The people who make it happen

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Founders

Janie Ekberg, fiber artist, business owner, teacher and passionate volunteer, began visiting Russia in 1990 as a delegate in various art and theater exchanges. Janie accompanies each year’s team of Counselors to Russia and oversees the daily operation.

Allison Ekberg Dvaladze is Educational Outreach Coordinator at the Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies in the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. Prior to joining the UW, Allison worked for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Washington D.C. and the Caucasus where she focused on civil society development and election reform. She was also editor-in-chief of The Messenger, Georgia’s English-language daily newspaper, and AmCham News magazine. Allison spent her first year after high school living in Novosibirsk, dancing with the Globe Theater and studying Russian. She is a graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

Natasha Syrykh has been an educator and theater executive in Novosibirsk, Siberia. Throughout her life, Natasha has had a deep concern for orphans and she has initiated numerous programs to bring theater and art to children. As our on-site partner throughout the year, Natasha works closely with our ‘scholarship’ recipients and Russian staff.

Over the years of their shared love and concern for children, Janie and Natasha have delivered money, medicine – and now fun and joy – to some of Russia’s most forgotten children!

Board of Directors

Janie Ekberg, Founder and Managing Director
Ellin Spenser, President
Tom White, Vice President
Debbie Ehrig, Secretary
Janet Brookes, Treasurer
Haley Allen
James Coatsworth
Cheryl Dale
Allison and Luka Dvaladze
Pam Gidari
Omie Kerr
Nicholas Masla
Anna Neff
A.J. Peters
Caroline Reis
Matthew Scoble
Althea Paulson

Russian Staff

Pasha Harin
Lena Miller
Natasha Syrykh (mother)
Natasha Syrykh (daughter)
Taya (cook)
Ala (doctor)
Tanya

Our Russian Helpers

Natasha and Janie