As a result of a merger of the American Russian Aid Association and Otrada Inc in 1999, this Fund was established in memory of Prince Sergei Belosselsky-Belozersky the founder of the ARAA.  Interest earned from the Fund is used to meet the needs of the Russian people, people of Russian ancestry, and the people of the Orthodox Christian faith both in Russia and outside: through donations to qualified charitable non-profit and religious organizations; through disbursements to organizations that further the stated mission and goals of ARAA-Otrada; or directly to individuals in need of charitable assistance.  Requests to the Fund can be sent via our "Contact" page.  

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In 2016-2017, the Belosselsky Fund committee was chaired by Marena Maltsev and the following donations were distributed:

• $10,000 to the Holy Trinity Monastery: $5,000 (Summer Liturgical Music Program); $5,000 (General Repair Fund)

• $10,000 to the Russian Gift of Life

• $3,000 to the St John of Kronstadt Memorial Fund

• $3,000 to the Fund for Assistance to ROCOR

• $3,000 to a family in need of charitable assistance

• $3,000 to Ruskaya Zhyizin: $1,000 directed for the development of a website; $2,000 for general needs

• $2,000 to the Russian American Community Services: Bestow Mercy Program

• $500 to the RACH-C - for the Russian American History Month

In 2017-2018, the Belosselsky Fund committee was chaired by Marena Maltsev and the following donations were distributed:

• $10,000 to the Russian Gift of Live to help children in need

• $5,000 to the St Peter and Paul ROC in Santa Rosa, CA to benefit parishioners impacted by the Wildfires

• $5,000 to the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America (ROCOR) to provide Hurricane Harvey relief efforts

• $2,500 to the Eastern American Diocese (ROCOR) to support the Costa Rica Mission

• $2,500 to the Diocese of the South (OCA) to provide relief to victims of Hurricane Irma

• $2,000 to the ORPR Scout Camp for the needs of the youth of the Chicago and Mid-America Diocese (ROCOR): $1k to their general fund, and $1k to their Bright Friday Fundraiser

• $4,000 allocated to the Russian Orthodox Convent (Novo Diveevo) to support their sponsorship of the St Herman's Youth Conference (plus free use of the Belosselsky and Banquet Halls) and purchase gifts for the conference attendees

• $1,000 to ОРЮР (Washington Chapter) to support their 2018 summer camp for children

In 2018-2019, the Belosselsky Fund committee was chaired by Helen Sokoloff and the following donations were distributed:

• $2,000 to Foundation of Russian History - Jordanville, NY to support their Last Days of the Last Tsar exhibition

• $10,000 to the Russian Gift of Live to help children in need

• $5,000 to The Benevolent Memorial Fund of St John - Western American Diocese - ROCOR - Kemerovo, Russia Appeal  

• $5,000 to the Give Hope Foundation, Brooklyn NY - Homeless Outreach Program

• $5,000 to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem

• $5,000 to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad - 2018 Youth Conference

• $2,536 to the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry of the Assembly of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA 

• $2,500 to the Orthodox Christian Network a ministry of the Assembly of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA

• $5,000 to the Russian Humanitarian Mission in support of the Burn Center in Donetsk

• $5,000 to the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) for Hurricane Michael relief

• $4,000 to Zoeforlife! - National Office

• $5,000 to the Russian Humanitarian Mission in support of the Burn Center in Donetsk

• $2,536 to the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry of the Assembly of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA 

• $1,000 to the Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, NY) to support the Summer Youth Program

• $5,000 to the Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund, Inc - to support the Father Pavel Adelgeim Centre (Pskov)

• $1,500 to the Historical Studies of ROCOR

In 2019-2020, the following donations were distributed from the Belosselsky Fund:

• $4,000 to the Russian History Foundation (Jordanville, NY) in support of their Revealing the Divine exhibition

• $800 to support and host the Rotary Children's Fund's international dance group

• $250 to the Holy Virgin Protection Church Parish School

• $250 to the St Alexander Nevsky Parish School

• $250 to the Intercession of the Holy Virgin & St Sergius Parish School

• $2,000 to Club Dubrykov

• $2,500 to the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR - to support the Hermitage of The Holy Protection (Buena, NJ)

• $3,500 to the Brooklyn Homeless “Give Hope Foundation” 

• $2,335.50 to the Russian Humanitarian Mission to purchase medical diagnostic equipment

• $3,000 to the Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, NY) to support the Summer Youth Program

• $2,536 to the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry

• $2,000 to the Palm of Hope 

• $500 to the IOCC to support their Nashville Tornado Disaster Relief response

• $3,821.14 to benefit the International Orthodox Christian Charities (health and school kits); a number of the health kits were donated to homeless / outreach missions in our local Rockland County communities

• $1,500 to the Orthodox Hawaiian Iveron Icon - Memorial Shrine Fund

• $1,000 to the Holy Cross Monastery in support of their COVID-19 live-streaming outreach program

