CHARITY PROGRAM "LEGENDARY PEOPLE OF RUSSIA"

Mercy, charity and good deeds have for centuries been characteristic of the Russian people and have constituted a root trait of their way of life, character and daily living. One of the most penetrating Russian historians, V. O. Klyuchevsky, in his monograph “The Kind People of Ancient Rus’,” affirmed that charity is both “an auxiliary means of social well-ordering” and “a necessary condition of personal moral health”…

The contemporary domestic political situation in Russia is marked by a strengthening of crisis phenomena in the social sphere and by an aggravation of the problems of protection for elderly people and, above all, pensioners.

Particular pain is caused by the situation of people who, by their achievements, brought glory to our Fatherland and dedicated their entire lives to the Motherland and their people. Today they have found themselves unneeded and undeservedly forgotten. The socio-economic changes that have taken place in our country have in fact placed them on the brink of survival. This cannot be accepted; this cannot be endured; otherwise we have no future. The future of a state is characterised by how it treats children and the elderly.

At the beginning of the new millennium, stars of world cinema and sport, outstanding figures of science and culture, leaders of world business, as well as a number of international public organisations, united in the World Charitable Alliance “Peacemaker” in order, using their high international standing, to render joint support to those who need help in different corners of the planet, to create a single worldwide space for cooperation in the field of charity, and to form a new system of relations among peoples and states based on the principles of humanism and peacemaking.

The official representative of the Alliance “Peacemaker” in Russia became the Interregional Public Charitable Fund “Sozvezdie” (Constellation), which for many years has demonstrated stable and effective work in the charitable sphere.

At present the IPBF “Sozvezdie,” under the aegis of the Alliance “Peacemaker,” has begun implementing the long-term programme “Legendary People of Russia,” directed toward comprehensive support for representatives of the creative intelligentsia, honoured veterans of cinema, famous actors, People’s Artists, figures of culture and art, outstanding scientists, veterans of sport and journalism, and veterans of war and labour.

Relevance of the programme

This programme is regarded as a document defining interaction between various groups of the population and outstanding figures of art, science, sport, journalism, and honoured veterans of war and labour. Such activity appears relevant also in connection with the growing need to renew the forms of civic and patriotic education of the younger generation, and with the expansion of actions to strengthen the spiritual and physical health of the nation.

Great people are the wealth of a country, its spiritual “gold” reserve. The contribution they have made to the formation of our present and future is worthy of respect and reverence; therefore it is our duty to honour our great compatriots with attention. The programme is directed toward forming respect and interest in the cultural heritage, the history of our country and its heroes, and toward cultivating high moral qualities in the adult and rising generations. We wish to acquaint society with the honoured people of Russia, to tell of their glorious life paths, to support honoured veterans of culture and sport, to draw public attention to the needs of people who have made an enormous contribution to the development of our society, to help create conditions for their dignified life, and to raise the prestige of national culture through attention to outstanding creative personalities living beside us.

The World Charitable Alliance “Peacemaker” and the Interregional Public Charitable Fund “Sozvezdie” see their vocation in carrying out large-scale social programmes — namely, comprehensive material and spiritual support for honoured veterans of culture, science, sport, journalism, and veterans of war and labour.

Implementation of the programme:

The foremost task of the project is to render constant, concrete material and moral support to honoured veterans of Russia.

Implementation of the programme “Legendary People of Russia” envisages two aspects:

1) rendering targeted social assistance to honoured veterans;

2) carrying out creative work in the organisation of leisure, holding concerts in honour of veterans.

Under the project “Legendary People of Russia,” a staged programme of targeted social support is being implemented for veterans of war and labour, figures of culture, sport and journalism.

Named lists of beneficiaries are compiled and supplemented jointly with veterans’ and other public organisations, among them: the Moscow Club of Heroes of the Soviet Union and Cavaliers of the Orders of Glory of three degrees; the Moscow House of Veterans of Wars and the Armed Forces; the Moscow City Council of Pensioners—Veterans of War, Labour, the Armed Forces and Law-Enforcement Bodies; the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, the Guild of Film Actors of Russia; the Central House of Workers of the Arts; the House of Scientists; the Union of Athletes of Russia, the Union of Journalists of Moscow, and others.

The project is oriented so that, in its realisation, it may help its participants to lead a full and fruitful life and provide them with the conditions necessary for maintaining or attaining a satisfactory quality of life.

I. Priority directions of the Programme

- material support and the provision of services to honoured veterans;

- rendering financial assistance to veterans in acute need;

- the purchase of foodstuffs, household goods and articles of vital necessity;

- the purchase and targeted distribution of medicinal preparations;

- the provision of subscriptions to periodical publications;

- the presentation of gifts for state and professional holidays;

- assistance in holding jubilees, commemorative dates and personal celebrations of honoured veterans;

- payment for treatment in inpatient hospitals and polyclinics;

- the provision of vouchers to sanatoria, rest homes and health centres;

- free service in institutions of the consumer market and services, or the provision of substantial benefits in these segments;

- the rendering of transport services;

- the rendering of funeral services.

II. Cultural and leisure provision for honoured veterans

- The holding of charity concerts, balls, creative meetings, literary-musical salons, thematic, theatrical and cinema evenings dedicated to nationwide and city holidays;

- The presentation of valuable gifts, prizes, diplomas and medals at festivals, holidays, sporting competitions and other mass cultural events;

- Assistance in the creation of documentary films about outstanding figures of art, science and sport;

- Publication of memoirs, diaries and family archives of well-known veterans;

- Support for existing museums and travelling exhibitions of outstanding people;

- The organisation of exhibitions of private collections of photographs and archival materials;

- The allocation of tickets to theatres, cultural centres, museums and exhibitions.

III. Provision of consultative services to honoured veterans

- The opening of a telephone “hotline” to assist in resolving problems connected with legal questions, psychological counselling, the search for necessary organisations, enterprises, institutions, and so on.

- The organisation of consultations on pension and social security.

The programme “Legendary People of Russia” is supported by:

the Federation Council of the RF, the State Duma of the RF, the Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications of the RF, the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, the Olympic Committee of Russia, the Moscow City Duma, the Government of Russia, the Trade-Union Committee of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation, as well as figures of culture, science, healthcare and sport — Leo Bokeria, Yuri Antonov, Vasily Lanovoy, Nikolai Drozdov, Irina Rodnina, Vladislav Tretiak, Alla Pugacheva and many others. International support of the Alliance is provided by the Motion Picture Association of America and the Screen Actors Guild of the USA. At events held in Russia, the noble ideas of the Alliance are supported by such stars of world cinema as Michael Douglas, Adrian Paul, Michael Madsen, Michael York, Eric Roberts and Quentin Tarantino.

In the course of implementing the programme “Legendary People of Russia,” the WCA “Peacemaker” and the IPBF “Sozvezdie” plan to attract as many people as possible to participation in charitable activity. This is not an easy, yet undoubtedly a useful, cause, necessary for the spiritual flourishing of Russia, and each of us is able to make our own contribution to the history of Russian charity. Together we shall help achieve the development and prosperity of Russia and the restoration of national concord!