Philanthropist Gennady Bogolubov, a businessman whose support of his local Jewish community in Dnepropetrovsk and of Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries around the world has propelled him into the ranks of the movement’s largest funders, will deliver the lay leader’s address at the gala banquet of this year’s International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries.

“Mr. Bogolubov, who has personally committed himself to building and strengthening Jewish institutions in Dnepropetrovsk, is a philanthropist par excellence,” said Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, chairman of the committee that organizes the annual conference and vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch. “He deeply cares for the personal needs of emissaries and has taken a profound interest in seeing them succeed.”

Most recently, on the occasion of the birth of his daughter, Bogolubov – a cofounder of Privatbank who serves as president of the Jewish Community of Dnepropetrovsk and chairman of the Ukrainian Jewish Congress – pledged $2 million to be distributed amongst all Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries, wherever they serve across the globe. The Bogolubov Foundation’s “Simcha Fund” offers grants to emissaries on occasion of certain family celebrations; and a synagogue and Jewish community center in Bogolubov’s hometown of Dneprodzerzhinsk bears his father’s name.

Born in 1962, the businessman befriended Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzki, chief rabbi of Dnepropetrovsk, after he moved to the city. Once known as Yekatrinoslav, Dnepropetrovsk was the boyhood home of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

Through Kaminetzki, Bogolubov learned more about his Jewish heritage and developed an affinity for supporting programs that strengthen Jewish identity. Since its inception in 2008, his foundation’s Simcha Fund has distributed grants to 3,952 Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries.

The 27th annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries kicks off Nov. 3 in Brooklyn, N.Y. More than 4,000 emissaries, lay leaders and supporters are expected to attend the conference’s Nov. 7 gala banquet at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal at Red Hook Pier 12.