Former MCT Tour Actor/Director
When Russia started bombing Kiev, Ukraine in February I wanted to help. But sitting in my home in Jupiter, Florida, 6,000 miles away I had no idea how I would do such a thing. It felt impossible. Impossibilities would often arise when I did my first ever MCT Tour back in 2007. We had a week on an Indian Reservation where the kids spoke only at low volumes, were averse to eye contact, and often couldn’t show up to rehearsal due to the demands of supporting their own families. After a week of making really wonderful progress, the Chief showed up at our show and the kids totally melted down. If there is one thing we learn as TAD’s, it’s that the show always goes on, and the post-show pride in that very sweaty gymnasium was palpable. Those brave kids had done the impossible.
A few days into the war, I received a text from a Ukrainian family I had met in New York City years prior. They were a lovely family of four, and every year they visited New York, I would do fun activities with their 10 year old son, Max. The Mom had sent me a text – “We are in a bomb shelter in our hometown of Kiev. Can you help us?” I thanked the Universe for the opportunity to help and texted back, “Would love to help. What do you need?”
They let me know if they had money, they could buy supplies to feed the other 100 kids and families that were also in the bomb shelter. I immediately posted the conversation to Facebook and within hours, 50 people had sent a total of $4,000 to my Venmo account. I was moved to tears that so many people wanted to help this family.
I found a way to wire the money and a few days later, photos of the families they were feeding came pouring in. A week later they texted back that they desperately needed to be evacuated. I reached out to my network again and within the hour, found a friend who was willing to donate $10,000 to fly the family, next day, to the US. I coordinated with a friend in Ohio who set up a caravan to get them from Kiev, across the border to Romania, and onto a plane. 36 hours later they arrived safely to the US.
A few days later, I peeked at my Venmo account and another $7000 was there, from about 65 different people. The money went to buy them clothes, essentials, and even a used car so Mom could take Max to his new school! I flew up to Ohio to spend a few days with them and when I arrived, the Mom looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “Why are so many people we have never met wanting to help us?” I believe it’s love; the same love I witnessed each and every MCT week, and the same love the whole TAD community continues to show their world each and every day