AMERICAN FRIENDS of GEORGIA, INC.
Annual Report 2015-2016
Constantin Sidamon-Eristoff Founding Chairman, 1994-2011 Chairman Simon Sidamon-Eristoff American Friends of Georgia is US based nonprofit, non-political, public charity (with tax exempt status) operating in Georgia since 1994. Organization's mission is to provide practical humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable populations of Georgia in order to improve educational, social, medical and environmental conditions. AFG also supports efforts to preserve and promote Georgian art and culture.
Vice Chairman Keith W. Harrison Executive Director Marusya Chavchavadze Executive Director – Georgia Elena Kiladze, Ph.D. Secretary Sharon O'Brien Miles Treasurer Elena L. Barnum
“The test of the Progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little” Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dear AFG Partners and Friends, 2016 turned out to be a very challenging year for us. As a result of AFG Charity Gala 2015 that broke a record of Funds raised ever since introducing Gala as an annual Event. We have earmarked $50 000 for our prior mission of 2016-2017 – to help Dzegvi Shelter/Community start reconstructing its old building that was almost ruined and ineligible for living. We have become a primary funder for the first and the only free Hospice and Palliative home care program in Georgia. AFG has directed its funds to equip PCR molecular diagnostics laboratory in Iashvili Children's Central Hospital to perform molecular genetic studies of malignancies in pediatric patients reducing risks of incorrect diagnosis. Your donations helped us to support people with disabilities in Mestia, Martvili, Borjomi and many remote regions of Georgia, as well to provide living for flood victims, single mothers, abandoned children and elderly who have nowhere to go. We are very glad you give us your credit and helping hand to continue practicing our mission even in this very challenging social
environment. Without your open heart and generosity AFG wouldn't have been able to support the most vulnerable population of Georgia since 1994. Together with you we are reintroducing tradition of philanthropy and trying to raise awareness in Corporate Social Responsibility. In this regard AFG's pilot project of Youth Platform is to be highlighted. We are carrying out the project in cooperation with Givi Zaldastanishvili American Academy. Platform aims to raise awareness and promote the tradition of philanthropy among young generation as voluntary action for the common good, to raise engagement of Georgian youth in the preservation of Tbilisi's urban heritage, architecture and culture. We are very much hoping that with your further support and partnership we will do a lot more in 2017 as we believe that “we make a living by what we get…but we make a life by what we give!” (Winston Churchill). Only Together We Can Make a Difference! Marusya Chavchavadze Excutive Director/US Lena Kiladze Executive Director/Georgia
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HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE HOME CARE PROGRAM 2015 - $48, 000, 2016 - $60,000 Goal: helping more than 100 elderly suffering from such illnesses as cancer, brain infarction, Parkinson's, dementia and diabetes all year round, nursing School with two-year a vocational education.
Hospice nurses taking care of elderly in need 4
AFG Funded nurses' salaries, medical supplies, bandages, pain killers, ointments and transportation of nurses to visit their patients for the whole year.
Mother Marian and Marusya Chavchavadze at the Nursing School
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DZEGVI SHELTER COMMUNITY 2015 - $14,507.86, 2016 - $59.000 Goal: shelters former street children, abandoned elderly, mentally and physically disabled persons and single mothers, all who have nowhere else to go. There are currently 78 residents aged from 2 year to 90 years including 20 children.
AFG Funded purchase of a generator, a hair clipper/beard trimmer, a grass trimmer, hose, a lawn mower, covering electricity expenses in the late autumn period. $ 50 000 earmarked for the Dzegvi Community Building Reconstruction Fund.
Dzegvi gardening with BDO team
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Dzegvi kids helping in gardening
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SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN SUFFERING WITH LEUKEMIA 2015 - $14,507.86, 2016 - $59.000 Goal: purchase of lab equipment for a state of the art PCR molecular diagnostics laboratory to perform molecular genetic studies of malignancies in pediatric patients. AFG funded Lab Equipment: Freezer, Icemaker, Cleaner box, PCR Cabinet and Micro centrifuges as well Arts rehabilitation program.
