Tolstoy Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Tolstoy Foundation is a non-profit charitable, philanthropic organization. It was established on April 26, 1939 by Alexandra Tolstoy
, youngest daughter of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy
. Its headquarters are in Rockland County, New York
in Valley Cottage
.
Its original purpose was to help Russia
n refugee
s from Europe
and Soviet Union
. Later, the foundation played an important role in helping Soviet displaced persons, dissidents and former Soviet citizens to settle in the West
. Presently among its goals the foundation lists education and training programs worldwide. Tolstoy Foundation has many branches of humanitarian organization
s: it has elderly care
homes, homes for orphan
ed children, free cultural institutes and kindergarten
and education
institutes.
Alexandra Lvovna Tolstaya
Alexandra Lvovna Tolstaya , , also known by her nickname Sasha, was the youngest daughter and secretary of the noted Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy....
, youngest daughter of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
. Its headquarters are in Rockland County, New York
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
in Valley Cottage
Valley Cottage, New York
Valley Cottage is a hamlet , in the Town of Clarkstown Rockland County, New York, United States located north of West Nyack; east of New City; south of Congers and west of Upper Nyack...
.
Its original purpose was to help Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Later, the foundation played an important role in helping Soviet displaced persons, dissidents and former Soviet citizens to settle in the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
. Presently among its goals the foundation lists education and training programs worldwide. Tolstoy Foundation has many branches of humanitarian organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
s: it has elderly care
Elderly care
Elderly care or simply eldercare is the fulfillment of the special needs and requirements that are unique to senior citizens. This broad term encompasses such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and In-Home care.-Cultural and geographic...
homes, homes for orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
ed children, free cultural institutes and kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
institutes.
Presidents
- Alexandra TolstoyAlexandra Lvovna TolstayaAlexandra Lvovna Tolstaya , , also known by her nickname Sasha, was the youngest daughter and secretary of the noted Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy....
1939-1976 - Tatiana Schaufuss 1976-1986
- Teymuraz K. Bagration 1986-1992
- Boris Vanadzin, MD 1992-2009