SALT LAKE CITY – Gov. Spencer Cox has joined philanthropist Gail Miller in launching a fundraiser and donation drive to benefit refugees fleeing the war-torn Ukraine.
The Driven to Assist campaign was jointly announced by Cox and Miller at a Thursday press conference at the Utah State Capitol. Non-profit community partners in that effort include the Community Foundation of Utah, Intermountain Healthcare, Sister Goods, Show Up, LiveDaybreak and the Utah Food Bank.
“This donation drive of cash and goods will make a life-saving difference to those Ukrainians forced to leave their homes,” Cox explained. “Utahns are drawn to help to help those in need and I encourage those who can to give and support this effort.”
Monetary donations made to the Community Foundation of Utah (CFU) will be matched up to $2 million with contributions from a coalition of Utah non-profits. CFU officials will distribute those funds to trusted relief organizations in Eastern Europe.
Utahs can make monetary donations to the Driven to Assist campaign via the Larry H. Milller website at https://www.lhm.com/driven-to-assist/
Members of the non-profit coalition providing matching funds include the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation; the Todd and Andie Pedersen Family; Ryan and Ashley Smith; the Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation; the Kem and Carolyn Gardner Family; the Huntsman Family Foundation; the Jeremy and Kristin Andrus Family Foundation; the Ron and Janet Jibson Family Foundation; Zions Bank; and other anonymous donors.
“We have about 1,500 Ukrainian neighbors who live here in Utah,” according to Gail Miller of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. “We are all heartbroken by the desperate situation their loved ones face in Ukraine.
“This is an opportunity for us to come together, put our arms around our neighbors and show them that our hearts are united,” she added.
Community members are also being encouraged to make in-kind donations to the Driven to Assist campaign during the period from Friday, Mar. 4 to Saturday, Mar. 12.
Needed items are newly purchased children’s shoes, coats, hats, gloves and mittens; laundry detergent; diapers; and feminine hygiene products.
After those items have been collected, volunteers from First Lady Abby Cox’ Show Up initiative will sort those donations for distribution.
Intermountain Healthcare will then airlift those donations to countries bordering the Ukraine to aid refugees fleeing the fighting there.
In-kind donations can be delivered to Larry H. Miller Megaplex locations at 9295 South State Street in Sandy; 2935 North Thanksgiving Way in Lehi; and 1075 West Legacy Crossing Boulevard in Centerville. Other donation collection points are at Smith’s Ballpark at 77 West, 1300 South in Salt Lake City and the Hub Info Studio at 6172 West Lake Avenue in South Jordan.
The Larry H. Miller Company is a portfolio of business interests in real estate, health care, finance, entertainment and sports activities.
The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation was founded in 2007 to support programs that enrich lives and communities in the areas of health and medicine; shelter and food security; education and training; jobs and economic self-reliance; as well as cultural and spiritual enrichment.