#BeTheLight Founder & Board Member

Christina Katrakis

A highly qualified and experienced international Ambassador, Strategic International Relations and Cultural Coordinator. Christina has coordinated a number of major international projects worldwide, she is also an official Ambassador for the Foundation for United Nations SDG and an International Coordinator for Centro UNESCO, Bologna. Her career defies convention and incorporates philanthropy, the arts, public relations, critical negotiation and administration skills, and other fields to produce a multi-disciplinary and diverse world-view. Christina has outstanding communication and organizational skills, developed in complex environments populated by competing egos and significant risks. She has always applied her creative energies to help organizations put their best feet forward and to maximize their opportunities. Christina has obtained a terminal degree (PHD equivalent) in Arts and History from the University of Memphis, USA and has studied in a number of renowned institutions, including Lorenzo de Medici and Sorbonne. She comes from a noble family with a rich heritage and background, holds aristocratic titles. As a symbol of Ukraine, she was the model for the Monument of Independence “Berehynia” on the Independence Square in Kyiv, she refused to evacuate and remained in Ukraine during the war, determined to Help. Christina – made the impossible possible for Ukraine, by sparking on the Project of a Humanitarian Base #BeTheLight on the third day of Russian invasion into Ukraine and full-blown war, Feb 27th, 2022. This Humanitarian Response-Base and Storage-Hub function to this day, providing aid for more than 5000 IDPs on a monthly basis, as well as helping thousands of civilians at the frontline areas. Christina’s ability to regroup, organize the team and the project on the major scale, be the visionary and the motivator fully devoted to the mission and be the global voice for the great cause - have earned her respect among her colleges, the team members and among the people she’s helping, alike. You can find more information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Katrakis

- is a Ukrainian four-star general who has served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 27 July 2021. He is also concurrently a member of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. Nicknamed “Iron General”, Zaluzhnyi was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. He has received praise for his skill at "adapting to a fast-changing battlefield" through effective delegation and information gathering during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zaluzhnyi has been awarded the Cross of Military Merit, Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, the insignia "Personalized firearm", All-Ukrainian Literary & Art Prize of Lepkyi Brothers, Order of Saint Great-Martyr George the Victorybearer and Officer's Cross of the Order of the Cross of Vytis.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi not only stands as a commander-in-chief with the Armed Forces of Ukraine but also supports them even on a deeply personal level: receiving a $1 million inheritance, he has transferred it to a special account of the National Bank of Ukraine to raise funds for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Valerii Zaluzhnyi has officially joined Be The Light Team as its Ambassador of Light nominated to be the Leader of ‘With the Shield’ Project. His responsibility and focus as the Ambassador of Light and ‘With the Shield’ Leader is to stand united with each soldier - shielding with their lives the values of Liberty and Justice, Freedom and Democracy, Sovereignty and Integrity of Ukraine. The leader stands in accordance with the sacred call of honor - “With the Shield or On It”. They stand with the true ‘Warriors of Light’ - the Armed Forces of Ukraine. With the goal to help each soldier return home alive and with honor.

Charles Wessler

is an Academy Award winning producer known for such films as: “Palmer” with Justin Timberlake, “Green Book” with Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali, “Dumb and Dumber” with Jim Carry and Jeff Daniels, “Something about Mary”
with Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller, and others.

For his brilliant film, “Green Book” - a human story of talent, perseverance, courage, dignity and defiance set during the era of racial segregation in the US - Charles has received an Oscar for Best Picture. This film resonates deeply with our #BeTheLight Mission on the ground in Ukraine, where our team combats aggression, terror and Humanitarian crisis, while facing thousands of personal tragedies daily. We understand what it means to strive, to be defiant in the face of aggression, to be dignified and to persevere. Persevere because our values are above the hatred, the aggression and the malice. We believe that “good” remains “good” outside of time and continuum, and it will always prevail.

Being of Jewish background, Charles Wessler remembers the historical events of the past and the legacy which tyranny leaves behind. His inspiration for taking action is a simple phrase - “Never Again!” As a #BeTheLight Ambassador of Light, Charles Wessler will focus on giving #PowerToUkraine and will aim to #BeTheLight by bringing power and light to Ukraine, literally. Bringing vital energy, heat, light, connection, internet, supplies for the frontlines and life-saving technologies to thousands in need will be Charles’ way of giving #PowerToUkraine and his way to #BeTheLight for many. #BeTheLight truly hopes that others will follow his lead and will help Charles give #PowerToUkraine, or join him in his campaign and #BeTheLight, as his fellow “Ambassador of Light “, helping to spread awareness and deliver aid. Please Contact us!

