On July 7th, the Pskov Children’s Fund hosted an annual reunion meeting for RCWS scholarship recipients. During 2010–2011 academic year, a total of 20 students (former orphanage graduates) received RCWS scholarships in Pskov. Since 2003, thanks to RCWS support, 19 students in Pskov region graduated and received diplomas.
The meeting took place at the Pleskov Hotel of the Pechora Region, which provided the gazebo for the event free of charge. The meeting began with each student told about himself, shared his experience with the project and future wishes. 4 graduates were granted certificates confirming participation in the scholarship project. 6 outstanding students with the best academic achievements received notebooks — a gift from the RCWS. Students had a lot of fun outdoors playing beach volleyball, swimming in the lake, boating and riding a bicycle, and enjoyed dinner afterward.
Every year RCWS provides additional funds for the organization of this meeting and transit expenses for students from other cities St. Petersburg, Opochka, Velikie Luki.
Three other foundations (representing Norway, Netherlands and Austria) followed RCWS example and started supporting orphanage graduates in Pskov, increasing the total number of students (all of them are orphans) currently receiving assistance to 69. The Pskov Children’s Fund is coordinating the project.
The Westwood Gallery, in collaboration with the Russian Children’s Welfare Society, unveiled a preview exhibition "Viewpoints of Millions" of New York based artist David Datuna’s mixed media wall sculptures on May 5th, 2011.
A portion of the proceeds from David’s art will benefit the charitable efforts of RCWS. The exhibit will be open to the public until May 21, 2011.
To view some photos from the Opening Reception at Westwood Gallery click here.
David Datuna’s artwork is in numerous corporate and private collections in the US and internationally. Datuna explores the meaning and sources of complex cultural identity and conveys his conceptual iconography based on symbols, flags and logos. Datuna’s largest flag to date, the Russian flag, measuring over 70×100 inches, was made for former President and current Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin. On display at the gallery were David’s American, Canadian, and British flags, as well as his fashion logos for luxury brands Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Versace.
The night’s guests who crowded the gallery to catch an exclusive glimpse of David’s playful and engaging art, hailed from the spheres of politics, art, and fashion. Among those in attendance were Hon. Andrey K. Yushmanov, the General Consul of the Russian Federation, Ms. Irina Churkina, wife of the Russian Ambassador to the UN, Hon, Raushan Yesbulatova, Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Olympic figure skating champion Oxana Baiul, model Geena Rocero, and many more. Everyone took turns glancing through the kaleidoscopic veneer, which is comprised entirely of eyeglasses, of the pieces to uncover the collaged images and texts that form the foundation of each piece.
A Mid-Autumn Night of Music
Concert & Cocktails
Frank Lévy, Pianist
Music program includes Bach-Marcello, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Ravel
Vocal Ensemble Piques Dames Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Russian folk music
Wednesday, November 3rd
With support of the YAMAHA ARTIST SERVICES NEW YORK
The evening of music featuring Frank Lévy, renowned pianist and member of RCWS' Running Team for 2010 ING NYC Marathon and four Russian Divas representing "Piques Dames". The proceeds from the concert will be directed towards the RCWS program "Give Beauty Back to the Children". This project delivers innovative medical treatment to children with severe facial deformities at the Moscow Center for Maxillofacial Surgery.
Frank Lévy dazzled audiences and critics worldwide. He is not only an exemplar of musical virtuosity but of altruism as well. Mr. Levy wrote to us: "Life’s injustice to the young remains a constant struggle and agony for me. They have been cheated out of their childhood and I dream that the beauty of music will move people to do something about it. I am proud and grateful to RCWS for selecting me to be a part of their great cause. Help RCWS brighten the lives of these children by coming to the concert or donating online." Learn more about Frank Lévy.
Vocal ensemble Piques Dames (Olga Shyp, Roza Tulyaganova, Karina Azatyan and Elena Mindlina) is a group of passionate, classically trained musicians performing rare folk music as well as operatic, Slavic and European classics. The Berkshire Review for the Arts wrote about the Piques Dames performance at Carnegie Hall in October 2008 "… brilliantly performed rarely heard chamber masterpieces that took us into deepest Russia with all its Slavic darkness, love of nature, and color of the folkloric tradition. The program was like a Fabergé egg, a rare jewel that kept unfolding more and more until it ended… I’ve never seen performers have such a good time on stage. Their vitality was infectious, and won us over easily."
