Donna Marie Kukura

Donna Kukura is the current Chapter Leader and Cofounder of the Long Island, New York/Suffolk County Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children (POMC). She began her volunteer work with POMC following the tragic loss of her younger brother, Brian Boothe, who was murdered at the age of 35 on Christmas Day 2002. The murder remains unsolved. 

Before her brother's murder, Donna was a clinician at a local hospital and was employed as a Project Liberty Team Leader providing counseling services to victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks. After her brother's murder, she left her employment and decided to volunteer full time. 

Kukura has used her own experience with traumatic grief to improve the lives of others through her advocacy, counseling, and supportive outreach. She goes “above and beyond” for others, making herself available to provide counseling or to listen to survivors whenever she is needed. Kukura does an enormous amount of outreach to increase public awareness of the services and rights available to crime victims, particularly to homicide survivors. 

Donna Kukura was nominated by June Ginty of Oakdale, New York, National Board Member, Parents of Murdered Children, Inc., and Suffolk County Chapter POMC Cofounder.