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“Sad” and “uplifting” were the two words Yuriy Figel, the co-chair of an international initiative, used to describe a worldwide event that took place Sunday afternoon to support Ukraine.

He saw tears that communicated feelings of pain and fear. But he also saw strength and felt a glimmer of hope.

Figel, who is the co-chair of the Kyiv Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, an initiative of a public-private nonprofit organization called World Business Chicago, was referring to a livestream broadcast with leaders, activists, artists, actors and athletes voicing their solidarity with Ukraine.

The live video included a message from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who said she and many Chicagoans have joined the cause to end the “brutal and unjustified” war.

“Chicago and Kyiv have been sister cities since 1991, the year Ukraine gained its independence,” Lightfoot said. “We share very strong ties with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters.”

Lightfoot also said the city of Chicago will stand ready to welcome the people of Ukraine.

“I shared with the mayor of Kharkiv that I look forward to drinking from the cup of victory with my Ukrainian friends,” Lightfoot said.

The global television marathon, which was livestreamed in more than 20 countries, was initiated by Ukrainian and Polish networks.

In Carol Stream, a large screen was set up at a warehouse where roughly 100 volunteers were sorting through donations for Ukraine while videos of the war-torn country played, according to Figel.

“Here at the donation center, I saw those volunteers watching (the broadcast) crying, literally,” Figel said. “One second it’s this beautiful, prosperous, amazing city of Kyiv and in the second video, there was destruction and people crying, and people hiding underground.”

Figel recalled hearing the story of one of the volunteers who had a family member travel to Ukraine for a visit and the war started just one day later. He said that family member is now hiding from bombings.

“There’s a host of similar stories because most of the people who are volunteering were either born in Ukraine or they have Ukrainian friends,” Figel said. “Everybody is doing what they can to help Ukraine survive this horrific war, and the work will continue to help rebuild Ukraine.”

Igor Terlesky, the president and chairperson for a charity organization called Help Heroes of Ukraine, said the organization, which was created days after the war began, managed to raise more than $3 million in donations.

Aside from financial donations, Help Heroes of Ukraine, which was formed by 20 leaders of major Ukrainian transportation companies in the United States, aims to offer medical, military and humanitarian aid.

“We are here physically, but mentally and with our hearts, we are there on the front lines with our sisters, brothers, and neighbors,” Terlesky said.