Client Spotlight: Randy Kiefer
- ✓ Client since 2020
- ✓ Homebase: Arcata, CA
- ✓ Favorite impact areas: Human Rights and Environmental Stewardship
Randy has biked to Alaska, all throughout the US, and has rounded over 764 mountain curves in northern Thailand. But his biggest adventure doesn't involve a bike at all. At 77, this North Dakota farm kid spends the holidays in Kharkiv, Ukraine, serving soup, delivering supplies to frontline villages, and, when the season calls for it, dressing up as an elf. We caught up with Randy before his third Ukranian winter to hear how he got there and why he keeps going back.
Who shaped you into the person you are today?
I owe so much of who I am to my parents. They were ordinarily exceptional. My father ran a small business, my mother was a homemaker who also worked outside the home, and in our town of 250 people in rural North Dakota, we learned to help others. Everyone did. It sounds corny, but it takes a village, and our family lived that life.
How did you end up in Ukraine?
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, I felt a strong pull to take action. I grew up on a farm, so my first idea was to help with the harvest while the Ukrainian men were on the front lines. That didn't pan out exactly as I hoped, but I quickly found a volunteer group in Kyiv and was restoring an old theater within days. Another volunteer gave me a lead to an organization in Kharkiv, and the rest is history.
What does a typical week there look like?
On weekends, I'm up early for the soup kitchen shift. On Sundays I'm on bagging duty at the warehouse of my friend Brian, better known around town as Santa Claus, and on Tuesdays we load up and hit the villages. Come the holidays, every Santa needs an elf, so I suit up.
What keeps you going?
Connection. I shop at the same market stalls every year, and now the shopkeepers greet me with hugs. My Ukrainian tops out around 50 words, but a smile goes a long way. We rent out a little private cinema for movie nights, I host Thanksgiving, and once my friend Chelle and I broke into a spontaneous dance in the middle of the street. Being goofy matters, because what's around you can be pretty sobering.
What do you wish people knew about Ukraine?
The Ukrainian people have war fatigue, but they aren't giving up. They're patriots. They love their country.
What's next for you?
First, a month with friends in France, from the countryside south of Paris down to the Pyrenees. Then, if a group in Copenhagen writes me back, I'm hoping to drive a donated vehicle all the way to Ukraine. After that it's my third holiday season in Kharkiv, then back to Africa, where the bike stays home and I ride the buses!
Why Blue Marble?
Before switching to Blue Marble, I had a few other Financial Advisors. When I moved to San Luis Obispo, I wanted a local firm where I could walk into the office and get to know the people firsthand. While neither of us are there anymore, a budding relationship was born.
Support Randy’s causes by visiting https://www.nh4ukraine.org/ or https://unitedhelpukraine.org/.
Disclosure: Blue Marble Investments is an SEC registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement by the SEC nor does it indicate that Blue Marble has attained a particular level of skill or ability. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult with your tax and/or legal professional regarding your specific situation when determining if any mentioned strategies are right for you.*