BOB MUELLER

Bob Mueller, co-anchor of ABC News 2 at 5, 6, and 10 p.m., and host of the ABC Sunday morning political show “This Week with Bob Mueller,” has been with News 2 for four decades. During this time, Bob’s reporting skills have earned him numerous honors and distinctions. He is a 10-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and a member of the Silver Circle reserved for those working in broadcast journalism for more than 25 years. He is also a winner of the coveted George Foster Peabody National Award for investigative reporting and has been honored with eight National Telly Awards and six National Communicator Awards. Bob has also received awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, and the Radio Television News Directors Association (RTNDA). In 2018, Bob was inducted into the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame. Bob has the distinction of bringing his viewers some major historical events. He covered the first space shuttle launch in 1981. He was there when President Jimmy Carter returned to Plains, Georgia, after leaving the White House. He was the first reporter to talk with Jimmy Carter about the release of the hostages in Iran. Besides covering several Democratic and Republican Presidential Conventions and two Presidential Inaugurations, Bob has brought his audiences one on one interviews with Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Al Gore, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Bob is also recognized as one of most active philanthropists. He has worked helping feed the hungry with Second Harvest Food Bank for the past 30 years and was a member of their Board of Trust for six years. He has worked with the Boy Scouts for 17 years and serves as a member of the Scout’s marketing committee. He serves as a member of the advisory board for NAMI (Nashville Mental Illness Organization). Bob also has worked with country music singer Vince Gill on his charity/celebrity golf tournament. He also has been instrumental in raising awareness and funding through his coverage of The Vinny. So far, The Vinny Golf Tournament has raised over $5 million. For 25 years, Bob has hosted his own golf tournament. The Bob Mueller M.S. Celebrity Challenge has raised over $1,500,000 to fight M.S. Bob has also been a member of the Nashville Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Board of Trust for the past 20 years.
Bob also served for three years as a member of the Board of Trust of Rocketown of Nashville. A youth music venue, skate park and after-school facility. A dream of contemporary Christian singer Michael W. Smith that became reality. As a #BeTheLight “Ambassador of Light” Bob Mueller will focus on giving #PowerToUkraine and will aim to #BeTheLight by spreading awareness about our mission on the ground and sharing internationally the stories that truly matter. By delivering truthful results of our joined humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, and highlighting the real needs to the international viewers, press and followers. Along the way, he will be encouraging others to do likewise and save thousands of lives in the process. Please Contact us!

Olena Gnes

is a Ukrainian, a journalist, a mother of three, the wife of a soldier, a renowned guide on Ukraine and a famous blogger. Since the beginning of the open invasion of Ukraine and throughout the War, Olena has become the “Voice” of the people. Her Youtube Chanel “What is Ukraine” – has become a portal for thousands of international viewers to see the reality in Ukraine, through the eyes of an average Ukrainian family. Viewers around the world relive the fear, the anger, the pain, the hope, the faith and the love through her stories.

Olena was always devoted to showcasing her country; she was always truthful and courageous in that mission: be it trips to the Chernobyl Nuclear Zone or historical insights, which proved to be a real “eye-openers” for many western viewers. But the level of her fearless devotion to the truth, to the story-telling, to recording the diary of the struggle and the everyday survival during the war crossed all boundaries.

This made Olena Gnes famous internationally. She has become an icon, representing Ukraine on major international news channels such as CNN, FOX, CBC, BBC, RTE – and programs such as the Anderson Cooper Evening Show, plus many others.

Forced to become a refugee due to her child’s health conditions, Olena became an active “Voice for Ukraine” within the US. She restlessly continues to spread awareness about what matters most, while helping Ukraine gain aid and support in the process. As a #BeTheLight “Ambassador of Light” Olena Gnes will focus on giving #PowerToUkraine and will aim to #BeTheLight by spreading awareness about our mission on the ground and sharing internationally the stories that truly matter. By delivering truthful results of our joined humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, and highlighting the real needs to the international viewers, press and followers, Olena will continue to give #PowerToUkraine and to #BeTheLight. Along the way, she will be encouraging others to do likewise and save thousands of lives in the process. Please Contact us!

Maryna Marchenko

a woman, a lawyer, an activist protecting women’s rights, and a philanthropist supporting young mothers and maternity needs through her NGO “Lada”
She is a wife and a mother, who like many others, stayed in Ukraine to continue on helping women in need. As an “Ambassador of Light” for the #BeTheLight base, our mission on the ground in Ukraine, Maryna’s mission will be to give #PowerToUkraine and #BeTheLight . Maryana Marchenko intends to do this by empowering young mothers of Ukraine, protecting their rights and needs, and helping them to establish their careers, have psychological support along the way and give them the “Voice”! Maryna is a mother herself, raising a 5-year-old son, Leo, and a 12 -year-old stepdaughter, Aurora. She shares all babysitting and child rearing responsibilities with her husband Serhiy Marchenko, who is an active participant in raising their beautiful family. And that’s how it should be - since motherhood is a shared labor of love. Yet from early on, Maryna has noticed that, while pregnant women and babies are more-less provided for in our society - the young mothers are left to survive on their own, with little support and understanding at the time when they need it most. This became only more acute during the War and Humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, when young mothers were left without their homes, forced to live as refugees, without jobs and without even their husbands by their side, since men are defending their country. Hence, as a #BeTheLight “Ambassador of Light” Maryna would like to devote her time and her Ambassadorial voice - to #BeTheLight for thousands of young mothers of Ukraine, empowering them and helping them to become the base of a Strong Ukraine. That’s going to be her way of giving #PowerToUkraine! Please Contact us!