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On April 17, over 200 guests gathered together at The Chevy Chase Club which is recognized as one of the Washington, D.C., region's most prestigious private clubs, with a history dating back to 1892 and a reputation for attracting leaders from business, government, diplomacy, and the arts.
That fundraiser charity night called “Shaping Tomorrow” brought together leaders across technology, innovation, and public service in support of Ukraine aiming to raise funds for the leading program of Dignitas Ukraine Fund—the Tech Explorers, a groundbreaking educational initiative that empowers Ukrainian children and youth through STEM and robotics. The program reaches two age groups (ages 7–17), building foundational engineering skills while preparing a new generation of innovators who will drive Ukraine’s high-tech future and post-war recovery.
Thanks to the incredible community, Dignitas Ukraine Fund raised $110,000 to expand access to technology education for children across new locations in Ukraine.
The event was generously supported by General Searby Fund.
One of the highlights of Dignitas Ukraine’s Tech Explorers 2nd Fundraising Evening— “Shaping Tomorrow”, held in Washington, D.C., was the keynote conversation between General David H. Petraeus (U.S. Army, Ret.), former Commander of U.S. Central Command and former Director of the CIA, and Kimberly Dozier, CNN Global Affairs Analyst and one of America’s leading national security journalists.
Their discussion explored leadership in times of crisis, the rapid evolution of military technology, and the strategic importance of supporting Ukraine as a driver of innovation in modern defence.
General Petraeus emphasized that he had recently witnessed Ukraine’s anti-Shahed counter-drone program firsthand, describing it as a proven, life-saving initiative rather than a theoretical concept. Moderated by Dozier, whose extensive reporting from conflict zones brought additional depth to the conversation, the discussion underscored how Ukraine’s battlefield experience is reshaping global security thinking and highlighted the critical role of international partnerships in strengthening democratic resilience.
The conversation resonated strongly with attendees. In public comments following the event, participants described it as a “powerful keynote discussion” that connected leadership, technology, and Ukraine’s future, while General Petraeus himself called it “a great evening” and praised Dignitas Ukraine’s achievements. Guests also highlighted the live demonstration by graduates of the Tech Explorers program, whose FPV drone flight showcased the practical impact of Dignitas Ukraine’s educational initiatives and reinforced the key message of the evening: investing in innovation and training today helps save lives and shape the future of Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
The centrepiece was a live auction of Ukrainian contemporary art curated over Olena Speranska, founder and CEO of “Ukrainian Contemporary Art Platform” (USA), Vice-President of “Contemporary Art Researchers Union” (Ukraine), Director of the internation art residencies program BIRUCHIY, and author of the project and book “Ukrainian Wartime Posters”.
The artworks, provided by BIRUCHIY—Ukraine’s largest and longest-running international contemporary art residency—barely survived the occupation of Bucha, where they were stored before liberation in 2022.
Featuring works by celebrated Ukrainian artists such as Yehor Antsygin, Anastasiya Budnikova, Yurii Koval, Katya Lisova, Oleksiy Rastyapin, Oleksii Revika, Mykyta Shylimov, Oleksiy Yalovega (Yalo), Alina Yakubenko the auction helped to raise funds for the Tech Explorers program.
This event was more than a fundraiser. It was a reflection of what’s possible when community, purpose, and opportunity come together.
Photo courtesy David Dyshlovyi