Partnership that Empowers: How Epicentr Supported the Children of Heroes in 2025
The national retail chain Epicentr and Intersport have been a trusted partner of the Children of Heroes Charity Fund since the start of the full scale invasion.
Over two years of the Intersport for the Children of Heroes project, the partners provided gifts worth UAH 2,241,000. Sports events welcomed 486 children from different regions of Ukraine.
In 2025, 225 children supported by the Fund attended sports celebrations in Vinnytsia, Poltava, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Dnipro. The children came together through sport and active leisure. They received gifts and had the chance to meet legends of Ukrainian sport, including Olympic champions.
These events offer more than entertainment. Fund psychologist Marta Bilyk explains their special value:
«Sporting events provide a very important experience: I am not alone, there are supportive adults nearby, and there is a space where a child is seen and accepted. Activities, team tasks, and meetings with champions help restore belief in one’s own strength: I can do it, I am capable. The warm atmosphere, conversations, and gifts also help rebuild basic trust in the world. Someone invests in you with no conditions, simply because you matter. These events do not replace psychological support, but they significantly strengthen recovery. They give children inspiration, hope, and a sense of support for the future.»
Every child needs support. Eldar’s story is one example. He dreamed of playing football. Intersport helped make that dream come true and introduced him to his favourite sports brand. Eldar’s story is a reminder that even one step towards a child can restore their self belief and the courage to keep dreaming.
In 2025, Epicentr and Intersport also supported the Children of Heroes in preparing for school. In particular, the Fund’s beneficiaries received 427 school stationery kits. Each kit included everything a child needs to start the new academic year with confidence. This initiative was made possible thanks to the company’s contribution and the «Little Angels of Good Deeds» charity campaign. Epicentr customers joined the campaign to support children who lost one or both parents because of the war.
For a child, such a kit is both a basic educational need and a real source of motivation. Polina’s mother, whose daughter is supported by the Children of Heroes Charity Fund, says:
«Everything inside is useful and necessary. When Polina received the kit, she wanted to use it right away. She did not want to put it off. A new school year is ahead, and Polina is looking forward to it with a smile. She feels ready to create, learn, and move towards her dreams.»
We believe that initiatives like these help children feel supported and ready for new knowledge and experiences. We thank Epicentr and Intersport for their continued support for the Children of Heroes since the start of the full scale invasion, and for projects built on values that give children a steady foundation.
