“You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
— Zig Ziglar
Our Story
Heart to Heart International Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for humanitarian aid. The organization was established in 1993 by an American evangelist David George, a Swedish pastor Bo-Anders Stenstrand and Svetlana Pokhodina, who continues to be Heart to Heart president today.
Meet the Team
We could not operate this ministry without the help of everyone who volunteers their time and resources. These people below are the current board members and contributors that make our team great.
Svetlana pokhodina
Founder & President
A heart of gold, Svetlana carries the torch in this organization! Originally from Ukraine herself where she worked as a professor of architecture, she has been full time CEO of Heart to Heart since 1993 when the organization first got established. Svetlana works with multiple American teams to organize mission trips to orphanages, nursing homes, refugee camps, prisons, etc. Her ability to speak multiple languages makes Svetlana irreplaceable and facilitates the work in Ukraine.
TONYA STOGDILL
Secretary
A local business woman in Bloomington, IN, Tonya is very passionate about the children of Ukraine. She started visiting Ukraine over 15 years ago and made multiple trips to help with the charitable work. For years, she organized fundraisers for the orphanages and arranged the shipments of the donated items. Tonya encouraged many family members and friends to make the mission trips along her side and get involved in the Heart to Heart ministry.
LORETA ALMINAUSKAS
Treasurer
Originally from Lithuania, another country formerly governed by the former Soviet Union, Loreta became involved in aiding mission trips to Ukraine over 10 years ago. Being a CPA by trade, she works to maintain the financial side of the organization compliant, and keep the Heart to Heart sponsors informed about the ongoing activities through Facebook, website and newsletters.
Vera Edgeworth
Board Member
Originally from Ukraine, Vera joined Heart to Heart board in 2021. The ministry in Ukraine is very close to her heart. Since she was a young girl and while still residing in Ukraine, Vera accompanied Svetlana on multiple mission trips to minister in orphanages. Vera is married to Jared Edgeworth who is a full time youth pastor at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Bloomington, IN. Both of them dedicate a lot of time to minister to the youth and children at their church, and summer camps.
Maureen Woodcock
Board Member
Co-pastor of the Peace Tower Church in Ontario, Canada, Maureen has travelled to Ukraine multiple times to visit nursing homes, orphanages and help with the charitable work in the poor communities in Ukraine. Pastor David, Maureen’s husband, is a former pastor of the Genesis Church in Bloomington, Indiana, and current pastor of the Peace Tower Church in Canada. Today their son Tim Woodcock has taken this same position at the Genesis Church and is following in his family footsteps to support Bloomington community and global mission work.
Judy Smith
Board Member
Judy has joined Heart to Heart board in 2021. She got involved in Heart to Heart ministry in 2017 when she first got invited to come along on a mission trip to Ukraine. She fell in love with Ukrainian people, and her life has never been the same after visiting orphanages. Since then Judy has been one of the most passionate team member by helping in every aspect of this ministry, and taking every opportunity to travel back to Ukraine and minister to orphans.