We held our inaugural fundraising event on June 7th — an Evening of Music and Poetry, featuring the actress Chulpan Khamatova, who is a co-founder of our Russian sister charity “Podari Zhizn” Foundation, and violinist Dmitri Berlinsky.
We managed to raise $29 745!
The event took place at Bonhams Auction House. Chulpan Khamatova's recital of the poetry of Boris Pasternak and Marina Tsvetaeva was intertwined and overlaid with the Quintet of Dmitry Shostakovich, where Dmitri Berlinsky was joined by four distinguished musicians - Leon Livshin, Anna Rabinova, Richard Young and Timotheos Petrin.
"This Quintet by Shostakovich has a lot of children's spontaneity to it, naivety and purity despite the fact that it was written during a very tragic period of history, back in 1940" said Dmitri Berlinsky. "Pasternak and Tsvetaeva created their poetry at that same time, which is why it echoes the music of Shostakovich. We are happy to present a dialogue of this poetry and music for the first time".
Dmitri Berlinsky. Photo: Vladimir Badikov.
"Our evening of music and poetry is a token of gratitude to those who are helping Podari.Life" said Chulpan Khamatova. "The US public charity took on a critical and difficult task of raising funds and organizing educational courses for Russian oncologists, hematologists and psychologists. This training and expertise transfer that will allow our doctors to keep up with the latest developments and best practices of global medicine. I am happy that those who support Podari.Life understand this critical need and have chosen to help."
The evening was full of surprises and one of them waited for Chulpan Khamatova herself. Masha Dyatlova, a cancer survivor who received her life-saving bone marrow transplant and treatment at a Moscow oncology clinic, attended to evening. Masha has now blossomed into a beautiful young lady, we could hardly recognize her from a child who was given 15 days to live.
(All photos: Vladimir Badikov)
The show was also attended by actors Yevgeny Mironov and Yulia Peresild, the General Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in New York, Raushan Esbulatova, and other distinguished guests. All event costs were covered by volunteers and sponsors. All ticket proceeds and funds raised during the evening will go directly into the educational programs of Podari.Life, including the training for clinical psychologists at the Federal Oncohematology Pediatric Center and a purchase of medical demonstration dolls that allow doctors to explain the treatment process to young children.
We thank all of our supporters! We are very grateful to The Cherry Orchard Festival who presented the event as part of the New York tour of the Theatre of the Nations, Bonhams Auction House, Steinway & Sons, Burger & Lobster, Tastemakers, Jewel of Russia, our lottery sponsors, and a team of volunteers - Anastasia Efimova, Katya Gorbatiouk, Janara Khassenova, Maria Leibholz, Elena Pitaleff, Inna Post, Elena Sardarova, Eleonora Stefantsova, Rada Sumareva and Helen Vaysman - who joined their efforts, talents and love to make this dream evening come true.