Reunion of RCWS scholarship recipients in Pskov
This year's reunion meeting of RCWS scholarship recipients in Pskov took place on July 7th. A total of 20 students in Pskov received RCWS stipend during 2009–2010.
Eighteen students met to recount their experiences, play catch-up, and share their goals for the upcoming year. The Pskov contingent lunched at a café before embarking on a boat excursion around the city. The meeting opened up with a presentation of certificates to new students and a reminder of the strict guidelines governing the scholarship program. RCWS covers all transportation costs and expenses related to the yearly meeting.
5 RCWS scholarship recipients in Pskov graduated and received their diplomas this summer. Download the whole report of Pskov regional Branch of Russian Children’s Foundation in Russian.
Russian Children's Welfare Society is proud to have been selected as one of the ING NYC Marathon’s 2010 Community Charities. RCWS' partnership with ING makes it eligible for 5 entry spots to the marathon and offers the unique opportunity for the runners to add meaning to their miles by fundraising on behalf of Russian children. This is the first year RCWS will be participating in the ING NYC Marathon 2010 which takes place on November 7th, 2010.
The race is a major annual marathon worldwide whose course runs through all five boroughs of NYC (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island). First held in 1970, it is organized by the New York Road Runners (NYRR) and in recent years has been sponsored by the financial group ING.
The marathon attracts many professional competitors as well as amateur runners from all over the world. It offers not only $600,000 in prize money, but also a chance to excel before two million cheering spectators and 315 million worldwide television viewers. Because of the popularity of the race, participation is limited to 37,000 entrants are chosen largely by a lottery system. Read more
Deadline for submitting applications: August 20, 2010
The Russian Children's Welfare Society (RCWS), in collaboration with the General Consulate of the Russian Federation in New York, hosted A Night of Fashion — Russian Style Benefit Gala featuring designer Randi Rahm. The event took place during Fashion week, on September 15, 2009 at the Ana Tzarev Gallery on 24 West 57 Street.
Read more...
"Children's Project" by Irina Davis from June 11- July 20, 09
In this series of portraits taken at two Russian state‐run orphanages, Irina masterfully combines the sparse surroundings of the orphanage with the natural light to create images that are beautifully minimalist and at the same time striking. Despair, insecurity, bravery, intrigue, playfulness, loneliness and innocence are all present in these photographs. The portraits convey the realities of life as a son or daughter of the Russian state, giving these children an opportunity to reach out and speak to us directly through these touching and engaging images.
Although Children's Project is Irina's debut exhibition with Sputnik Gallery, her work has been exhibited widely throughout Europe and in New York. Irina has pursued a diverse range of subjects, projects and styles, ranging from these portraits to a documentary on gypsies to a series of highly‐stylized Russian pin‐ups, for which she is best known.
All proceeds donated to the orphanages where the portraits were taken, providing true hope and possibility to children who have little more than a window out of which they can gaze and dream of a more care‐free life and a place to call home.
Russian
The meeting took place at the Pleskov Hotel of the Pechora Region, which provided the gazebo for the event free of charge. The meeting began with each student told about himself, shared his experience with the project and future wishes. 4 graduates were granted certificates confirming participation in the scholarship project. 6 outstanding students with the best academic achievements received notebooks — a gift from the RCWS. Students had a lot of fun outdoors playing beach volleyball, swimming in the lake, boating and riding a bicycle, and enjoyed dinner afterward.
Vocal ensemble Piques Dames (Olga Shyp, Roza Tulyaganova, Karina Azatyan and Elena Mindlina) is a group of passionate, classically trained musicians performing rare folk music as well as operatic, Slavic and European classics. The Berkshire Review for the Arts wrote about the Piques Dames performance at Carnegie Hall in October 2008 "… brilliantly performed rarely heard chamber masterpieces that took us into deepest Russia with all its Slavic darkness, love of nature, and color of the folkloric tradition. The program was like a Fabergé egg, a rare jewel that kept unfolding more and more until it ended… I’ve never seen performers have such a good time on stage. Their vitality was infectious, and won us over easily."
