The DNIPRO building at 562 Genesee Street in Buffalo, New York, was built in 1914, and purchased by the Ukrainian American community in 1955. Most of the founding members were recent immigrants to America that had been displaced from their Ukrainian homeland by World War Two. They sought to establish a community center where they could maintain their cultural identity, pass their heritage onto their children, socialize, and organize political structures that would continue the struggle for an independent Ukraine.
So it was natural that they would name their new Ukrainian Home after the largest river in Ukraine; which flows past the capital of Kyiv south to Odessa, and empties into the Black Sea.
Over the course of the past half-century, DNIPRO has hosted hundreds of profound and life-changing events; such as weddings, christenings, concerts, movies, childrens programs, banquets, lectures and meetings. For decades, almost anything important that happened in the Ukrainian American community in Buffalo, happened at DNIPRO, or was intensely discussed at DNIPRO.
In 2014 the Dnipro building will be 100 years old. To prepare for the future, DNIPRO has initiated a fund raising campaign to modernize our building and provide more, and better, services for the Ukrainian American Community in Buffalo and Western New York.
DNIPRO is a part of the Ukrainian American Freedom Foundation, which is an IRS recognized “501C3 charitable organization”. All donations are tax deductible.
The DNIPRO Building Renovation Fund has a goal of $100,000. We have already replaced the entire roof, paved the parking lot, installed several new HVAC systems, a new electrical service, and completed major renovations in the hallways, main basement bar, and second floor bar.
In 2013 Dnipro prepared a new permanent home for the Ukrainain Saturday School “Ridna Shkola”.
Additional planned projects include : complete renovation of the Main Ball room (“Velika Zalya”), the Taras Shevchenko Library and Conference Room, restoration of the front façade and columns of the building, and complete repair and painting of the interior of the building.
Download a color brochure here : Dnipro Brochure 2014