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Founded in 1926, the Russian Children's Welfare Society focuses on improving the lives of children at risk in Russia by funding effective and innovative projects. Learn More...

OUR PROGRAM AREAS

Orphanges 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. We support shelters that provide medical care, therapy, vocational training, food & shelter, as well as training programs for foster families.

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 to attain higher education. To date, it has been enormously successful, providing a complete support structure to students as they transition from living in an orphanage to independent life. Currently, 39 orphans receive RCWS scholarship and enrolled at colleges and universities in the Pskov, Yaroslavl and Moscow regions.

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, legal advice, art therapy sessions, psychological assistance, and sport and music lessons to children with disabilities.

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. In December 2007, with our donors' help, RCWS was able to bring Christmas to 2,300 orphans and sick children living in Russia.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Who We Are

Russian Children’s Welfare Society (RCWS) was founded in 1926 in New York City by eight Russian émigrés to mount an appeal for orphans of Russian descent. The charity has assisted children in need in Europe, South America and the United States. Currently, RCWS focuses on enhancing the lives of children at risk in Russia by funding: orphanages and homeless shelters; medical care and training of Russian doctors; rehabilitation centers for the disabled or mentally challenged; educational scholarships; and a major New Year party "Yelka" in Moscow for over 2,000 disadvantaged children. The Society has sufficient capital to allow its modest overhead to be more than covered, allowing all donations it receives to fund programs helping children in need.

Friends of RCWS

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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Save the Date

RCWS Trip To Russia

In May 2008, Sam Harding, RCWS Board member, traveled to Russia to evaluate some of our many programs in Moscow, Pskov, Velikiy Novgorod and Yaroslavl. Read his report. "This non-stop, two-week, four-city tour of institutions receiving RCWS support gave me a clear sense of the breadth and depth of the RCWS’s positive effect on needy Russian children. I was able to speak personally and on behalf of the Society with many of our grantees and with the children whom they support." Read more...