• $2,000 to the Zoe for Life! - Southern Tier Chapter 

• $5,000 to Russian Gift of Life - Podari Zhizn

• $2,500 to Miloserdia - Orthodox Charity Organization (Russia)

• $532.36 to the St Elizabeth Convent - Minsk, Belarus

• $300 to the Church World Service in help distribute Health Kits

• $250 to FOCUS North America to support their Covid-19 PPE initiative

• $750 to the Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund - Pskov Camping Program

• $1,000 to the Russian History Foundation

• $1,000 to the Zoe 4 Life! - Michigan Chapter 

• $3,500 to the National Organization of Volunteers NORD- “Rus” to support a Scouting Seminar

• $5,000 to the Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund 

• $1,500 to the Holy Trinity Seminary - to sponsor a study of the impact of the All Russia Council (1917-1918)

• $2,500 to the Orthodox Christian Fellowship

• $1,000 to the Russian History Foundation (Jordanville, NY) - 35th Anniversary Appeal

• $1,500 to the Historical Studies of ROCOR

In 2020-2021, the Belosselsky Fund committee was chaired by Maria Peavy and the following donations were distributed:

• $1,000 to Focus North America - Homeless / Hungry outreach

• $2,000 to the ROCA Assistance Fund to support the Centennial Anniversary

• $1,000 to St John Give Hope - Homeless outreach

• $3,000 to the Holy Cross Monastery Building Fund

• $1,000 to the Russian History Foundation

• $1,000 to the Orthodox Christian Assoc. of Medicine, Psychology, & Religion

• ​$500 to the St Alexander Nevsky Benevolent Fund to support Community Outreach

• $1,000 to the Martha & Mary Maternity House

• $1,000 to the Zoe for Life! - Cleveland Chapter

• $1,876 to the Historical Studies of ROCOR

• $3,000 to the Christ the Savior Orthodox Church - Wayne WV (food pantry & as needed)

• $2,000 to the St. Peter and Paul Church - Passaic, NJ (food pantry mission)

• $3,000 to the St. Andrew Orthodox Church - Lockhart, TX (food pantry & repairs)

• $1,500 to the Palm of Hope

• $1,000 to the ROCOR Centenary Publications 

• $3,000 to the Hermitage of Our Lady of Kursk - Mahopac Church Restoration Fund  

• $2,375 for an IOCC Health Kit Packing event

• $500 to the Church World Service to help offset Health Kit Distribution Costs

In 2021-2022, the Belosselsky Fund committee was chaired by Maria Peavy and the following donations were distributed:

• $2,000 to the Diocese of Chicago & Mid America (Archbishop Seraphim Headstone Fund)

• $3,000 to the St John the Wonderworker Mission - Lewisburg PA (Building Fund)

• $1,000 to the Three Saints OCA Vacation Church School 

• $3,000 to the Holy Apostles - Beltsville MD (roof repair fund)

• $1,000 to the Orthodox Christians for Life

• $500 to the Historical Studies of ROCOR - in support of the Belgrade Conference

• $2,000 to the Russian History Foundation - Youth Museum Class

• $1,000 to the St Andrew ROC (Lockhart, TX) Food Pantry Mission

• $2,000 to the Palm of Hope 

• $2,000 to the St John Give Hope Homeless Outreach Mission

• $2,000 to the St Elizabeth Convent (Minsk) in support of the “Eagles” Youth Initiative

• $2,000 to the IOCC to support Haiti Earthquake Relief 

• $1,000 to Orthodox Africa 

• $500 to the IOCC for Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Aid

• $2,536 to the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry

• $500 to the San Juan Climaco Orthodox Mission

• $3,000 to the Hermitage of our Lady of Kursk - Mahopac Church Restoration Fund

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In 2022-2023, the Belosselsky Fund committee was chaired by Maria Peavy and the following donations were distributed:

• $2,000 to the Hermitage of our Lady of Kursk - Iconostasis Restoration Fund

• Can$1,500 to the St John - The Compassionate Mission (Toronto)

• $3,000 to the Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville) - Facilities Maintenance Appeal 

• $3,000 to the Christ the Savior ROC (Youngstown, AZ) host of the 2022 St Herman Youth Conference (West)

• $3,000 to the St Basil ROC (Belle Vernon, PA) Roof repair fund

• $2,000 to the Palm of Hope pulmonologist services for critically ill children in Russia

• $1,000 to the New St Jenik Monastery (ROC - Serbia)  

• $1,000 to the St Basil’s Academy Orthodox School Library 

• $1,000 to the Orthodox Christians for Life

• $2,000 to the Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska - Preservation Fund

