MARIA'S CHILDREN
The RCC & FRCC hosts Maria's Children, handicapped Russian orphans who are artistically talented. Maria's Children is an arts rehabilitation center in Moscow, founded by Maria Yeliseyeva who has been teaching and mentoring orphan children for ten years.

Maria's work was noticed by Dr. Patch Adams (played by Robin Williams in the movie) who was impressed with Maria's commitment to the children and he and others created the Maria's Children Foundation.

The RCC donated its building for the two week exhibit of the children's paintings. The FRCC helped promote the exhibit and Bob Ryan of NBC-TV donated his time as auctioneer of the paintings. Proceeds went to Maria's Children Foundation.

For information: www.mariaschildren.org, email:mariaschildren@mail.ru
Maria (7th from left) and her Children together with Washington children sponsored by the media.
FRCC Chairman introduces Bob Ryan of NBC TV who donated his time as charity auctioneer for sales of Maria's children paintings.
RCC entrance announces Maria's Children exhibit
WINTER CLOTHES FOR RUSSIAN CHILDREN
The RCC Winter Clothes for Russian Children Program provides clothes on a case by case basis for the neediest children in Russia as identified by officials of the Duma and private sector individuals involved in humanitarian work. The shipment pictured at left was a joint effort between the RCC, Russian diplomats and Americans who donated clothes, and Aeroflot who provided the shipment at no cost.
Inaugural shipment of winter clothes, stuffed animals and toys for needy Russian children.
THE OBOLENSKY SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN
Most of the roof of the unoccupied main building, left, is missing and the interior needs substantial renovation before it can become the primary school facility. The two scenes, right, are of buildings recently rebuilt.
Prince Alexis Obolensky and Mrs. Obolensky of Washington, D.C., have established the Obolensky-Saltykoff Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization, to support the newly remaned State Internat "Prince Alexei Dmitrich Obolensky School for Children of Special Needs" on the former Obolensky family estate "Berezichi" in Kaluga Province, Russia. There are approximately 150 children, who are wards of the state, ages 6-16, who board and attend the Special Education school on the property---kindergarten through high school. The major needs include repair of the main building which will become the primary school facility for the children. Please contact the Obolensky-Saltykoff Foundation, 4501 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 523, Washington, D.C. 20008.
Musical presentation by school children, May 26, 2003, and map of the property.
JOINT HUMANITARIAN EFFORT VS DRUGS
RCC/FRCC sponsored a Russian and American seminar on our joint efforts in fighting international crime---namely drug trafficking and child pornography. Speakers were from the U.S. Government Department of Justice and Russian offical counterparts. Panel detailed the cooperation between the two governments and successes in fighting these insidious crimes.
The panel detailed several specific successes of the joint project. Touch of humor in an otherwise very serious seminar: "Who would have thought the FBI and KGB would be working together?"--Russian panelist. .
HEARING IMPAIRED MIMES
The RCC and FRCC sponsors periodically a troupe of hearing-impaired mimes from St. Petersburg, Russia, to perform for children at the Russian Cultural Centre.

The troupe is highly professional and sophisticated: their performances combine both obvious and subtle humor and emotions, and therefore, appeal to adults as well as children.

The RCC/FRCC has the participation on this project of Gallaudet University, a leading hearing-impaired college in the U.S., located in Washington, D.C.

Charitable proceeds of Mime performance donated to the Russian Orphanage Association, Novogorod, Russia, and the Baby Formula Fund.
The highly sophisticated troupe projects a range of humor and emotions from obvious to subtle, which appeals to both adults and children.
CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND BLOOD DISEASES - THE RAISSA GORBACHEVA CENTER
The Russian Cultural Centre has endorsed and is cooperating with the "Children of Russia" foundation and its plans to build a rehabilitation center for children with cancer and blood diseases, near Vladivostok. Named for the wife of Mikhail Gorbachev, Raissa, herself a victim of leukemia, the center will be built on a forested tract of land near the sea donated by the City of Vladivostok.

The main goal of the Center is to provide medical and psychological help for children recovering from cancer and blood diseases, so that they may return to normal life with strength, confidence and dignity.

The Gorbacheva Center is being realized through the efforts of the Russian Honorary Consul General of Hawaii, Natasha Owen, and Speaker of the Duma, Gennady Seleznyev, who is Chairman of the Foundation. It is registered in the U.S. as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Information on the future Gorbacheva Center may be viewed at www.childrenofrussia.info.
The main goal of the Gorbacheva Center is to provide medical and psychological help for children recovering from cancer and blood diseases, so they may return to normal life.
The Center will include a Parents Home for parents to stay with their children who are undergoing intensive chemo- and radiation therapy in the clinic in Vladivostok.
BRAILLE FOR RUSSIAN BLIND
The RCC/FRCC provided to the All Russia Association of the Blind, in Moscow, the set at left of Braille plates donated by the creator, Arnold Dunn of St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Braille system of printing and writing was originally developed in the early 1800s by Frenchman Louis Braille. The inventor, blind since age 3 due to an accident, developed the system in teaching the blind at a school in Paris. The Braille system consists of six raised points used in 63 possible combinations. Mr. Dunn developed this set of Braille in Cyrillic for the seeing impaired.

Address of the All Russia Association of the Blind: 14 Novaya Ploshched, Moscow 103672, Russia.
This set of Braille wooden blocks, provided by RCC to the All Russia Association of the Blind, was donated by Arnold Dunn who developed this set in Cyrillic.
RCC SATURDAY SCHOOL
The RCC Saturday School for children ages 6 - 12. The children learned about Russian culture and Russian American relations.
While the building was being converted to the present RCC museum, the RCC provided a Saturday school for children, many of whom are Russian children adopted by American parents. The RCC provided rooms in the building, the Embassy provided teachers and the FRCC and World Bank provided tables and chairs. The school met each Saturday during the school year from 9 AM to 3 PM.