Philanthropy Pictures
Ponery is an orphanage near Kursk. We have purchased several items for them over the past two years - extra things the state money cannot provide. The first picture shows the kids with a MUC flag we bought them.
This is Edik Avanessov, who is now 8 and in 2nd grade. We have been working with him and his family since his birth. They live in Kursk, Russia.
This is Edik and his dad, Boris Avanessov.
This photo is of Dr. Mark Himmelein, Jarrod Cole, Anna Tomberg and her son Alexi. He has cerebral palsy. We have raised about 4K for them to help him with surgeries and medication the family cannot afford. The father, David Tomberg, is not in the picture. Alexi is 5 years old.
This is a picture of Anna Tomberg and Alexi. The medications we have helped provide have really moved this kid forward - though the medication is only about $50 per month - that is at least half an average family income.
Here is a Letter that was sent to Alumni in order to help with our Philanthropy.
February 20, 2005
Dear Friends:
I wanted to take a minute to write to you - those brothers with whom I have been directly involved over the past 8 years or so. I think the enclosed letter from Jarrod Cole says about everything, but perhaps a couple of comments from me might be in order.
I suspect all of you know that it was I who suggested this partnership with Russia just about 7 years ago. Way back when, when Lance Green was commander, I asked you if you wanted to send along a gift to Edik, my godson, to help him and his family through some very rough times in Russia. I can still recall Lance trying to buy baby clothes in Wal-Mart, and the actives at that time voting to send $100 from a dangerously low checking account to buy medicine and supplies. You may recall also, how some $140 appeared anonymously in Lance's mailbox after the story of your kindness appeared in the local paper. The support has continued up to the present, and since that first visit in 1998, a number of you have visited Kursk, spent time with Edik and his family, (probably ate and drank too much!) and helped spread the word about Beta Iota's efforts. I'm proud to say that today, in great measure through your efforts, Edik and his family are doing much, much better. Like most in Russia, and I suspect a number of us, they live paycheck to paycheck, though at least we know that we will actually get paid on pay day. Edik is about to start 1st grade - he's smarter than you can imagine, healthy, rambunctious and truly a very loving kid. Your efforts and generosity have not gone unnoticed by his family, and all who know of you in Kursk - and trust me, there are very many who do!
This past December, Jarrod Cole, Matt Myers, Jamie Hart and I ventured over to Kursk to enjoy the holidays with Edik and the family. New Year's Eve, followed by Orthodox Christmas were incredible. However much you ate for the holidays - double that, and you'll know how Rimma, Edik's grandmother, fed us! Jarrod also began our new initiatives while there - initiatives that were initiated and supported by the chapter, and which he outlined in his letter. My role was mostly to put the right people into contact with each other and to let things progress. Our Russian hosts could hardly comprehend why a group of guys 5,000 miles away were trying to support kids in an orphanage, let alone a child that had no real connection to them. I think what I learned most about this experience was what an incredible, positive impression this gave so many Russians, not only Beta Iota, but more importantly, of the American people. We weren't going there to proselytize or to set conditions for them to receive any help - we just wanted to do good for good's sake, which I think is fundamental to Sigma Nu.
The funds that we are now seeking to raise through a variety of means will go exclusively to support the work at the orphanage and to Alexi Tomberg, the 4 - year old with Cerebral Palsy. The December trip, as well as the May trip were/will be funded exclusively by the participants. Matt, Jamie, Jarrod and I paid our own ways then, and Jarrod and I will do so again in May. I'd like to ask you to think about your part in this project. I'm sending this letter to about 50 of you who were actives during my tenure with Sigma Nu, and am asking you to think about whatever part you can play in significant undertaking. I know that many of you are starting to raise a family, buying that home and trying to make it in your career - not to mention still paying off student loans! Money is tight, I know, but perhaps you can think of donating what you spend stopping for coffee for a couple of weeks, the price of a few six-packs (Nati-lite excluded!),or a good meal out one evening. What I am doing is putting in the cost of each diet coke I buy at work out of the vending machine. I have a jar in my desk for just that, and it's getting pretty full about now. I guess I'd also like to suggest that you maybe consider a donation if ever I picked you up from the bar when you couldn't drive, when you left presents in or on my car (BJ) after a night out, raided my cupboards and fridge for food and spirits - or just for remembering the good times. I know that some of you can give, and others cannot. Regardless, I appreciate all that you have done for me and for Beta Iota these past years..
I am going to put some pictures from the orphanage and of Alexi on a web page, and you can find it on my home page: HYPERLINK "http://www.muc.edu/~himmelm" http://www.muc.edu/~himmelm - just look for the link. Until we get a chance to visit or talk, I wish you all the best and hope that 2005 is a great year for each and every one of you.
Fraternally,
Mark Himmelein