New York restaurants massively raise money to help Ukraine

Restaurants across the city are doing their best to raise money for victims in Ukraine. Harry Kanfer, from a Ukrainian Jewish family: The owner of Kissaki, a mini-empire of omakase-focused restaurants, helped build a new nonprofit to raise money for the war-ravaged country and its people, reports The Post.

“We aim to source projects directly,” Kanfer said of the new nonprofit America for Ukraine.

Restaurateur Keith McNally donated $50 to Balthazar, which was then doubled by VIP client Scott Asen, for a total $100 to UNICEF Protect Children in Ukraine, according to Page Six.

“PS,” McNally wrote on Instagram. “I hope this inspires other restaurants in New York and London to do the same. If not all the proceeds for the evening, then perhaps a percentage.

We are all connected

He said that on March 22, all of his restaurants in the city - Balthazar, Minetta Tavern and Morandi - will donate "every penny" they earn to UNICEF's charity.

McNally says: “I do this because I feel it is my duty. I'm not sure I can live in peace if I don't do this. I don't care if other restaurants do the same, but I'm surprised that none of the restaurateurs in London and New York that I asked to join said yes. In the end, we are all connected."

On the subject: Six ways to help Ukrainians: how to do it in New York

Meanwhile, Kanfer is also sending money into the country – and not just through its restaurants. Kanfer launched the Michelin-starred Kissaki omakase sushi in 2020, just before the lockdown. The chain has grown to five locations, from the Bowery and Upper West Side to the Hamptons, Greenwich, Connecticut and, soon to be in Miami. He also founded Big Drop, a digital advertising agency that has offices in Kharkiv, Ukraine - a heavily affected part of the country, which received heavy bombing from Russia.

He said he spent about $60 to help keep 000 of his 58 employees safe in Poland and elsewhere. (One remained to fight, while the other remained to care for elderly parents and is now trapped in Russian-occupied Chuguev.)

Others in the New York hospitality industry are also joining the fight

Then others asked for help, and Kanfer said that he could not refuse. He then spoke daily to other New Yorkers who also have family and friends in Ukraine. They have raised over $250 of their own money and sent it to people they trust in Ukraine to get food and medicine to those in need. Then they launched America for Ukraine.

"We find out who needs help, and we receive it directly through people on earth, without waiting for sending. These people need help today, not in a few weeks or a month,” said Kanfer.

Other restaurateurs — shocked by Russian brutality and inspired by Ukrainian fighting spirit — are also raising money for Ukraine.

On March 10, City Winery hosted a concert by the gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello and its frontman Yevhen Hatz for Care.org, Doctors Without Borders and Come Back Alive, the largest fundraising group for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The concert, featuring Patti Smith, Matisyahu, and Suzanne Vega, among others, raised $130.

And McNally's culinary rival Graydon Carter also offered his support at the Waverly Inn, while celebrity chef José Andres served food to refugees at the Polish border. On Monday, March 14, Terroir posted that it will also donate "every penny of sales" to Andres' World Central Kitchen.

Support for girls and women in Ukraine

In addition, the Gerber Group Daphne's new club, 50 Bowery, is creating a special cocktail to support women and girls in Ukraine, in partnership with Dewars - and a percentage of sales will be donated and matched to Dewars, the Ukrainian Women's Fund, Scott Gerber tells Side Dish.

New Yorkers also continue to line up to support the iconic Ukrainian eatery Veselka in the East Village. One Ukrainian employee of Veselka reportedly quit and flew off to fight for his homeland.

At America for Ukraine, Kanfer and others who are working to create a new non-profit organization are doing everything they can to help Ukrainians. They have not yet had time to raise money beyond what they have invested in themselves. They are working on a GoFundMe page that will link to their AmericaforUkraine.org site.

On the subject: The beauty salon has become a hub of volunteers: how help is collected for Ukraine in New York

Petr Zinkovetsky, a New York lawyer, is the founder of America for Ukraine, the country where he was born. Kanfer said they are building a database to collect information such as who has food, medicine and food and who needs it. “This is the second stage,” he said.

Citymeals raises almost $1 million

The annual event raised over $960, 000% of which will be used to prepare and deliver over 100 meals to New York's seniors.

Guest chefs included: Cosme Aguilar of Casa Enrique (New York), Renata Ameny of Crown Shy (New York), Curtis Duffy of Ever (Chicago), Angie Mar of Les Trois Chevaux (New York) and Patrick O'Connell of The Inn at Little Washington (Virginia).