The mission of "Doroga vmeste" (United Way of Russia) is to assist the development of responsible charity in Russia and support local charity programs dedicated to solving Russia's most critical problems. United Way of Russia is a Russian non-profit organization that seeks to improve people's lives. We donate money and resources and devote our efforts and the efforts of our volunteers to fight for the welfare of children, the elderly, and the disabled. United Way of Russia currently finances charity programs throughout Moscow and its regions, Arkhangelsk, and Tula. It is our ultimate goal to extend our work throughout Russia. United Way of Russia is a Russian charity fund that operates according to United Way international's charity standards. The idea of collecting funds to support local charity organizations was born in 1887 when four priests in Denver, Colorado (US) organized a company to collect money for 20 local organizations devoted to supporting society. The work of these four priests inspired people across the United States adopt their method of collecting funds, and in 1913, in Cleveland, Ohio (US), a local organization assisted in collecting and distributing these funds. This was the first Community Chest and the predecessor of what is now United Way. In 1990 United Way International opened its representative office in Moscow and appealed to local businesses to create an advisory council to help popularlize the idea of charity in Russia. Subsequent years were marked the representative office's development into a charity organization devoted to supporting Russians in need. In 1997 the advisory council transformed into a Board of Directors, and programs and funds management in Russia was handed from United Way International to United Way Moscow. In 2008 United Way Moscow was registered as Russian Philanthropy Fund United Way of Russia. |
