Meet the People Behind Boca Helps Ukraine
Boca Helps Ukraine is led by people with deep personal ties to Ukraine and a shared commitment to helping children and families in Kherson.
Congratulations to Mariya Kemper, recipient of the Daily Point of Light Award for her inspiring service work.
Mariya is the official 7,359th point of light.
Find her award story here: Points of Light Award Story
Mariya Kemper-Reiss
Founder and Managing DirectorWhen Mariya Kemper-Reiss saw the war unfold in her home country, she knew she needed to help. Mariya and her family were political refugees who left the Soviet Union in 1989 with thousands of other Jewish Ukrainians. Many of her family and friends she grew up with still live in Ukraine.
Working quickly and reaching out to friends and contacts inside Ukraine, Mariya was able to secure a plane to send thousands of critical medical supplies to the front lines. She engaged the help of Summer Faerman, director of the TLC Program at B'nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton, and Brittany Suarez, member of Grace Church in Boca Raton to facilitate the donation process and mobilize the local community.
They created an Amazon wish list delivering purchased items directly to a facility in New Jersey where the products were put on pallets and loaded onto the plane. The plane landed in Poland, and with the help of the Ukrainian National Postal Service, over $31,000 in medical supplies were delivered through security checkpoints and into Ukraine.
With no end in site to this mounting humanitarian crisis, Mariya initiated the outreach organization Boca Helps Ukraine and secured a central location to collect donations of diapers, canned goods, and other non-perishable items. The mission was to provide help and hope to those who have remained in the country. The 40 foot container was filled and shipped with $60,000+ worth of humanitarian aid as it reached Ukraine in July of 2022.
In March of 2023, Boca Helps Ukraine was became a 501C3 Non-profit organization.
Other initiatives followed - Back to School, Winter Coat Drive and Holiday Gifts - all focusing on the children in need in Southern Ukraine. By partnering with We Khersonians organization, Boca Helps Ukraine provided thousands of dollars worth of school supplies, winter jackets and holiday gifts.
Congratulations to Mariya Kemper, recipient of the Daily Point of Light Award for her inspiring service work.
Mariya is the official 7,359th point of light.
Find her award story here: Points of Light Award Story
Marina Rodik
DirectorMarina Rodik - born and raised in Kherson, Ukraine, has joined Boca Helps Ukraine in the first few months of its existence. Marina’s family was caught in the russian occupied Kherson at the start of the war, but her drive and determination helped get both parents out to safety through numerous check points and countries.
Marina’s connection to the Kherson region was the driver in our relationship with We Khersoners organization whose sole purpose is to help families who are inside Kherson as well as displaced in the near by areas.
Marina is a Visa and Immigration specialist, helping thousands of refugees since the start of the war. Additionally, she is a paralegal, adaptation consultant, US business consultant and a blogger. Most importantly she is a mom to 2 beautiful girls, a wife and a daughter.
Pauline Grinberg-Shender
DirectorPauline Grinberg-Shender is a Director of Boca Helps Ukraine since 2023. With deep personal connections to the region, as her family originally hails from Odessa. Pauline brings a profound sense of purpose and commitment to her work.
Her extensive experience in fundraising and philanthropy for both esteemed colleges and Universities (Barnard College, Columbia University and Carnegie Mellon) and local organizations has equipped her with the background to effectively mobilize funds and to aid those in need.
With Pauline’s assistance, Boca Helps Ukraine has successfully organized fundraising events, collected essential supplies, and provided critical support to the displaced individuals, reflecting her unwavering dedication to her heritage and the well-being of the Ukrainian people.
Sasha Hosha
Chief Technology OfficerSasha Hosha joined Boca Helps Ukraine in October 2024 and serves as the organization’s Chief Technology Officer. He leads the nonprofit’s digital presence and technical operations, overseeing website development, major site updates, donor-facing systems, and internal tools that support the organization’s daily work.
His responsibilities include campaign email writing and design, digital communications, platform administration, and the creation of materials that support fundraising, outreach, and public engagement. He also helps prepare and launch fundraisers, auctions, and campaigns by managing digital assets, communications, and key organizational support.
In addition to his technical responsibilities, Sasha plays an active role in the organization’s broader work. He helps support and mentor junior board members, coordinates digital support needs, and contributes to event preparation and execution. He also takes part in fundraisers in person, helping create the best possible experience for attendees and supporters. He brings a disciplined, hands-on approach and a strong focus on building practical systems that help Boca Helps Ukraine operate more effectively.
We're not only a strong country, but we're a country of a free man and we're a country of determined people. Nobody but us can stand up and stop an enemy.
— Vlad Britsky, who serves in the Ukrainian Army, described how the Russian impact continues to be felt since Russian forces first invaded the country. More than 5,600 miles away in Boca Raton, his cousin, Mariya Kemper-Reiss, is doing her part and helping collect supplies with Boca Helps Ukraine.
May 17, 2025 | Boca Raton, Florida
It was a special evening with Ukrainian food, open bar, live music, dancing, and a silent auction. Together we were able to raise $60,000 and all proceeds will directly support our next initiative to help the displaced children in Ukraine!
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