May 16, 2025
“Non sibi” drives aid to Ukraine
Alumni-founded nonprofit helps those in needby Nancy Hitchcock
When you think of donating to a worthy cause, you might think of food or clothing or blankets. But ambulances?
In fact, ambulances are urgently needed in Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia since 2022. More than 600 civilian ambulances have been destroyed in the war, often expressly hunted down by Russian drones.
But thanks to Alan Himmer ’85, his wife Megan Carroll Himmer ’85, and a group of PA classmates, Ukrainians have been receiving much needed medical supplies. And ambulances.
“The value of non sibi instilled at PA has stayed with us throughout our lives,” says Alan.
The Himmers started Ukraine Crisis Aid Group Non Sibi in 2023. The board now includes Rebecca Derderian Daniels ’85, Mark Dobrosielski ’84, John Kole ’85, Ted McEnroe ’85, and Tom Novelline ’85.
The nonprofit provides humanitarian aid to Ukrainians by collecting and sending medical supplies, first aid kits, protective gear, power backup units for hospitals and blood banks, and electronic jammers to protect ambulances from drone attacks. They work closely with a few local charities in Ukraine as well as the British charity Medical Life Lines Ukraine, which purchases and repairs used ambulances. Volunteers then drive the ambulances from England to Ukraine. Himmer’s group has assisted in donating three of the emergency medical vehicles thus far. In February, Alan drove an ambulance in a convoy to Ukraine, following in the footsteps of two PA ’75 alums, Frank Lavin and Phil Fletcher, who donated and drove MLLU ambulances to Ukraine in 2023 and 2024. Himmer has traveled to Ukraine three times since starting the charity, enduring nightly air raids and coming under artillery fire to deliver humanitarian aid in towns on the front lines.
“I have found, together with classmates, a very direct way to help. It’s like a chain of custody,” says Alan. “You can see what you bought flow all the way through to the end user. We know we are helping save lives of innocent civilians.”
Next mission? Megan and Alan will return to Ukraine shortly after the PA ’85 40th Reunion in June to continue this vital support for those in need.
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