University of Windsor students collaborate with Serbs for Serbs Canada to raise more than $20,000, to help build homes for Serbian families in Serbia and Montenegro

Windsor, ON – Serbian Orthodox Christmas in Windsor was unlike any other this year as the Association of Serbian Student Philanthropists through the University of Windsor announced a life-changing Christmas gift for impoverished families in Serbia and Montenegro — help with a new home.

On August 27, 2022, a club-like event, “Žurka iz Bloka” was organized to kick off a fundraising campaign to raise money for Serbs for Serbs Canada, a charity that provides the poorest Serbian families with basic life necessities to enable them to become self-sufficient and contributing members of society.

We were overwhelmed and incredibly thankful to our Serbian community and Windsor community friends for coming together to support this charitable event. It is a true testament to how our community can come together to make a big impact. We can’t thank our sponsors and donors enough for their generosity!, said Petar Bratić of the Association of Serbian Student Philanthropists.

Donations continued after the event and are still coming in.  The Serbian Orthodox Christmas Eve was held at the Serbian Centre and was the perfect occasion to announce the big news! Serbs for Serbs Canada President, Angelina Račić, could not be prouder of what these young leaders have accomplished.

Our charity in Canada is made up of all volunteers and to see these Serbian students giving back to create and organize an event in such a short time that raised this amount of money is incredible.  While we hold numerous successful events throughout the year, Windsor’s Žurka iz Bloka surpassed all expectations and will help more than just one family.

The event was initially held to raise money for the Babić Family in the village of Šekular in Crna Gora.  Their home is complete, and the furniture has been delivered. Serbs for Serbs Canada has a policy that no more than $10,000 be allocated to one family, and the total contribution to Serbs for Serbs Canada exceeded expectations. As a result, the remainder of the funds will support additional families in need, including the 7-child Vujačić household of Budva, the 4-child Matović household of Velimlje, near Nikšić and the 4-child Slavujević family from Jarebica near Loznica.

Back row: Father Vladimir Vranic, Goran Todorovic, Gracanica Church Board President, Alex Zarin of Press Tech Services Inc. and World Mechanical Contracting Inc. Platinum Sponsors, Maja Jelich, ASSP, Ana Joksic, ASSP, Dara Gidak – Lead for Serbs for Serbs Canada Windsor, Danijela Jelich, ASSP, Marko Dobrich, ASSP and Petar Bratic, ASSP. Front Row – Grachanica Church School children revealing the money raised from Zurka iz Bloka fundraiser

Father Vladimir Vranic blessing the “Badnjak” (Yule log) at the Serbian Centre in Windsor, ON

Grachanica Church School children performing a Nativity play

Serbian Orthodox Christmas Midnight Mass at the Grachanica Orthodox Church in Windsor, ON

Babić Family children in their new home in the village of Šekular in Montenegro.

About the Association of Serbian Student Philanthropists (ASSP):

University of Windsor students supporting and raising money for Serbs for Serbs Organization, dedicated to helping Serbian families in the Balkans.

About Serbs for Serbs Canada:

The Charity Organization Serbs for Serbs was established in 2005. Serbs for Serbs Canada was registered as a Not-For-Profit Corporation in 2015 and received charitable status designation in 2016.  Serbs for Serbs is also registered in Serbia, Republic of Srpska, Montenegro, United States, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Austria and more recently in Australia.  Collectively the organization fundraises to aid impoverished Serbian families, particularly those with multiple children.

Media Contact: Jelena Jelich