When Russia launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine in February, Dunn School in Los Olivos took action, establishing the Emergency Ukrainian Student Scholarship.

The war hit close to home as the independent boarding and day school saw firsthand how the conflict was impacting the life of its one Ukrainian boarding student. Then something extraordinary happened. 

“It became so clear in the initial hours of our emergency scholarship program’s infancy how eager the Central Coast community was to support these children whose complete lives were turned upside down at such a crucial time in their educational lives,” said Kalyan Balaven, Dunn head of school.

“Our goal quickly blossomed from supporting our current student into finding the answer to another question: ‘How many kids could we bring here to study in our uniquely safe, and supportive environment?’ ” she said.

In the initial round of fundraising, Dunn secured scholarship funds for its first Ukrainian student, plus three more students. One student is already on campus, joining in time to take part in a special Ukrainian Awareness event last month. Two brothers have been admitted to begin school in the fall, and a fifth Ukrainian student is seeking funding to join them.

In that effort, the school is in need of $70,000, the cost to board at Dunn for a full academic year, including tuition, room and boar, school supplies, living expenses, and homestay support during school breaks.

“This child in need is a straight A student,” Balaven said. “She speaks three languages and is learning two more. She has a passion for acting and loves performing music. She’s already given her own money and clothing as humanitarian aid to her home country. She wants to return there, but knows that she’ll make the biggest impact if she can do so with the highest quality education. Help us provide that for her.”

To donate to the effort online, visit dunnschool.org/ukraine. To give offline, contact Dunn’s office of philanthropy, 805-686-0627. One hundred percent of the dollars given will go directly toward educating Ukrainian students displaced by the war.