bert and Lynnie Zimmerli Family Foundation, Ann and Mitt Romney Family, Brent and Jill Bishop, Zions Bank,  and other anonymous donors. CFU will distribute donated funds to trusted organizations on the ground.