about US
Board of Directors
Bri Birchmeier
President & Founding Member
My husband Victor and I have supported relief efforts for the Children of Belarus since 2018. I joined the Board of H.O.P.E in March of 2022. I currently serve as the organization’s President. My family and I reside in Charlotte NC. I currently am home schooling our two children. I am also a certified Dental Assistant.
(336) 337-1648
bribirchmeier1@gmail.com
Victor Birchmeier
Treasurer & Founding Member
While I remember the Chernobyl event so long ago, I did not equate that to the long-term consequences to the children there. That changed in the summer of 2018 when my wife and I had the chance to meet a Belarusian family. Their story inspired me. H.O.P.E for Belarus provides my family and I the opportunity to continue this support this mission and strengthen the ties we have made with families and communities within Belarus. I joined the Board of H.O.P.E for Belarus in March of 2022. I currently serve as Treasurer. My family and I reside in Charlotte NC, where I work as a Chief Financial Officer. I am also a Certified Public Accountant.
(336) 543-5750
vbirchmeier@aol.com
Carolyn Nowotny
Secretary & Founding Member
The first time I was really aware of the plight of the people of Belarus was when Kristen Hinchman came to visit our church. Of course, I am old enough to remember when the Chernobyl disaster happened. It just never occurred to me that those poor people were still living under the affects of that disaster until I thought about it. And, I could not imagine being a mother in Belarus where making healthy choices for my children would have an entirely different meaning than it does here. The effects of Chernobyl include radiation, but there is so much more involved.
(336) 312-0059
carolynnowotny@gmail.com
Dave Nowtny
Founding Member
My family and I got involved in Belarusian ministry when we first met Kristen Hinchman several years ago. I felt a deep compassion for these parents who had no choice but to expose their children to radiation. I wanted to help them and found that we could by partnering with other groups in the U.S. and in Belarus. It is my goal to continue to find ways to help the children of Belarus as well as encouraging other families in the U.S. to do the same .
(336) 970-3909
dcnowotny@gmail.com
Kristen Hinchman
Executive Director
I first discovered my passion for the people and culture of Belarus when I met a group of children visiting the US during the summer of 2003. The following Christmas I had the opportunity to travel to Belarus with several members of my church and I fell in love with the incredible people and interesting culture I found there. I have had the priviledge of serving the children of Belarus in a variety of ways for the last 20 years and I am thrilled to continue to serve them as the Executive Director for H.O.P.E. for Belarus!