Community

The Expat Charity Organization (ECHO) Expat Christmas Party took place at the Hard Rock Cafe on December 17th, 2005 to raise funds for the ‘Nastenka’ Charitable foundation, which helps children with cancer. ‘The Back To Your Childhood’ party saw jugglers, clowns, magicians, ded moroz, snegorachka, and live music by 'Croupier' featuring Johnny and Gwynn (and the odd belly-dancer couple). The event was well-attended by expats and their families and about $5000 was raised through entry and raffle ticket sales. The proceeds of the event will go to ‘Nastenka’, which will use the funds to purchase medical equipment, pay for treatment, and help families whose children suffer from cancer, and to fund other relevant programs. The event was organized and sponsored by Concept and ECHO, and supported by Pepsi., Hard Rock Cafe, Swissotel, LeMeridien, Warren’s Sausages and other generous sponsors.

On the 13th of December in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the French fashion house Celine held its first auction in Russia. Over 100 guests attended the charity event, which was held in aid of purchasing special equipment for the Pushkin Center for Aesthetic Education, for handicapped gifted children.  This centre, according to Elena Savostina, the deputy assistant of the Pushkin museum, has existed for 40 years; it now has two new buildings in Kolmazhny Pereulok, and can now take 400 students, including invalid children.

25,400 Euro were raised from the auction of three collectors Boogie bags, signed personally by famous Russian artists, Rusteslav Khamdamov, Andrei Bartenev and Lavrenty Bruni.  Many of the Russia’s most famous attended, such as Irina Khakamada, Alena Sviridova, Anastasia Volochkova, Oksana Robsky, Sati Spivakova.