Ascent Russian Orphan Aid Foundation

Newsletter

Get Involved

Donate

Art for Orphans

Website

Making Money is Not the Meaning of Life
by Nadezhda Gongeleva

See the article snapshot

Published in Prizyv (Call to Action), Humanitarian Projects, on October 23, 2003

At first I wanted to entitle this article as: "Riches have their own odds". Wow, an American (I mean almost American, Russian citizen with a green card) gives up his successful career, well established business that pays him $150 per hour, and rushes to Russian orphans' help. According to our standards - it is really hard to imagine. So, why did I change the above mentioned title? Because, unexpectedly, my new friend turned out to be very different from those money-bags who don't know how to spend their money. Anyway, it 's up to you to judge.

I was introduced to Kirill Bogouslavski by Evgeniy Kliot, head of Family Commune "Nadezhda" (Hope), which is located in Karelian village Tervu and in Saint-Petersburg. Newspaper "Priziv" ("Call to Action") repeatedly wrote about this organisation (#51, December 19, 2002). What is there in common between successful American businessman and an enthusiastic teacher, who helps orphans find their path in life? It turned out that there is something in common.

"After I learned to make good money," - Kirill says, - "I realized that my purpose in life is certainly not about making money. It did not take much time to find what it really was. The answer was simple: helping the needy. It was not that important to me who to help. There are lots of needy, and it is impossible to help all of them, but I had to start somewhere. So, I decided to begin with helping orphans, because while living in Russia I spent a lot of time with these children and went hiking with them. I started with sending money to Rescuer's School Shelter in Samara, since my old friends were in charge there and I trusted them. Certainly, I knew that orphans' life in Russia is very difficult but when I visited Russia in May of this year, I saw that it's much worse than I had expected. There are lots of enthusiasts such as Evgeny, but orphanages and homeless children shelters have very limited means to survive."

So, Kirill decided to create a charitable fund. Is it possible for a Russian citizen (even for one having a green card) to create a fund in a foreign country? Kirill was capable of that.

"Personally, I like difficult tasks," - Kirill continues. "The most important thing is to break down the problem. It makes it much easier to find a solution. I came to conclusion that everybody can do it, as long as they can read and follow the instructions."

It took Kirill 4 months to "read the instructions" and prepare all the necessary documents. After leaving behind all the juridical formalities and registering the fund, Kirill created a web page where he tells in details about himself and his fund. Still, it is not enough to create a fund. It is more important to persuade potential donors that their contributions will serve the good purpose. There are many funds out there, but their creators often pursue their own interests.

"That's right," - Kirill says. "That's why I focused on explaining to people that every cent of their donation will be spent directly to helping Russian orphans and for no other purpose. Of course, to prove it I supplied financial reports, photos and receipts from the orphanages that received financial support money from the fund. I certainly did not expect donors to line up on the 1st day of fund's operation. However, frankly, I did not expect that it would be so difficult to convince people to share their wealth. Sometimes it would take me 3 days to "win" a $40 donation. It was very discouraging, considering that alternatively I could make very good money in my profession and then give it to the kids.

As for his professional activity, Kirill was working as a financial computer systems consultant in USA and Switzerland. He had to give up his career because his fund needed him 24 hours a day. Kirill has made up his mind: his savings would last him for 2 years of modest lifestyle. He rented a 2-bedroom apartment with a roommate and dedicated himself fully to his new creation.

A reader may ask a question: why do you tell me, having many problems in my everyday life about some successful American executive and his projects? First, it seems to me that any personal experience may be useful. Second, on October 10, Kirill Bogouslavski visited Lahdepohya. I met with him after he visited orphan houses in Lahdepohya together with E.I. Krasnova and A.P. Nechaev of Karelia Administration. As for the result of Kirill's visit, the time will show.

When it comes to the fund operation, Kirill started with smaller projects and he has already managed to complete 3 of them (see Completed Projects). Although the fund was created 6 months ago, but it was just a month ago when Kirill started fundraising. Last Monday there was a presentation of one of his projects: new shelter for homeless teenagers (another division of the Family Commune "Hope") was open in Saint Petersburg at 10 Dvinskaya Street (see the story on Russian TV).

Ascent Russian Orphan Aid Foundation sponsored building a shower. Another project in progress is providing electricity to Hope's division in Tervu village (Farmer's Commune). Financial part of the problem is almost solved, but negotiations with the Head of Electrical Power company are still underway.

It is time to finish the story about this strange American executive though I may tell more (for example about an effective way of fundraising he has found). I will only add that Kirill graduated in 1994 from the Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok with masters in computer systems; and in 1997, he graduated from the State University of Ohio (the biggest one in USA) with an MBA.

For more information visit the the foundation's web site at www.iOrphan.org.