Vladimir Fekula (also known as Walter or Wally Fekula) was born in New York City in 1936. He is the President of the Russian Children's Welfare Society in New York (as of 2004).

He earned a Bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and after serving in the United States Marine Corps, he spent his career on Wall Street. He established the Credit Review Department at Salomon Brothers and was Manager of the Credit Review Department at Credit Suisse First Boston Corpration and its predecessor First Boston Corporation.}