As All Hands & Hearts (AH&H) celebrates our 20th year, we are excited to begin this new chapter of our story by welcoming Nate Mook as our new CEO! With an incredible track record of humanitarian leadership, Nate joins us with a wealth of experience and passion for our mission of rebuilding communities impacted by disasters.
Nate first crossed paths with supermodel, philanthropist and AH&H co-founder, Petra Nemcova, in Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake. Since then, Nate has admired and collaborated with AH&H teams after various disasters all around the world, from Indonesia to the Bahamas, witnessing firsthand how our volunteers serve as catalysts in driving recovery efforts forward. With Nate’s passion, drive and background in leading global changemakers, and a shared vision for long-term recovery and community rebuilding, we are thrilled to have found the ideal leader to join us and guide AH&H into our 20th year and beyond.
A Shared Commitment
Nate first crossed paths with supermodel, philanthropist and AH&H co-founder, Petra Nemcova, in Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake. Since then, Nate has admired and collaborated with AH&H teams after various disasters all around the world, from Indonesia to the Bahamas, witnessing firsthand how our volunteers serve as catalysts in driving recovery efforts forward. With Nate’s passion, drive and background in leading global changemakers, and a shared vision for long-term recovery and community rebuilding, we are thrilled to have found the ideal leader to join us and guide AH&H into our 20th year and beyond.
A Leader in Humanitarian Innovation
Before joining AH&H, Nate served as the first CEO of World Central Kitchen (WCK), building the organization with Chef José Andrés to provide hundreds of millions of meals to individuals affected by disasters. His leadership helped grow WCK into one of the largest privately funded humanitarian organizations in the world. Nate has also been deeply involved in efforts in Ukraine, serving on the board of Save Ukraine, acting as Special Advisor on Ukraine for the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and co-founding the Hachiko Foundation to support displaced cats and dogs in frontline communities.
In addition to his work in disaster relief, Nate has a background in filmmaking, producing powerful documentaries such as Baltimore Rising, which examined social tensions in the U.S., and We Feed People, an Emmy-nominated film narrating WCK’s global impact. He has also led storytelling projects across Somalia, Haiti and beyond, working with organizations like the UN and the Clinton Foundation to elevate humanitarian efforts. A former tech entrepreneur and TED Talks curator, Nate has a history of innovation and amplifying voices in underserved communities. Nate believes in creative solutions to provide urgent relief when disaster strikes and the power of long-term recovery. His ethos aligns perfectly with our mission of rebuilding resilient, sustainable communities that will thrive for generations to come.
What sets AH&H apart is our dedication to staying in communities long after the initial crisis has passed. Many disaster relief organizations provide urgent aid and then move on, but AH&H remains, committing volunteers and resources to full recovery: helping families rebuild their homes, restoring schools and revitalizing infrastructure. Over 20 years, we have mobilized more than 68,300 volunteers to aid in disaster-stricken regions, impacted over 1.4 million individuals, impacted 205,000 destroyed homes and brought over 123,300 students back to safe schools, ensuring that communities are supported through the toughest phases post-disaster. With Nate’s leadership, we will continue to expand our impact by scaling our operations and create sustainable, creative solutions in response to an unpredictable future and inevitable disasters to come.
As we enter this new chapter, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Jess Thompson for her incredible leadership and a dedication to AH&H. Her work has strengthened AH&H’s impact, and we are incredibly grateful for her contributions. Under her guidance, AH&H has navigated some of the most challenging disasters in recent history, helping thousands of individuals rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. We are grateful that Jess will continue to be part of AH&H, and we look forward to ongoing collaboration with her.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of AH&H, a pivotal moment in our history. While we honor our past and the disasters that brought us to where we are, we also look to the future with determination. Climate disasters are increasing in frequency and severity, and AH&H is committed to finding innovative ways to respond effectively and sustainably. Nate’s experience in leading large-scale relief efforts, combined with passions for storytelling and advocacy, will be game-changing in elevating AH&H’s mission and reaching even more communities in need.
With Nate at the helm, we look forward to continuing to provide hope and support to communities in need. This is just the beginning of an exciting new era for AH&H, and we can’t wait to see all that we will accomplish together!
Welcome, Nate!
