April 17th, 2022

UKRAINE RESISTANCE ORGANISATION RECEPTION AT LA GOULUE PALM BEACH

Kevin Richards with Co-Chairs Ed Carter and Janna Bullock hosted an unforgettable night at La Goulue Palm Beach to raise funding support for Ukraine Resistance Organization (URO). URO is an on-the-ground organization based in Kyiv created by Aleksey Brynzak and Ireesha Blohina on February 24, 2022 — the day Putin invaded Ukraine with 100,000 Russian troops and began his “Siege of Terror”. URO has become one of the most effective local organizations putting funds to immediate use on both the front battle lines as well as the humanitarian efforts thanks to its strong ties to the government, military, and sports worlds in Ukraine. Says Blohina, the Ukrainian Olympic coach in Rhythmic Gymnastics “This is our country, our city, our family. We are not leaving."

Richards, who owns ad agency Dune Road Group, spent close to a month in Kyiv photographing, reporting, and volunteering. His photographs from the battle zones as well as from war life in Kyiv and Lviv were exhibited at the event with proceeds from sales being donated to URO.

The highlight of the event was an exchange between Richards and URO founders Brynzak and Blohina via FaceTime on a big screen. Attendees were mesmerized by their firsthand accounts and pleas for support. Bombs were literally being dropped on Kyiv while they were speaking.

Among the 100 guests were Kevin Richards, Janna Bullock, Ed Carter, Kim Hairston, Lauren Roberts, Jean Shafiroff, Michele Rella, Arthur & Mara Benjamin, Karen Klopp, Brett Orlove, Dina Fink, Camilla Webster, Brad & Lauren Torres, Dara Sowell, and Ron Burkha.

Cover Photo: Ireesha Blohina, Aleksey Brynzak, Kevin Richards, Ukraine Resistance

Photo on the left: Ed Carter, Kevin Richards, Isabel Richards

Photo below: 

1. Janna Bullock, Dayna Hardin, Ramona Singer, Elizabeth Steimberg

2. Karen Klopp, Gordon Whiting, Robin Aszqueta

3. Polly Reed, Nicole DiCocco

4. Sarah Emmit, Jeri Emmit, Alexander Emmitt

5. Lauren Day Roberts

6. Jorge Pesquera, Marina Pesquera

7. Ashley Sosner, Brad Torres

8. George Cacioppo, Isabel Richards, Kevin Richards, Janna Bullock

9. Photos By Kevin Richards

10. Guests