“On behalf of the United States Government, I congratulate the Russian American Foundation and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy on 15 years of successful partnership. Your collaboration has deepened ties between the U.S. and Russian dance communities and encouraged cross cultural understanding through the arts, despite the challenges in the official bilateral relationship. Your success demonstrates that the Russian and American people can perform, learn, and thrive side-by-side. I wish you many more years of successful collaboration ahead.”
- Honorable John J. Sullivan, U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation, 2022
“The Russian American Foundation’s contributions to cultural, educational, and sports programs in the United States and Russia help foster greater understanding between the people. Such programs highlight the things that the American and Russian people have in common.”
- Honorable Michael A. McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation, 2012
RAF's Mission
The Russian American Foundation (RAF) was founded in 1997 as a non-partisan organization to encourage interest in and understanding of Russian heritage among all communities in the US, as well as to promote reciprocal interest in and understanding of American heritage among global Russian-speaking communities. At its inception, RAF's programming centered on the arts as a common bond to promote mutual understanding and engagement. With time, RAF's programming also expanded to the fields of education and sports.
Today, RAF serves national and international communities while continuing to be a strong supporter and active member of the Russian-American community of New York. At the core of RAF's mission is an ongoing commitment to:
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Promoting a positive dialogue between the people and cultures of the United States and Russia.
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Promoting economic and social development, progress, and well-being within the Russian-speaking community of the New York area and the greater United States.
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Promoting a better understanding and acceptance of the Russian-speaking community among the various other communities of New York and the greater United States.
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Assisting the Russian-speaking community of New York and the greater United States in preserving its heritage, culture, and language.
As we watch the developments with broken hearts, we stand with the country of Ukraine and its people, and the majority of people in Russia who want peace.