Local Missourian Wins Top DAR National Award

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) has held Continental Congress each year since its founding in 1890, when national, state and chapter leaders, as well as other members from across the world meet at the DAR National Headquarters for a week-long event to report on the year’s work, to honor outstanding award recipients and to plan future initiatives. Attending from June 28-July2, 2023 will be more than 3,500 Daughters, representing the membership of 190,000 from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and over a dozen chapters in foreign countries.

Ms. Mouzi, sponsored by DAR’s Olde Towne Fenton Chapter, is well deserving of the DAR Americanism Award. The DAR Americanism Medal is awarded to an adult man or woman who has been a naturalized United States citizen for at least five years and has fulfilled the required qualifications following naturalization. DAR Americanism Medal recipients must have shown outstanding qualities of leadership, trustworthiness, service, and patriotism. They must have actively assisted other foreign-born residents to become American citizens or displayed outstanding ability in community affairs, preferably with emphasis on the foreign-born community.

Born in Sokal, a district town in the Lviv region of Ukraine, Mouzi studied analytical chemistry at Lviv Polytechnic University and is employed as a senior research chemist at Pfizer’s St. Louis location. She had immigrated to St. Louis in October of 1994, and she and her husband, Yuriy Safronov, are parents of three. Mouzi speaks of how her life was changed on February 24th, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. As a self-described “American with a Ukrainian heart,” she has organized various ways in which to help Ukrainians suffering under Russian attacks. Mouzi has been responsible for initiating and coordinating fund raisers, the proceeds of which were sent to her homeland. A leader in efforts of her church, St. Mary’s Assumption Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in South St. Louis County, Mouzi helps those who need help, such as taking care of newcomers with job searches, resume writing, learning English as a second language, and helping them to prepare for Naturalization testing. She and her family have invited 5 fleeing Ukrainians to live with them following the program initiated in April of 2022, Uniting for Ukraine, a one-time program by the federal government allowing Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion to stay here for at least two years, if sponsored by a local family.

Preparing for the week before her, Mouzi shares, “To receive the award from the DAR organization is an honor, and to receive it in Washington D.C. is a privilege. This award is solidifying that what I am doing is right, and I am greatly honored that other people believe in my cause. We are all immigrants and helping each other is a core part of the American dream.”

###

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. DAR members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and world. DAR chapters participate in projects to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Over one million members have joined the organization since its founding in 1890. If you are interested in learning more about DAR membership, visit https://www.facebook.com/OldeTowneFentonDar/ or contact otfregistrar@gmail.com.