Nearly 900,000 hryvnias to save lives: how FUIB united donors, artists, and businesses in the "We Are of the Same Blood" project this summer

This summer, "We Are of the Same Blood" continued to unite people around blood donation and supporting those who save lives. In August, the project launched the "Generation 91" collection, held a five-day blood drive at Kontraktova Square, and unveiled a collaborative collection with Boombox at the band's concert.

Pre-sales for the "Generation 91" collection—created to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence—began in mid-August. Four Ukrainian brands joined the initiative: CHER'17, GAPTUVALNYA, SOVA, and Have A Rest. Each brand reimagined a symbol of modern Ukraine through its own unique design.

The collection was supported by Serhiy Zhadan, Jamala, Hero of Ukraine and military pilot Vadym Voroshylov (call sign "Karaya"), and young athlete Oleksandra Paskal. They became the faces of the campaign, helping to convey the collection's core message: "Generation 91" is not defined by a specific date of birth. It encompasses people of all ages united by life in independent Ukraine and a shared desire to see the country free and strong. This includes those who remember Ukraine before independence, those who grew up alongside the nation, and those born into a country fighting once again for its freedom.

However, for the "We Are of the Same Blood" initiative, discussing independence means more than just creating products with profound meaning; it also involves taking action that helps right now. Leading up to August 24, the project invited Ukrainians to bring a "plus-one" and participate in a major blood drive. For five days, the "Teplokrovni" mobile hub—run by FUIB and Mastercard—operated on Kontraktova Square. Donors were offered "We Are of the Same Blood" merchandise, while project partners provided discounts and gifts.

At the end of the summer, "We Are of the Same Blood" found yet another way to address important themes: through music. On August 28 and 30, during Boombox’s concerts in Lviv, FUIB unveiled a joint charity collection created with the band.

For some, Boombox means songs listened to in the car on the way to Crimea. For others, it means concerts where they sang along with the band until they were hoarse. For some, it is a specific song that evokes memories of a person, a place, or a time they long to revisit. Boombox represents lyrics that stay with us for years—and now, those words are helping to save lives.

The collection features lines from the band’s songs and original text from Andriy Khlyvnyuk’s rough drafts. Seven items—T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, and a cap—incorporate phrases that Boombox fans recognize instantly. It is a chance to not only listen to the lyrics of a favorite song but to wear them, too.

PUMB donates 50% of the proceeds from every order to purchase hemostatic agents, medical equipment, and systems for blood storage and transfusion for paramedics.

This is the standard approach: behind every T-shirt, long-sleeve, or accessory in the "We Are of the Same Blood" collections lies a simple mechanism: you keep the item, while half its cost is transformed into tactical hemostatics, equipment for ambulance paramedics, or gear for blood storage and transfusion. Thus, during July and August, FUIB allocated UAH 897,753 for aid:

• To "Solomianski Kotyki"  — UAH 297,753 for 10 blood storage refrigerators and their batteries, equipment and reagents for blood typing, 2 laboratory water baths for warming blood, and 350 infection test kits.
• To "Hospitallers" — UAH 300,000 for 2 KONTED KT-10 portable vein finders, 2 Amoul i9 Plus AEDs (automated external defibrillators), and a LUXAMED LED examination lamp.
• To "Blood Agents" — UAH 300,000 for 150 SICH and CAT tourniquets, 100 SICH hemostatic bandages, 50 occlusive seals, 50 eye shields, and 10 frameless stretchers.

You can order items from the "We Are of the Same Blood" project on the website https://lifesavingmerch.com.ua/