25 Women for 2024: Anita Bushnyakova pursues 'passion for helping children'

If it wasn’t for an earthquake in Kathmandu, Anita Bushnyakova wouldn’t even live in Tallahassee. She was set to go to Nepal with the Peace Corps after graduating from Florida State University when her plans changed. “I was waiting to be reassigned when I received a job offer from the Governor’s office,” she said.

Nepal’s loss is Tallahassee’s gain, as Bushnyakova has devoted the last 13 years to improving the lives of children through her work with Kids Incorporated of the Big Bend and other human services organizations. Her contributions and passion for the welfare of others has earned her recognition as one of Tallahassee’s 25 Women You Need to Know for 2024.

In her current role as chief financial officer of Kids Incorporated of the Big Bend, Bushnyakova ensures that at-risk infants, toddlers, and families have access to affordable and quality childcare in Leon, Madison, and Jefferson counties.

“I wholeheartedly believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive,” Bushnyakova said. “From a young age I realized that finance and accounting are areas that have a vast impact on every industry and line of business, but I wanted to combine my passion for helping children and the community.”

To that end, Bushnyakova is the Treasurer of the Guardian ad Litem Foundation, a court-appointed child advocate for children in the dependency court system, a mentor for Leon County Public Schools, and recently has been invited to join the Economics and Earnings Committee of the Tallahassee-Leon County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

Class of 2024: 25 Women for 2024: Brandi Thomas is all about 'helping people'

“The biggest reward of my work is seeing the impact on the kids, seeing their smiles and development achievements, that’s really my why and what drives me,” she said.

By the way, if you’re wondering how to pronounce her last name, it is “boosh-nee-yah-koh-vah.” Her home is Bulgaria, and when she was a teenager, she immigrated to the United States with her family.

“Being in middle school and not knowing how to speak English was a challenge,” she says. But she caught up quickly, dual-enrolling at the University of Florida during high school and following in the footsteps of her mother, an accountant.

Two years ago, Bushnyakova saw a need to help refugees and civilians in danger during the emerging war in Ukraine and began working with the Bulgarian Red Cross to help Ukrainian citizens find refuge in Bulgaria. “My brother would go over the border from Bulgaria to Ukraine and bring back families.

We were fortunate enough to have vacant apartments in Bulgaria that we could offer, and help people get accustomed to a new life.” She is encouraged when hearing of schools being set up that can teach Ukrainian children in their home language.

For Bushnyakova, life in Tallahassee means enjoying the outdoors, whether running the trails with her husky or visiting festivals with her son. “I love the beautiful nature and sense of community in Tallahassee,” she said. “The nonprofit community really is the heart of town.”

Bushnyakova is driven by her  deeply-rooted belief that every child, regardless of their socioeconomic status or circumstances, deserves the opportunity to thrive. She wants us to know that there is a need for childcare in Tallahassee, and encourages us to seek opportunities to have a positive impact in the life of a child.

“A good education should not be a privilege and I work tirelessly to make it obtainable to many deserving children,” Bushnyakova said.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 25 Women: Anita Bushnyakova has 'passion for helping children'