FAIRFAX, Va. – Nikita Gubenko, a first-generation American with deep family ties to Ukraine, has more on his mind than his academics and collegiate golf career at George Mason.
 
The senior's strong connection to the war-torn area has prompted Nikita into action.
 
 Nikita's parents, Tatiana and Alexander Gubenko, were born and raised in the Ukraine region before emigrating to the United States after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and some instability in the job market in 1991. Several of his family have left Ukraine as the conflict continues between Russia and Ukraine, but relatives, including his grandmother Larisa, still reside in Kyiv.
 
The senior was searching for a way to assist the cause so close to his heart when he received information from a family friend on the Borderlands Foundation, a historical center supporting the heroes who sacrificed for their country in the war against Russia.
 
Nikita found the best way to utilize his talent, combining his passion for golf with supporting the people of Ukraine. He signed up to be an ambassador of the foundation for its Ukraine Veterans Charity Golf Tournament on June 7, 2024, to be held on a golf course in the Washington D.C. Metro area. Through the foundation, he is looking to bring awareness to the veterans of Ukraine's Military to preserve their stories of heroism and sacrifice. 
 
The tournament features U.S. General David Petraeus as the Keynote Speaker at the Gala and Awards dinner. A delegation from Unkraine's parliament and government will attend along with the opportunity to meet some of Ukraine's war heroes to hear their courageous stories. All the profits go to Ukraine's History and Veterans.
 
"My parents' courageous journey to the United States has deeply influenced my values, instilling in me an unwavering commitment to give back to the community that shaped my family's history," said Gubenko. "The urgency and personal significance of the cause are palpable for me."

Assisting the cause is a Gubenko family effort.
 
Nikita's mother, an artist, turned her creative passion into helping those impacted by the war by selling her hand-painted art on Etsy – Beautiful Corner Icons – with the proceeds going to local Ukrainian organizations assisting those directly affected by the war. 
 
The family's local church, St. Nicolas Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C., has continued in local efforts to support those families impacted by the war in Ukraine with several warm clothing drives.
  
For further details on how you could make a difference or learn more about Nikita's efforts as an Ambassador to Borderlands Foundation, please visit LINK.