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Key people at Children of Heroes.
Children of Heroes was founded in 2022 by Maksym Strukov (Co-founder, Fundraising & Partnerships Manager).
Children of Heroes is a Denver, Colorado-based nonprofit organization that provides psychological assistance, humanitarian aid, education, and medical care to Ukrainian children who have lost parents due to the ongoing war. Operating as a public charity funded by international donors, the organization assigns dedicated family assistants to assess needs and deliver comprehensive support to war-orphaned youth up to the age of eighteen. The charitable foundation has scaled its relief operations significantly, supporting over 15,000 children and distributing a total of $4.2 million in aid, which includes $2.65 million in grants issued during 2024 alone. The organization's global operations and strategic initiatives are managed by a leadership team that includes Global CEO Tetiana Novytska, President Danilo Yakub, and Chairperson Mark Iwashko. The Children of Heroes foundation was established in 2022 by Danylo Pasko and Valeriia Abdal.
Key people at Children of Heroes.
Children of Heroes was founded in 2022 by Maksym Strukov (Co-founder, Fundraising & Partnerships Manager).
Children of Heroes is a prominent Ukrainian charity fund dedicated to providing long-term, comprehensive support to children who have lost one or both parents due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.[2][3][5] Co-founded by Ukrainian banker Dan Pasko in the weeks following the February 24, 2022, invasion, the organization delivers emergency aid, psychological counseling, education, medical care, humanitarian assistance, and career guidance to over 14,000 children across Ukraine, with operations in Ukraine, the Netherlands, and the United States.[2][4][5] It has distributed $4.2 million in aid, including 35,000+ humanitarian parcels in 2024 alone, and emphasizes transparency, digital innovation like gamification for fundraising, and strict fund allocation criteria via an independent board.[2][4]
The fund serves as a lifeline for these "children of heroes," treating them as family to tailor bespoke support until age 18 and beyond, including university access and job opportunities, while scaling globally through international networks like GlobalGiving, Eurochild, and Candid.[3][4][5]
Children of Heroes emerged in the chaotic early days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, when Odesa-born private banker Dan Pasko envisioned a dedicated organization to support children orphaned by the war.[2] Pasko, driven by the profound tragedy imprinted on Ukrainian society, co-founded the fund with initial personal financing, quickly attracting partners and donors to provide immediate relief.[2]
Pivotal early traction came from its rapid scaling: within a short period, it delivered $4.2 million in aid and established a model of comprehensive care, evolving from emergency response to long-term programs amid ongoing conflict, where 10-20 new children join daily.[2][5] By 2024-2025, it had grown into one of Ukraine's largest NGOs for this cause, earning three GlobalGiving awards and expanding internationally.[4][5]
While not a tech company, Children of Heroes leverages digital innovation amid wartime humanitarian trends, using gamification, chatbots, and online platforms to scale fundraising and impact in a conflict zone—aligning with EU priorities for civil society digitalization (2021–2027).[4] This timing capitalizes on global solidarity post-2022 invasion, where market forces like rising philanthropy for Ukraine (e.g., via GlobalGiving) and remote aid tech enable efficient, borderless support despite infrastructure challenges.[2][4][5]
The fund influences Ukraine's ecosystem by rebuilding human capital—empowering 14,000+ future leaders through education and skills—fostering resilience in a nation betting on tech-driven recovery, while modeling scalable NGO tech for global crises.[3][7]
Children of Heroes is poised for further global expansion, targeting more international donors to sustain 10-20 daily additions amid prolonged war, potentially hitting 20,000+ children by 2027.[2][5] Trends like AI-enhanced aid personalization, peer fundraising via social media, and post-conflict reconstruction will shape its path, amplifying influence through tech-philanthropy hybrids.[4]
As Ukraine's tech sector rebounds, the fund's investment in orphaned talent could yield a new generation of innovators, turning personal tragedy into national strength—proving that comprehensive, tech-savvy charity remains a vital force in geopolitics.[7]
