The Russian American Foundation (RAF), member of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission Obama-Medvedev, Working Sub-Group on Culture, was founded in 1997 to encourage interest in and understanding of Russian heritage among all communities in the U.S., as well as to promote reciprocal interest in American heritage among global communities of the former Soviet Union. Over the years RAF’s programming and activities have expanded to incorporate:

• Promoting cultural, economic and social development, progress and well being within the Russian speaking community in the New York area and the greater United States.

• Promoting a better understanding and acceptance of the Russian speaking community among the various other communities of the New York area and the greater United States.

• Engaging in activities which assist the Russian speaking community of the New York area, and the greater United States in preserving their heritage, culture and language.

RAF’s activities are grouped into two divisions: The Russian American Arts Foundation and The Russian American Health Coalition.

For additional information about our programs please email info@russianamericanfoundation.org

*Due to a high volume of emails, we are taking time to respond to each correspondence in the order it was received. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

MARINA KOVALYOV

President

Marina Kovalyov is highly regarded in the Russian-speaking communities worldwide as both a business and a cultural leader. A senior curator at the St. Petersburg Museum of Ethnography in Russia, Marina emigrated to the United States in 1979 and was immediately asked to join the Costumes and Textiles department at the Brooklyn Museum of New York. Three years later, Marina decided to pursue entrepreneurism and founded a travel company which specialized in servicing the Russian speaking community. The company quickly expanded and became the leading agency for the Russian speaking community with offices in New York, Moscow and Tel-Aviv. In the 1990s Marina saw an opportunity to bring Russian artists and entertainers to the United States, launching a successful career as a producer. During her career Marina hosted a highly popular program on Russian television and was a co-creator and a co-editor of the magazine New York Seasons, the first Russian language magazine about cultural life in New York.

After selling her business in 1997, Marina founded the Russian American Arts Foundation with the goal of building a bridge between Russia and the United States through culture and people. Marina’s expertise and global connections are in constant demand and she serves as a consultant for many American and Russian corporations, elected officials and private individuals. With her active lifestyle, Marina still finds time for charitable causes and is a member of the boards of numerous community organizations such as; United Jewish Appeal-Russian Division, Shorefront YM-YWHA, COJECO, and The Jewish Week.

Marina has been awarded numerous Honors and Awards for her contribution, including:

2010 - Award for "Outstanding Contributions To The Jewish Community", Queens Jewish Community Council, Inc.

2008 - Award for "Contributions to the Successful Development of Cultural Life of New York”, The Office of the Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes

2007 - Honored by William C. Thompson, Jr. for her Outstanding contributions to the Cultural Life of New York City

2006 - Honored by The Council of the City of New York for her Outstanding contributions to the Cultural Life of the City

2005 - Honored by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg for her Outstanding Contributions to New York City

2004 - Honored in a program by Channel 13 “Immigrant Women Pursuing The American Dream”

2000 and 1996 - Woman of the Year, United Jewish Appeal

1994 - Woman of the Year, Long Island Business Association

 

RINA KIRSHNER

Vice President

Rina Kirshner (RAF, Vice President) was trained for the world of high finance and management at Wharton School of Business and University of Pennsylvania and received her MBA at NYU Stern School of Business, graduating with honors in all degrees. In her early years, she actively pursued a career in international business with focus on Russia. But, after numerous years in the private sector, and in seeing Russian American relations evolve through various stages, Rina soon felt the need to focus more on bridging the gap that existed between the Russian American people, cultures and countries.

In 1997, Rina co-founded the Russian American Foundation (RAF) with Marina Kovalyov. Since then, in her role as Vice President of RAF, Rina has been an active champion of the Russian Speaking community in the U.S. and Russian American relations globally. Rina has been instrumental in reaching out to mainstream corporations, organizations and media (ie: Target, Verizon, Citibank, Daily News and many others) and educating them about the importance of the Russian Speaking community. She has worked in numerous areas, such as: youth programming, cultural preservation, healthcare, politics, entertainment and others. Rina is extremely involved in youth education, launching and overseeing RAF's Annual Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Program and  by volunteering as Principal For a Day, as part of the highly acclaimed PENCIL Private/Public School Initiative working to bring Russian language and cultural programming to NY’s public schools.