Kateryna Yushchenko-Chumachenko
Encyclopedia
Kateryna Mykhaylivna Yushchenko ( on September 1, 1961 in Chicago, Illinois) is the current and second wife of former Ukrainian
President
Viktor Yushchenko
and First Lady of Ukraine.
Her father, Mykhailo Chumachenko, was born in the village of Zaitsivka, Kharkiv Oblast, in 1917, to a large family of farmers. He was one of only a few members of his large family to survive the Ukrainian Genocide Famine of 1932-33.
Mr. Chumachenko studied electrical engineering in Lisichansk, Luhansk Oblast. He served in the Soviet Army, was captured by Nazi forces and taken to Germany in 1942. Mrs. Yushchenko’s mother, Sofia Chumachenko, was born in Litky, Kyiv Oblast, in 1927. Along with many girls in her village, Sofia Chumachenko was taken to Germany at the age of 14 to serve as a slave laborer. Kateryna Yushchenko’s parents met in Germany, married, and gave birth to her sister Lydia in 1945. Mykhailo Chumachenko became seriously ill with tuberculosis in 1945 and spent eight years in a tuberculosis sanatorium. In 1956, the Chumachenko family immigrated to the United States on an invitation from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chicago. Mykhailo Chumachenko worked as an electrician in Chicago until his retirement in 1984. The Chumachenkos moved to Florida in 1987. Mr. Chumachenko visited his native Ukraine three times, in 1991, 1994 and 1995. His dream was to return to his village and start a small farm. He died in 1998 and is buried in Kyiv.
Kateryna Yushchenko was born Catherine Claire Chumachenko in Chicago to Ukrainian immigrants. She is a former U.S. State Department official. She worked as a special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. She holds a bachelor degree in International Economics from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
at Georgetown University
(1982), and an MBA
from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business (1986).
She later worked in the White House
in the Office of Public Liaison during the administration of Ronald Reagan
. Subsequently, she worked at the U.S. Treasury
in the executive secretary's office during the administration of George H. W. Bush
. After leaving that position, she was on the staff of the Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress
. After Ukraine declared its freedom, she was a co-founder and the vice-president of Ukraine-USA Foundation. She was also the director of Pylyp Orlyk
Institute. In 1993, she joined KPMG
Peat Marwick/Barents Group as a consultant in its Bank Training Program and Country Manager. She left her job in August 2000, when she was expecting her second child. An international accounting firm, she met Viktor Yushchenko, whom she subsequently married.
Mrs. Yushchenko is now involved in numerous charitable projects with the Ukraine 3000 International Foundation that she chairs. The key priority of the Foundation is better health for Ukraine’s children. On the Supervisory Board of Ukraine 3000 Foundation, established in 2001, are some of Ukraine’s most prominent educational, humanitarian, cultural, literary and sports figures. President Victor Yushchenko served as Chairman of the Supervisory Council until his inauguration in 2005. Since then, its Chairman is Kateryna Yushchenko. All programs and projects of the Foundation are implemented within three major areas: “Ukraine Yesterday”. “Ukraine Today” and “Ukraine Tomorrow”. The biggest projects of the Foundation are the “Hospital to Hospital” program, the construction and support of the “Children’s Hospital of the Future” and “The Joy of Childhood – Free Movements” program.
, Yushchenko-Chumachenko was accused of exerting the influence of the U.S. government on her husband's decisions, as an employee of the U.S. government or even a Central Intelligence Agency
agent. She had earlier been accused by Russia
n television journalist Mikhail Leontyev
of leading a U.S. project to help Yushchenko seize power in Ukraine; in January 2002, she won a libel case against him.
Ukraine's pro-government Inter television channel
repeated Leontyev's allegations in 2001, but in January 2003 she won a libel case against the channel as well.
On March 31, 2005, it was announced that Kateryna Yushchenko became a naturalized Ukrainian citizen.
Viktor Yushchenko has two children from his first marriage:
“Golden Pyramid” Award, UNESCO, November 2005
Medal of Prince Vasyl-Kostyantyn Ostrozky from Ostroh Academy, October 2005
Distinguished Public Service / Public Sector Alumni Award from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, October 2005
Honorary Professor of the “Kyiv Mohyla Kollegium” Gymnasium, February 2007
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
President
President of Ukraine
Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the...
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko is a former President of Ukraine. He took office on January 23, 2005, following a period of popular unrest known as the Orange Revolution...
and First Lady of Ukraine.
Her father, Mykhailo Chumachenko, was born in the village of Zaitsivka, Kharkiv Oblast, in 1917, to a large family of farmers. He was one of only a few members of his large family to survive the Ukrainian Genocide Famine of 1932-33.
Mr. Chumachenko studied electrical engineering in Lisichansk, Luhansk Oblast. He served in the Soviet Army, was captured by Nazi forces and taken to Germany in 1942. Mrs. Yushchenko’s mother, Sofia Chumachenko, was born in Litky, Kyiv Oblast, in 1927. Along with many girls in her village, Sofia Chumachenko was taken to Germany at the age of 14 to serve as a slave laborer. Kateryna Yushchenko’s parents met in Germany, married, and gave birth to her sister Lydia in 1945. Mykhailo Chumachenko became seriously ill with tuberculosis in 1945 and spent eight years in a tuberculosis sanatorium. In 1956, the Chumachenko family immigrated to the United States on an invitation from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chicago. Mykhailo Chumachenko worked as an electrician in Chicago until his retirement in 1984. The Chumachenkos moved to Florida in 1987. Mr. Chumachenko visited his native Ukraine three times, in 1991, 1994 and 1995. His dream was to return to his village and start a small farm. He died in 1998 and is buried in Kyiv.
