Larissa Van Duser and Mira Zivkovic
The Petroushka Ball
Friday, February 8, 2008
Waldorf Astoria, New York
Photos by Maya Johnson
Benefactors Elke and Dr. Cyril E. Geacintov, Board of Directors of the Russian Children's Welfare Society and President of the Russian Nobility Association of america, Inc.
Mary Gaier and Christoph Bubb
Princess Lucretia Obolensky and Leonard Geiger
The Russian Children's Welfare Society
The Russian Children's Welfare Society ("RCWS") has been helping disadvantaged Russian children in Europe, South America and Russia since its establishment in New York City in 1926. The oldest charity devoted to this cause, the RCWS has, since it is inception, distributed over $12 million in grants. The Society has sufficient capital to allow its modest overhead to be more than covered, allowing all donations it receives to be used toward programs in Russia - to help children in need.
As the flow of Russian immigrants slowed, the RCWS refocused its mission to address the dire condition of vulnerable children in Russia. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia's infrastructure has been in transition, placing children at risk. As a result, hundreds of thousands of children need our help. Too many children in too many parts of Russia are without adequate medical attention, education, vocational training and basic care.
The statistics are alarming. The death to birth ratio of 1.7 to 1, is one of the highest in the world. Despite a very high rate of abortions (that recently have exceeded births), the number of children in orphanages has increased over the past 4 years from approximately 500,000 to well over 700,000. According to Russian government statistics, there are approximately 2.5 million homeless children and 617,000 disabled children. Teenage drug abuse has risen sharply as well, with 4 million users and a rapidly growing percentage of these teens seriously addicted.
Given such great need, the Russian Children's Welfare Society now directs most of its yearly aid to children in Russia by funding:
Medical care, the education of the Russian doctors that provide it, and supplies Orphanages and homeless shelters Rehabilitation centers for the disabled or mentally challenged
A Moscow "Yelka" (New Year) party during the holiday season for over 2,000 children. We believe it is the most important celebration of its kind in Russia. Each child receives a gift. For many, it is the only one they will receive for Christmas.
New York Headquarters
Vladimir P. Fekula, President & CEO
Anna Sergeeva-Gross, Director, New York Office
Ksenia O'Neill, Assistant Director, New York Office
Zhanna Petrenko, Controller
Russian Children's Welfare Society, Inc.
200 Park Avenue South, Suite 1617
New York, NY 10003
1-888-732-RCWS
1-212-473-6263
Fax: 1-212-473-6301
main@rcws.org
Moscow Office
Ludmilla Koroleva, Director,
Moscow Office
Helen Bachinskaya, Controller
Russian Children's Welfare Society, Inc.
3 Sretensky Tupik, 1 Stroenie
Moscow, Russia 107045
Tel/fax: 7-495-956-6390
RCWSMoscow@transsibre.ru
Larissa Van Duser, Mira Zivkovic, Maya Johnson,
Palm Beach Today Society Editor, Peter Graefe
and Leni Kreitnan
A Benefit for
The Russian Children's Welfare Society
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