Annual Speaker: A Conversation with Novi - Helping the Children of War-Torn Ukraine
Event Details
This year our Annual Speaker Event will host Steve Gumaer
and Jon Peerbolt from Novi. Novi is focused on assisting children affected by the war in Ukraine, who are deprived of basic needs including safety, education and nutrition, and are exposed to violence, displacement and emotional trauma. The organization prioritizes community building, emotional support, nutritious food and access to education to meet the primary needs of these children.
Novi’s tools also help children develop self-regulation skills through structured adult-led interventions, and they collaborate with local organizations to prioritize sustainability and building partnerships that focus on prevention and intervention for vulnerable children.
While over two-thirds of Ukrainian children have been forced to flee for safety, Novi’s efforts are focused on the 4.5 million children who remain in Ukraine and are surviving the war. Plan to join us on October 15 to find out how you can help Novi’s efforts in Ukraine.
Steve Gumaer, Co-founder & CEO
Steve has dedicated his life to helping children in war-torn communities. For more than three decades he has worked to deliver relief, aid, and programs to support families uprooted by war in SE Asia, the Middle East and Ukraine. He has a Master’s Degree in Transformational Development, is an EMT, and is the driving force behind the development of the Novi community.
Jon Peerbolt, Development Associate
After building a career in luxury goods sales, Jon decided to turn his attention to serving children marginalized by war. For the past two years, he has worked in development for international aid. He loves to get to know people and help connect them with things that bring them meaning and joy.
