Ascent Russian Orphan Aid Foundation

We aim to increase the health, educational level and prosperity of children abandoned to institutionalization. We provide grants for nutrition, medicines, educational scholarships and therapy to children living in qualified institutions.

We work only with those facilities that have a track record of improving children's health, education and well-being. We identify the most effective facilities based on transparency, track record and annual support from individual supporters. We require that all facilities fully document all expenditures when they receive grants from us. We also look for those organizations that provide preventative services to families in need. Oftentimes, the breakup of a family can be prevented if small, preventive measures can be applied.

All of our projects have one or more local coordinators that are up-to-date with the current situation in their assigned region. We regularly travel to and interface with volunteers, managers and regional representatives to ensure that projects are being implemented as intended. Executive Officers of our organization live in the countries where we operate so we can directly manage projects as needed.

Since 2003 we've accomplished the following: $146,000 in Appliances and Equipment; $139,000 for Education; $270,00 for Facility Improvement; $399,000 for Food & Clothing Expenses; $180,000 for Medicine & Health; ...and more than $100,000 in other Miscellaneous Projects. Currently, we are continuing to invest in Educational Projects in Ryazan and Infrastructure Projects in Irkutsk. In Mykolaiv we have committed to continually support the Regional Children's Home and we have a long-term partnership with the Department of Labor and Social Welfare in Uman.