About Us

After the Russian invasion, Assist Ukraine was formed by the late Anne Garrels, a long-time correspondent for National Public Radio and author of Putin Country, Heinz Coordes, a Vietnam fighter pilot who was awarded the Silver Star, Art Davidson, an author and businessman who organized relief for orphans of the Iraq war, and Irka Tkaczuk, a Ukrainian-American advocate.

For 2026, we have pledged a million dollars of life-saving aid.

From the outset, the four founders of Assist Ukraine have followed three operating principles:

1.  To make sure that what we supply is truly needed, we would respond to the priorities of Ukrainians on the front lines;

2.  To make sure every shipment of supplies reaches the people who need them as quickly as possible, all critical materials are couriered to their intended destination;

3.  To make sure every cent of every donation is used to purchase needed supplies, we personally cover all transportation, resourcing, logistics, and other overhead costs.

Assist Ukraine was initially envisioned as a short-term project of its founders in response to the urgent humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In its early stages, Assist Ukraine operated in partnership with Families Assisting Families, an Alaska nonprofit corporation, and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), a 501(c)(3) organization, which served as its fiscal sponsor.

As the war extended far beyond initial expectations and the need for sustained, life-saving charitable support continued to grow, the founders recognized the necessity of establishing a permanent organization. They subsequently incorporated Assist Ukraine as a new Alaska nonprofit corporation to expand its capacity and long-term impact.

Assist Ukraine is now a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN: 93-1579548.