About Us

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We started to fundraise in Poland, US, UK, Japan, Germany, Denmark and others.

Who We Are

We are a group of people who, having experienced life under Soviet control as children, are dedicating our efforts to helping the endless stream of Ukrainian war exiles. We are led by Dorota Applebaum, a real estate investment banker and investor who is entrepreneurial and has strong project management and execution skills. Despite many of us now settled across the world, we’re working together to raise funds from across the world. We’re organizing transport, logistics, housing, food, legal assistance and healthcare for refugees, as well as support for children to minimize disruption to their education. We’ve come together to try to offer back a slice of normality to those who have lost everything in the Russian invasion of a peaceful democracy.

We have no operating expenses; we donate our own time and resources and 100% of your contributions will go to helping Ukrainian families.

Hummingbird Effort Foundation was incorporated in Delaware on March 8, 2022 and assigned an EIN 88-1106591. An application was submitted to the IRS on March 11, 2022 for 501c3 status.

Founders' Bios

Dorota Applebaum

Dorota Applebaum grew up in Poland during the country’s years under Soviet control. After Poland was liberated in 1989 while Dorota was still in high school, both she and her friends were left with a clear understanding of the difference between life in a democratic country, and one dominated by a false, authoritarian narrative and rule.

In 1994, Dorota moved to the US, where she graduated with a BA from Lousiana State University in 1997, followed by an MBA from New York University/Stern School of Business in 2004. Since 2005, she has worked as a real estate investment banker, an investor and entrepreneur, building strong business relationships across the world, including in the US, the UK, Israel, and Japan.

The roots of the Hummingbird Efforts Foundation first came about on February 27th, when Dorota and her sister, Dr Maja Uherek, decided to give shelter to Ukrainian refugees at their home in Gdynia, Poland. Within a couple of days, three mothers and six children had moved in. Together with their friends, Dorota and Maja organised medical and legal assistance, as well as provisions of food, clothes and other necessities. They also reached out to secure schools and jobs for the refugees. Within a short time, the group had housed two more mothers and five children in another apartment – followed by two additional families nearby. As word of their work spread, the appeals for help increased. It was at this point that Dorota decided to start a foundation that would direct 100% of its funds towards helping Ukrainian refugees.

The Foundation’s entire aims and efforts are focused on providing the maximum help with absolute transparency to those affected by the devastating crisis that has hit the Ukraine.

“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” John Stuart Mill

Dr Maja Uherek

Dr Maja Uherek grew up in a beautiful city of Gdynia, Poland. She graduated from Medical Academy in Gdansk, and relocated to England in 2008 to follow her dream of becoming a Clinical Oncologist. She is a Consultant at Queen Alexandra Hospital. On the first day of this horrific attack on Ukraine, it was clear to her that immediate action was needed. Without a moment of hesitation, with her sister Dorota, they made their family home in Poland available to those in need. Maja initially started collection of medical supplies, clothing and essentials at her hospital. This soon transformed into a much bigger venture. She is currently working with GP surgeries, private investors and multiple other charities to ensure that doctors and nurses in Ukraine get all the equipment to care after their patients during this incredibly difficult time.

Staff on the Ground

Anna Brylska

On February 24^th, 2022 the World has stopped for me. I have never known such fear or such volatile emotions. I thought that I could continue my professional and personal life while the news from Ukraine kept flowing, but questions started to form in my mind, so many questions… What will happen tomorrow? What if the war comes to Poland? What will happen to my children? Where would we run to? What will happen to the people running away from the war in Ukraine? Who will help them? However, instead of allowing despair to overtake me, I decided to take action. When people started to call me with help requests, I started to look for solutions. The first family stayed with me; the second at my friends’ place… But the phone kept ringing, and I was running out of solutions. I decided to post a request on Facebook that I am looking for accommodation for a family from Ukraine. The request was answered by Dorota Applebaum-a woman with a heart of gold, and we started our cooperation.

I am a mom to two wonderful children, Nina and Jan and a wife of an amazing man, Tom. I have graduated from the Management Department of the University of Gdansk with a degree in Financial Controlling. I am a born organizer and a efficient multitasker. I am a real estate broker, partial owner of a construction company, fulltime mother and a beekeeper in my spare time.

Ludmila Tymoshenko:

My name is Ludmila Tymoshenko, but everybody in Poland calls me Mila. I have one daughter, Tatyana, and a little grandson named Robert. They lived in Odessa and came to Gdynia right before the war started. I had not believed that Russia would attack Ukrainę, because we arę sister nations with families living on both sides of the border. Both of my parents were Ukrainian I was born in Russia, and my sister was born in Ukrainę. I moved to Ukrainę, the land of my ancestors, when I was 25 years old. In the beginning of February, my daughter started to say that situation becomes very concerning. The media started to announce that everybody should prepare a bad with all the necessary documents and basic items in order to leave without delay when it becomes necessary. I convinced her to come to stay with us in Poland. I also have a son, Daniel. He is a university student in Poland and is volunteering now as a translator for the refugees here. I was awaken early on February 24th by a call from my cousin. She told me that Russia had attacked, the airports had been bombed-this information was not even in the media, yet. I experienced so many emotions. I have been so worried about my family, friends, fellow Ukrainians, and on the other hand, I was so grateful to God that my children were safe. Our life has changed. For the first few days, I just kept crying… I have been receiving calls and messages from morning to night, first hand updates. I know and share their feelings, emotions, stories, as well as fear and pain. Everything has been so rushed and dynamic. I wanted to return to my home town to volunteer, but I understood that I can be of more assistance to those families that arrive in Poland. So many people need our help. Thanks to the wonderful people like Dorota, Maja, Anna, I am able to add a lot more value. I am incredibly grateful to all of them, their friends and business associates who support our cause. These are amazing human beings with huge, open hearts. I receive calls from friends whose wives, children, mothers are in our care. They say that it is easier for them to defend Ukraine knowing that their families are safe. All of your help makes such a difference one family at a time.