Ed’s Friends Ukraine was started by Ed Ma, a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine (2003-2005). Ed served in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, and after completing his time in the Peace Corps, spent time living in Kyiv, Odessa, and Lviv.

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Ed scrambled into action. Using his extensive network of friends in Ukraine, the US, and around the world, Ed started providing rapid, “micro-grants” of money and humanitarian aid – quickly connecting donors with recipients desperately in need of immediate help.

As the operation and demands grew, Ed realized that he needed to find a way to organize and scale his support, and created “Ed’s Friends Ukraine” as a result.

Because we are a small, tightly knit group of volunteers, Ed’s Friends ensures that all of our aid is rapid, targeted to an immediate need, and highly impactful. We are grateful for your help. Together, we’ll work to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression and build a better, brighter future for Ukraine after the war. Thank you and Slava Ukraini!