Why Elevate Futures exists
Elevate Futures Foundation was established in 2023 by two co-founders, Omar Hayati and Luke Krushelnycky. After witnessing education gaps in Indigenous communities and low-income urban neighborhoods, they committed to creating cost-free tutoring, mentorship, and support that helps students build confidence and reach their goals.
Luke Krushelnycky - Co-Founder
Luke’s drive to start Elevate Futures came from tutoring newcomers and First Nations students during his university years. With a background in social service and biomedical sciences and experience in youth mentorship, Luke develops curriculum and training for volunteers - making learning supportive, clear, and engaging.
Omar Hayati - Co-Founder
Omar has spent years volunteering as a tutor and advocate for education equity. He focuses on partnerships with schools, community centers, and local organizations so students can access the right supports - when and where they need them.
Meet the team
A student-led team working with communities to make support easier to access.
Timothy Han - VP, Mentorship & Student Development
Timothy Han is a Biomedical Sciences student pursuing a future career in healthcare. Having benefited firsthand from the generosity of mentors in his life, he is passionate about paying that support forward as others navigate their own path. Timothy believes that success is not one size fits all. Pathways, opportunities, and starting points may differ, but sharing diverse stories and practical lessons can help people find what works best for them. Through the mentorship program, he hopes to help students build confidence, clarity, and momentum as they take their next steps toward their goals.
Ryan Zahreddine - Director of Volunteer & Professional Engagement
Ryan is a third-year Biological Science student at the University of Guelph and serves as Director of Volunteer & Professional Engagement at Elevate Futures. He focuses on connecting students with volunteers and professional mentors, including healthcare and dental professionals, to expand access to guidance, support, and future opportunities.
Rose Abdo - VP Outreach and Social Media
Rose is the Vice President of Outreach and Social Media Content. She partners with schools on reserves to help students transition from high school into university life and navigate new academic challenges. With a people-first approach and years of volunteering, she makes tutoring feel clear, encouraging, and doable. She also manages social media for the Elevate Futures Foundation to make support easy to access and help users connect with resources, opportunities, and support.
Brooke Martin - Director of Communication and Organizational Operations
Brooke manages communications and organizational operations at Elevate Futures, serving as a first point of connection for students, volunteers, and partners. As a tutor and mentor, she is passionate about creating supportive learning environments where students feel confident and encouraged to succeed.
Erik Zhelasko - Director of Operations and Technology
Erik is a Computer Science major with a minor in Project Management at the University of Guelph. A former high school tutor, he supports Elevate Futures Foundation by helping design and organize systems that improve access to educational support for under resourced students.
Marko Pylypec - Engineering Mentorship Director
Moved by the significant transition from high school to university and the wide variety of engineering career pathways, Marko is dedicated to supporting high school students and newcomers to the field. Marko assists students interested in engineering by helping to identify the pathway best suited to their goals, providing tutoring in mathematics and physics, and offering resources alongside mentorship to help others confidently navigate the challenges of the transition into the engineering discipline.
What guides our work
Equity, respect for culture, community, excellence, and integrity shape everything we do.
Equity
We focus resources where gaps are greatest and treat every student with compassion and fairness.
Respect for culture
We celebrate Indigenous cultures and diverse backgrounds, incorporating cultural knowledge in a respectful way.
Community
We listen to the communities we serve and build programs with partners, families, and volunteers.
Excellence
Quality training, strong materials, and thoughtful support - so students receive reliable help.
Integrity
We stay transparent and accountable to students, families, and supporters, improving based on what works.
Belonging
Students learn best when they feel seen and supported. We build trust and confidence.
Join us in creating fair starts.
Volunteer a few hours a week, partner with us, or share our work with your community.