Harvard alumni, staff and faculty around the world have the power, energy and will to address emergent and critical issues around human rights, natural disasters and wartime crises.
We are a small group of alumni from HBS, HKS, HGSE and Harvard College who are committed to marshalling Harvard alumni resources not just for the Ukraine, but for all emergent humanitarian crises around the globe - whenever and wherever they occur. We have been inspired by others who got involved and want to make it easy for other alumni to get involved themselves.
In recent weeks, I spontaneously went to Poland for twelve days to help feed, shelter and transport Ukrainian refugees. It was heartbreaking to witness the physical and emotional pain these people were suffering but inspiring to experience the spontaneous warmth and generosity of the Polish people and to witness countless volunteers of so many languages and nations who simply showed up to help...taking time from their lofty lives around the globe, to carry bags, make food, prepare beds, provide transportation and procure supplies.
I only found my way to Poland myself because I saw that my neighbor and friend Meredith, a Kennedy school alum, had posted on FB that she had flown to Warsaw, rented a car and headed to the Ukraine border to help. I texted her to ask, "what are you experiencing and would it be helpful if I go to Poland to pick up where you leave off?" "Absolutely!", she said.
I hosted a zoom call with a bunch of fellow HBS alums, with Meredith sharing her story and asked if others might want to help - either going to Poland/Ukraine, donating to Meredith's fund for direct assistance to refugees (Venmo money for food, transportation, etc.), or giving to larger organizations with efficient and effective work in the situation.
The power of a handful of people working together speaks for itself. So far, a handful of us have raised and applied nearly $400,000, inspired dozens of people to go to Poland to help, and connected scores of individuals and organizations throughout Poland and Ukraine who are doing critical humanitarian work.
Our goal with HavardCAN is to lower the barriers to engagement and make it easier for anyone to help. Wherever there is a humanitarian crisis around the globe, we aim to identify needs on the ground and to rally the volunteer, financial and advisory power of Harvard alums to support those needs.
Lorne Adrain, HBS ‘83
Donate
HarvardCAN Fund at Kosciuszko Foundation - The Kosciuszko Foundation is partnering with us to provide tax-efficient giving. This fund allows us to apply your support where needed most to support people. In Comments section, insert “HarvardCAN Fund”
Kosciuszko Foundation is also hosting a fund to support the work of Harvard alum Brooks Newmark. Same link, but put "Angels for Ukraine" in the comments section.
Airtable
Airtable link will bring you to a list of current needs that we can match you with. If one captures your interest, just email Lorne.Adrain@gmail.com for more guidance and validation.
Survey
We need to determine how HarvardCAN can add value - to the lives of the people of Ukraine and to would-be volunteers and donors in this humanitarian crisis. To do so, we are surveying as many of the 400,000 Harvard alums as we can.
We hope you will take a couple minutes to share your thoughts by completing the survey below.
We also hope you will ask fellow Harvard alums to complete the survey - please copy, paste and send this information to a handful of your fellow Harvard alums (or as many as you can in 2 minutes).
I came across a group of fellow Harvard alums (Harvard College, HBS, HKS, HGSE) who are working to develop a web platform that will celebrate the efforts of Harvard alums making a difference in Ukraine, make it easier to see the many ways people can volunteer and make it clearer how and where to provide financial support that is more effective and efficient.
Second, we need volunteers who can help us with a variety of tasks - as much or as little as you have to give. Please provide your email and we will be in touch
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We need to determine whether or not this effort can add any value - to the lives of the people of Ukraine and to volunteers and donors in this humanitarian crisis. To do so, we are surveying as many of the 400,000 Harvard alums as we can. We hope you will take a couple minutes to share your thoughts by completing the survey here.
