Gerard has a passion for helping others and is dedicated to making a positive difference in the world. When war broke out in Ukraine, Gerard lived in Poland. He saw many innocent people in need of help and knew he had to do something. Gerard’s background in project management, technology, and sales equips him with the skills and knowledge to care for others through his creation of the Hope Foundation. Hope started with Gerard organizing essential humanitarian aid and delivering it to the most critical cities across Ukraine. The foundation expanded into a strong team of 8 individuals working to provide shelter for refugees, transportation and accommodation across Europe; continued support in Ukraine with humanitarian aid convoys and animal aid. Many partners, organizations, and volunteers assist us in our mission. Join us to bring hope and support to those who need it most.

Jacek possesses strong leadership skills from his experience in the technology, sales, and agricultural sectors. His communication, management, and problem-solving skills are fundamental to the Hope Foundation. When someone asks Jacek for help, he always finds multiple solutions and does not leave a situation until the problem has been resolved. He cares deeply for those suffering from war and other disasters, as well as for his team. He stays organized and continually finds more organization to partner with and provide the most efficient help through humanitarian aid into Ukraine and with the Hope Shelter. Jacek is from Poland. He is the proud father of 3 young girls who are his world. He treats all refugees and volunteers with the kindness, care, and respect he has for his own family. His experience and passion for helping others make him an invaluable part of our organization.

Lucy is from Kyiv, Ukraine. She was living in Canada when the war started and rushed to the Polish Ukraine border to help her family. After seeing the horror and pain in all the refugee families, she stayed to take care of others. Lucy and Jacek worked together at the Przemyśl Humanitarian Aid Centre for the first 3 months of the war. She started as a Ukrainian-English translator and then led a team of volunteers in coordinating refugee transportation and accommodation in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Austria helping hundreds of refugees. With her own family and friends fleeing the war, Lucy had to return to her work in Canada as a mechanical engineer to provide more financial support. She now uses her phenomenal work ethic and strong skills in communication, organization, and problem-solving skills to help raise financial support as the Director of Philanthropy at the Hope Foundation.

In April 2022, Jay came from the United States to help Ukrainian families in need. He worked in several shelters across Poland and watched them close or severely reduce capacity as funding disappeared. Knowing the importance of safe shelter for refugee families, he had the idea to open the Hope Shelter. He started by finding a rental space and upgrading the facility. Now he continues to keep the Hope Shelter operational. Jay brings a wealth of knowledge in strategic planning, financial management, and stakeholder engagement, which he gained through his previous work in the corporate sector. With his expertise, we can leverage best practices from the business world to ensure the success of our projects and maximize our impact in the community. His skills lead to the success of the Hope Shelter and he brings the same level of dedication to all Hope Foundation projects.

Kate is from Great Britain and joined our team at the inception of our Hope Shelter. Her excellent communication skills are invaluable in both her work with UK-based organizations and while writing grant proposals for our foundation. She excels in building strong relationships and understanding the needs of our partners, which allows us to create mutually beneficial collaborations. Kate’s exceptional written and verbal communication skills enable her to articulate our mission and project goals effectively, resulting in successful grant proposals and partnerships. She also provided important assistance to get the shelter up and running. With the help of her hands-on abilities, we installed the kitchen, bedroom walls, cabinets, and all other furniture quickly and efficiently, accelerating the timeline for opening the shelter to families in need. Kate brings a variety of strong and necessary skills to our Hope Foundation.

Chris came to Poland at the opening of our Hope Shelter. He cares deeply for the wellbeing of individuals and makes sure their needs are heard and met. Using his incredible people skills, he has become an advocate for our guests. He personally helps each family feel as comfortable as possible while he uses our network of charities and organisations to coordinate transportation and more permanent accommodation. He takes initiative to help each individual with any problems they might have. Many refugees have lost or forgotten their documents in the rush of fleeing war. Chris personally funds and accompanies them to the Ukrainian consulate to file for and receive their passports so that they can travel, get access to refugee services, and work in Europe. This is just one of the many ways he goes above and beyond for the welfare of others.

When the war started, Mike left his home in Columbia and risked his life to help those suffering in Ukraine. He volunteered in Ukraine for several months before coming to help at the refugee shelters in Poland. He has been involved in the Hope Shelter since the early days, and now is Director of Programs. One of his most important initiatives is in the kitchen with healthy meal plans. Mike utilizes his amazing cooking skills daily by running our communal kitchen and providing healthy hot meals throughout the day. He also sets up an optional safe way for families to cook their favourite meals together so that they can feel a bit of purpose or gain some comfort during this terrifying time in their lives. Mike and the programs he organizes are crucial for the wellbeing of our guests.