Biography
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service is a school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States. Jesuit priest Edmund A...
at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
(1982), and an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business (1986).
She later worked in the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in the Office of Public Liaison during the administration of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. Subsequently, she worked at the U.S. Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
in the executive secretary's office during the administration of George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
. After leaving that position, she was on the staff of the Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. After Ukraine declared its freedom, she was a co-founder and the vice-president of Ukraine-USA Foundation. She was also the director of Pylyp Orlyk
Pylyp Orlyk
Pylyp Stepanovych Orlyk Pylyp Stepanovych Orlyk Pylyp Stepanovych Orlyk (born on October 11, 1672 in Kosuta, Ashmyany county, Grand Duchy of Lithuania (today in Vileyka Raion, Belarus), died on May 26, 1742 in Jassy, Principality of Moldavia (today Iaşi, Romania) was a Zaporozhian Cossack...
Institute. In 1993, she joined KPMG
KPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
Peat Marwick/Barents Group as a consultant in its Bank Training Program and Country Manager. She left her job in August 2000, when she was expecting her second child. An international accounting firm, she met Viktor Yushchenko, whom she subsequently married.
Mrs. Yushchenko is now involved in numerous charitable projects with the Ukraine 3000 International Foundation that she chairs. The key priority of the Foundation is better health for Ukraine’s children. On the Supervisory Board of Ukraine 3000 Foundation, established in 2001, are some of Ukraine’s most prominent educational, humanitarian, cultural, literary and sports figures. President Victor Yushchenko served as Chairman of the Supervisory Council until his inauguration in 2005. Since then, its Chairman is Kateryna Yushchenko. All programs and projects of the Foundation are implemented within three major areas: “Ukraine Yesterday”. “Ukraine Today” and “Ukraine Tomorrow”. The biggest projects of the Foundation are the “Hospital to Hospital” program, the construction and support of the “Children’s Hospital of the Future” and “The Joy of Childhood – Free Movements” program.
Ukrainian politics
Opponents of her husband Viktor Yushchenko have criticized her for remaining a U.S. citizen. During the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election campaignUkrainian presidential election, 2004
The Ukrainian presidential election, 2004 was held on October 31, November 21 and December 26, 2004. The election was the fourth presidential election to take place in Ukraine following independence from the Soviet Union...
, Yushchenko-Chumachenko was accused of exerting the influence of the U.S. government on her husband's decisions, as an employee of the U.S. government or even a Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
agent. She had earlier been accused by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n television journalist Mikhail Leontyev
Mikhail Leontyev
Mikhail Vladimirovich Leontyev is a Russian pundit currently working on national TV Channel One. He is known for his program "Odnako" , irregularly appearing on air with commentaries on certain political occasions since March 1999...
of leading a U.S. project to help Yushchenko seize power in Ukraine; in January 2002, she won a libel case against him.
Ukraine's pro-government Inter television channel
Inter (TV channel)
Inter is the major TV channel in Ukraine. Based on it later was formed the whole new media group with variety of different other channels. Inter is among the top-rated networks in Ukraine, competing with such as 1+1 and Pershyi Natsionalnyi channels...
repeated Leontyev's allegations in 2001, but in January 2003 she won a libel case against the channel as well.
On March 31, 2005, it was announced that Kateryna Yushchenko became a naturalized Ukrainian citizen.
Family
Kateryna had three children with Viktor Yushchenko:- Sofia (b. 1999)
- Khrystyna (b. 2000)
- Taras (b. 2004)
Viktor Yushchenko has two children from his first marriage:
- Vitalyna (b. 1980); married Oleksiy Khakhlyov (Yaryna and Viktor)
- Andriy (b. 1985)
Hobbies
Kateryna Yushchenko loves to read all types of literature and is proud of the library she has been compiling since her childhood. She is an ardent collector of Ukrainian art and crafts. She also collects images of mother with child. She is a fan of architecture and interior design. She particularly enjoys cooking and entertaining using recipes from various parts of the world. Most importantly, Mrs. Yushchenko focuses upon her family and tries to spend quality time with her five children and two step-grandchildren.Awards
Special award from Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Foundation, April 26, 2006“Golden Pyramid” Award, UNESCO, November 2005
Medal of Prince Vasyl-Kostyantyn Ostrozky from Ostroh Academy, October 2005
Distinguished Public Service / Public Sector Alumni Award from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, October 2005
Honorary Professor of the “Kyiv Mohyla Kollegium” Gymnasium, February 2007
External links
- Kateryna Yushchenko. Biography (archived)
- Interview with Yushchenko-Chumachenko, from Yushchenko's campaign site (archived)
- http://www.ukraine3000.org.ua/eng/aboutfund.html ([The Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation])