Once a refugee, now an honoree

As a professor of astronomy and physics in Uzbekistan, Yasha Khibkin taught complex theories that often required hours of explanation and lengthy solutions that filled blackboards.

Now, Khibkin is teaching, and learning from, elementary school children in Quincy as a foster grandparent. "When I came here, my English was zero, but the children, they helped me out," said Khibkin, who arrived in the United States in 1997 as a refugee.

Tonight, Khibkin will be honored by the nonprofit Action for Boston Community Development at its annual awards dinner recognizing volunteers throughout the Boston area. The dinner will be held at Marriott Boston Copley Place and features Joseph Aoun, Northeastern University president, as the keynote speaker.

Khibkin, 69, is retired but will not attend the event because he is recovering at home from pneumonia. The director of the Broad Meadows after school program, where Khibkin volunteers, will accept the award for him. Twenty people will receive awards.

ABCD organizers said Khibkin has volunteered more than 10,000 hours in the past decade to underserved children. He works with ABCD's Foster Grandparents Program.

"The kids, they call him Mr. Jacob, because they have trouble pronouncing his name," said Kyle Randall, the center's director. "He's been a wonderful addition as far as bringing diversity and a whole new perspective to the program. He adds another dimension to the kids' learning."

Since 1998, Khibkin has worked with kindergartners through fifth-graders at Broad Meadows, spending on average 20 hours a week with the youths. He helps them with their math or science homework and also teaches them chess and Chinese checkers. Four years ago, President Bush honored him with the "Daily Point of Light Award," given to individuals and groups that have made a difference.

Khibkin said he teaches the students chess to help them think strategically and logically.

"I like the kids, and they like me," he said. "But I work not only because as an immigrant I must help this country, but because I need the activity. And this is the best kind of activity I can think of."