President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the “National Legend of Ukraine” award to this year’s laureates. First Lady Olena Zelenska also took part in the ceremony.

The Head of State emphasized that the award carries great significance and purpose – as a rightful tribute to Ukraine’s talents, geniuses, and heroes.

“I want to thank you for making Ukraine known, for defending our state with your voices. We must constantly keep the focus on our state so that support does not diminish – both political support and, above all, support for our warriors. We are grateful to them for defending Ukraine and for defending all the talent you have brought to our country,” said the President.

This year, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented ten “National Legend of Ukraine” awards to servicemembers, athletes, artists, and philanthropists. 

Among the recipients of this honorary award is entrepreneur, philanthropist, and public figure, Canadian citizen of Ukrainian origin, James Temerty. After the full-scale war began, he funded a program for students and educators from Ukraine in Toronto, supported the Olena Zelenska Foundation by allocating half a million dollars for generators for Ukrainian hospitals, educational institutions, and critical infrastructure, as well as assistance for residents of the liberated areas of the Kharkiv region. He also donated one million dollars for the reconstruction of a destroyed children’s creative and sports center in Borodyanka, Kyiv region.