Elena Krinina and Peter Ogram Wedding Registry

Peter and I would like to ask you to consider an alternative to sending us wedding gifts! As some of you know, I spent 6 years in an orphanage in Khabarovsk, in the Russian Far East. It is a painful experience to be an orphan, but we were relatively well looked-after in terms of food and clothing, medical care, and education. I stayed in what was called – somewhat misleadingly – a boarding school, which is simply an orphanage for kids whose distant relatives may take them home for short stay weekends from time to time.

But conditions at orphanages in Russia have deteriorated since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The system of state support for even basic healthcare, education, food and clothing has in many cases simply stopped. This has had an enormous effect, because it is clear that a by-default painful situation is being made worse by the environment of negligence and indifference.

Ascent Russian Orphan Aid Foundation works to fill this gap in orphanages near where I grew up, and we would like to ask you to join us in supporting this group. We understand that this kind of thing is not everyone's cup of tea, so please give as much or as little as you like. Or, as a guideline, you might give what you would ordinarily give for a wedding present.

We are working with the Foundation's President Kira Bogouslavski to identify a small project to which all of our donations can be put to immediate and effective use. If you have any questions about the Foundation or its activities, please feel free to contact Kira or one of us directly, or just tour the website. We will add a link to the project that we decide to sponsor and keep you updated on the progress.

Thank you again and all the best,

Elena Krinina ( ) and Peter Ogram ( )