Ascent Russian Orphan Aid Foundation - Vladivostok News Story: Russian expat endows Vladivostok Orphans

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Russian expat endows Vladivostok Orphans
By Alyona Sokolova
Published in Vladivostok News on January 13, 2004

A charity organization founded and headed by a Russian expatriate presented a new washing machine and packs of fruit to the Vladivostok Infant Orphanage on December 30 granting its 89 children more than attention but longed-for care and hopes for the New Year.

The $500 automatic washing machine was donated to the orphanage by Ascent Russian Orphan Aid Foundation, a non-profit charity founded by Vladivostok-born Kirill Boguslavski, who registered it in California in May 2003.

Photo: Valentin Boguslavski gives documents for the washing machine to Vladivostok Infant Orphanage Director Viktor Kasyan.

Boguslavski, 32, who left Vladivostok in 1995 to continue education in America and whose brilliant career was ensured by prestigious work for Diamond Hill Corporation, decided to quit his money-making career in investment technology consulting and moved to Maui in the Pacific Ocean and committed 24 hours, seven days a week of his time to charity. He also designed the foundations website announcing his aim to provide basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter to Russian orphans and homeless children.

Boguslavski remembered Vladivostok Infant Orphanage Director Viktor Kasyan, and asked his father and aide, Valentin Boguslavski, to go to the orphanage and get a list of its most urgent needs. The state-owned orphanage is poorly supported and needs everything, including major renovation before the roof falls in on the heads of the poor infants and courageous staff.

A washing machine to replace an obsolete one, which did not even have a drier, was the first gift to the orphanage that provides care to children from 3 months to 5 years old, most of whom are mentally or physically challenged. It arrived in time for the New Year celebrations thanks to a Russian woman, Tatyana Kogan, who donated the whole sum for this particular project.

"Currently I am developing another project for this orphanage, planning to buy heaters and increase food donations to up to $300 per month during the year," Boguslavski wrote in an e-mailed letter to the editor. According to him, the Foundation runs only specific projects with estimated costs and as soon as the necessary sum is allocated, the money goes to fulfill the need-be it cooking stoves, showers or electric heaters.

According to Boguslavski, his foundation has received a lot of support from the public due to the new concept of giving all 100% of donations directly to the children. He himself receives no salary and pays all foundation expenses out of his own pocket.

Other projects, including help for St. Petersburg Hope Family Commune are more costly and require more donations to help orphans and homeless children survive, and updated information about each project, the sums allocated, as well as children's photos, volunteer services and ways to help can be found at the website www.iOrphan.org.