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Since 1926 the Russian Children's Welfare Society has focused on improving the lives of children at risk in Russia by funding effective and innovative projects. During 2007–2008, the Society disbursed approximately $2 million in direct aid to children in Russia by supporting orphanages, homeless shelters, hospitals, rehabilitation centers for disabled children and schools. Learn More...

Dear Friends,

During this special time of the year we ask you to remember the children in Russia who rely on our help. With your support, the Russian Children’s Welfare Society (RCWS) continues to assist orphanages, homeless shelters, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers, in addition to providing scholarships for orphans.

children on horses

Ten years ago, RCWS organized our first Yelka, a Russian Christmas and New Year's Party. It has become one of the largest and best-publicized events for disadvantaged children in Moscow. Last year, over 2,000 children were involved in RCWS holiday programs including a party at the Moscow's Big Circus. It is one of the most exciting projects sponsored by the Society.

Unfortunately, 2009 has been the most financially difficult year for non-profit organizations including RCWS. Due to the lack of funding, the Society must limit our Yelka activities this season. However, with the support of our local partners, we are planning the following celebrations for disadvantaged children whom we assist during this holiday season:

December 19, 2009 — Thanks to the generosity of the Northern Crown Foundation, a total of 350 disadvantaged children will attend the «Nutcracker on Ice» show and receive a gift of sweets at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

December 20, 2009 — The RCWS team together with volunteers from the Cushman and Wakefield company will visit 30 disadvantaged children and refugees at the Holy Family Center near Moscow. Each child will receive a gift they have been dreaming about.

December 21, 2009 — The RCWS team with representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development as well as a professional actor dressed as Ded Moroz (Russian Santa Claus) will bring gifts to 134 children living at two local orphanages in Kolomna, Moscow region.

December 22, 2009 — The RCWS team with Ded Moroz will visit 45 children with facial deformities at the St. Vladimir Hospital in Moscow.

December 23, 2009 — RCWS will visit 40 children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis being treated at the Sechenov Medical Academy. Each child will receive a gift of sweets from Ded Moroz.

January 10, 2010 — A Ded Moroz and RCWS volunteers will travel over 200 kilometers to visit and bring gifts to 300 children living at the shelter in the Nikolo-Solbinsky Convent and several villages in the Yaroslavl region. In addition to sweets, children will receive books.

Additionally, our volunteers will bring gifts to 17 children involved in the RCWS Grandma project, which helps grandmothers and single parents to keep their children or grandchildren from being abandoned to the orphanages.

Altogether, close to 900 children will participate in RCWS Yelka activities this winter. Please help us to continue this tradition of bringing Christmas cheer to sick and orphaned children in Russia. Every gift makes a difference and will impact the well-being of the thousands of children we help every year.

We thank you for your generosity and wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!

Sincerely,
president_sign  

Vladimir P. Fekula
President

 

P. S. : You may wish to receive correspondence and updates about RCWS electronically. If so, please forward your current e-mail address to our office at main@rcws.org. This will enable you to receive information about the RCWS events more quickly.


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OUR PROGRAM AREAS

Orphanages and Homeless Shelters:

Our goal is to enable orphanages to meet basic needs, and to promote comprehensive programs that help orphans develop into healthy and independent adults…

Medical Programs:

RCWS improves the lives of thousands of children at risk in Russia by funding their medical care and supplemental training of the doctors who serve them.

Scholarship Project:

In 2003, RCWS launched a scholarship program to help orphans attain higher education. It has been enormously successful, providing a complete support structure to students as they transition from living in an orphanage to independent life…

Rehabilitation Centers for Disabled Children:

Treatment of children with mental or physical disabilities is limited in Russia. RCWS continues to support rehabilitation centers that provide these children with educational activities, vocational training, art therapy and innovative horse therapy….

Annual New Year's Party for Orphans in Moscow:

What began as a modest venture less than 10 years ago has grown into very important and highly anticipated celebration for children in Russia…

What Your Donation Can Do...

would provide lunches for one child at a school during one full academic year.

will cover a blood sugar monitoring device that will serve 25 orphans with diabetes.

will provide a new bed for a child at an orphanage. Many orphans sleep on beds that were purchased 20-25 years ago and no longer meet sanitary or safety requirements.

will cover a sewing machine for an orphanage allowing teens to make their own clothing and obtain vocational training skills.

will cover an annual supply of vitamins for 50 orphans.

will cover an industrial washing machine for an orphanage that takes care of over 100 children, where laundry is still done by hands.

will cover an annual scholarship for an orphanage graduate. Learn more...

will restore the life of a child with severe facial deformity. There is a waiting list at the Moscow Center for Children's Maxillofacial Surgery for children in need of reconstructive surgeries. Learn more...

will cover a minivan for an orphanage in a rural area, providing kids with an opportunity to visit distant educational, cultural and/or medical facilities.


SUCCESS STORIES

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Read stories about how RCWS has helped children and students prevail. Read more


Other Ways You Can Help


RCWS has always received support from artists and others who have, among other things, performed at various RCWS fundraisers including the Petroushka Ball.



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