• $2,500 to the St Seraphim of Sarov (Kalskag, AK) - Restoration Fund

• $3,000 to the Iveron Mother of God Monastery (Mohawk, NY) - Building Fund

• $3,000 to the Donbass Humanitarian Aid, Inc. (Fort Myers, FL)

• $1,000 to the St Seraphim of Sarov Mission Church (ROCOR - DR)

• $3,500 to the Lesna Convent (ROCA- France)

• $1,000 to the Misión de Nuestra Sra. Madre de Dios de Kazan (ROCOR-DR)

In 2023 - 2024, the Belosselsky Fund committee was chaired by Maria Peavy - and the following donations were distributed:

• $1,000 to the World Central Kitchen - Middle East Humanitarian Aid

• $3,000 to the Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville) - Summer Youth Fund 

• $2,000 to the Mother of God Icon “Quick to Hear” Convent (Mohawk, NY) - Building Fund

• $1,500 to the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry

• $1,500 to Kuban Cossacks - Lienz Chapel Restoration Fund (Jackson, NJ)

• $2,000 to St John Give Hope Homeless Outreach program (Brooklyn, NY) 

• $1,500 to The Treehouse (Wichita, KS) 

• $1,500 to Raphael House (San Francisco, CA)

• $1,000 to Youth Equipped to Serve (YES) a mission of FOCUS, North America

• $1,000 to The Priest Daniel Sysoev - Moms and Kids Charitable Fund (Moscow, RU)

• $3,000 to the Donbass Humanitarian Aid, Inc. (Ft Myers, FL)

• $2,000 to the Monastery of St Macarius the Great of Egypt Building Fund (Montclair, CA)

• $4,000 to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (ROCOR)

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For 2024 - 2025, the Belosselsky Fund committee was chaired by Anastasia Boikov and the following donations were distributed:

• $1,500 to the St John - The Compassionate Mission (Toronto)

• $1,000 to the St Ksenia Mission - Austin, TX (ROCOR)

• $1,000 to Project Mexico & St Innocent Orphanage 

• $3,800 to Purchase keyboards for the ROCOR Synodal Music School

• $5,000 to the Hermitage of our Lady of Kursk - Chapel Repair Fund

• $4,000 to the St Elizabeth Convent (Minsk) - Almshouse project

• $3,000 to the Iveron Mother of God Monastery - Guest House project

• $3,000 to Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska (ROSSIA) - Karluk, Alaska (Kodiak) church preservation

• $3,000 to the Holy Trinity Monastery - Carpentry Shop Project

• $1,500 to the Saint Vladimir Seminary - sponsoring an audiobook

• $2,000 to Saint Olympia Orth Church Flood Relief and Food Pantry

• $1,500 to Orthodox Africa - project to build a well in Kenya

• $1,000 to Share the Faith Ministries - to support mission parishes

• $5,000 to the ROCOR NY Cathedral of the Sign Restoration Fund

• $3,000 to the St. Nicholas Church in NC (Hurricane Helene Relief)

• $3,000 to the St. Tikhon Church in TN (Hurricane Helene Relief)

• $1,000 to Zoe for Life - (new Atlanta Chapter)

• $3,000 to Lesna Monastery (ROCA-France) winter appeal

• $2,000 to St John of Shanghai Church Building Fund (ROCOR-PA)

• $1,000 to Vladimirova School / Museum (ROCOR-IL)

• $2,000 to the New Stjenik Convent Winter Appeal (ROCA-Serbia)

• $3,000 to Kuban Cossack - Lienz Chapel Restoration (NJ)

• $3,000 to St. Nicholas (ROCOR-TX) - Church Building Fund

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In 2025 - 2026, the Belosselsky Fund committee was chaired by Anastasia Boikov and the following donations were distributed:

• $2,000 to Project Mexico to support the Casa Cuna San Felipe Infant Orphanage

• $3,000 to Orthodox Africa - development projects

• $3,000 - the Donbass Humanitarian Aid (rebuilding monasteries)

• $5,000 - Holy Apostles Church (Beltsville, Md) Building Fund

• $5,000 - St Elizabeth Convent (Minsk) Summer Pavilion Building Fund

• $3,000 - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral (Chicago, Il) Soup Kitchen

• $5,000 - St John Gives Hope (Brooklyn, NY) homeless outreach

• $2,000 - Russian Choral Heritage Found. - Orthodox Sacred Music Library 

• $3,000 - Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage

• $10,000 - Saint Elizabeth Skete (Jordanville) 

• $5,000 - Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville) cupola and mosaic restoration 

• $15,000 - Diocese of Sitka and Alaska - Flood Relief to Western Alaska 

• $5,000 - Saint John of Kronstadt Academy (Brisbane, AUS)

• $10,000 - NY Cathedral of the Sign Restoration Fund 

In 2026 - 2027, the Belosselsky Fund committee is chaired by Anastasia Boikov.

Suggestions for donations can be sent through our Contacts Page.