Opening of PCR Molecular Genetic Lab
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DAY CARE CENTER FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN 2015 - $35,200, 2016 - $22,400 Goal: providing a preschool education for 20 atrisk children ages 3 to 6 from extremely poor families, children with single mothers, orphaned or from internally displaced parents. AFG funded rent, teacher and other staff salaries, educational supplies, food, gas, electricity, water and cleaning.
Kids in the day care Center
TBILISI FLOOD RELIEF FUND $20,258 AFG Funded: an apartment for a single mother Rusudan Tsitsikashvili and child who were left homeless by the flood and furniture (Sofa, armchairs and coffee table) for another victim Inga Khukhuneishvili.
Rusudan Tsitsikashvili with her daughter in her new apartment 9
TOGETHER FOR REAL CHANGES
BEDIANI CHILDREN'S VILLAGE
2015-2016 - $18 000
2015 - $7980, 2016 - $7720
Goal: to help parents of disabled children and starting Parent Clubs. TRC works in the following regions: Mestia-Svaneti, Martvili, Borjomi, Anaga (Kakheti) and Marneuli.
Goal: former street children living in small groups, (6-10) live in individual houses (purchased by AFG) with one or two teacher/parent volunteers since 1997.
AFG Funded: occupational therapy program in Mestia, Martvili, Borjomi, Anaga (Kakheti) and Marneuli.
AFG funded: Renovation of a house in Bediani extra bedrooms, a meeting room, living room, etc., costs of electricity and hot water for the whole year.
Marusya Chavchavadze visiting Bediani village
Parents with children in Mestia 10
HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR FORMER STREET CHILDREN 2015- $20,875, 2016 -$11,500 AFG funded: Scholarship for former street children to learn more and become a selfsufficient, covering study fees, living expenses and books for the 2015/2016, 2016/2017 academic year.
Fellows of High Education program 11
QEDELI COMMUNITY 2015 - $5,000 Goal: for disabled adults who were abandoned was started in 1999. Now 22 disabled adults live in a dynamic life-sharing community. AFG funded: construction of adequate wheelchair ramps, handicap accessible bathrooms and specialized equipment in the residents' private rooms.
INFORMATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING 2015 - $2500 Goal: helped to fund a project initiated by Helen Beckner, to coordinate a technology center and training for 195 school children and their 25 teachers in Khoni School No. 4 serving primarily IDP children from Abkhazia. AFG purchased: 7 laptops, CD Player, printers, mini-speakers, a projector and screen, etc.
Qedeli community kids 12
New Equipment for the trainings
NIKOZI ANIMATION FESTIVAL 2015 - $857.04 Goal: to restore the life in Nikozi - village which is near the Administrative Boundary Line separating breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) with the rest of the country, hosting master classes of filmmakers, animators and artists from different parts of the world. AFG funded: organizational expenses of the festival. Opening of Nikozi Animation Festival 2015
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DAY CENTER BILIKI & DAY CENTER SKHIVI & SMALL GROUP HOMES FOR ORPHANS 2015-2016 - $2,451 Goal: two Day Centers (Biliki and Skhivi) near Gori serving 6 Small Group Homes for orphans released from state orphanages in the Shida Kartli Region. AFG purchased: clothes from the list provided by Biliki for 63 children. Mari Mgebrishvili and kids in Skhivi center
BUKIA GARDEN SUMMER CAMP 2016 - $8,820 Goal: provide ecological-cognitive educational program for the children whose parents are unable to take them out of the city for holidays – either for financial or overloaded schedule purposes. AFG supporting 2017 Summer Camp arrangement: for 2 months for around 150 children
SUMMER CAMP FOR GEORGIAN CHILDREN IN US-UNDER THE MONASTERY OF ST. NINA'S 2016 - $5,000 Goal: provides an opportunity for children leaving in US to become familiar with Georgian culture (music, art, history, literature) and remain their roots and traditions. AFG funded: Summer Camp.
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C.O.A.T.S. 2015 - $175.14, 2016 - $225 C.O.A.T.S., Clothing Others Against the Snow day, was started by Michele Dunn in 2010. AFG funded: transportation children from the Dzegvi Community Shelter, Nikozi Art Education and Rehabilitation Center and Bediani Children's Village.
Gori Biliki
Marusya Chavchavadze and Lena Kiladze visiting the summer Camp 15
EMERGENCY FUND AFG funded: treatment for exceptional Cancer case: Natia Chunashvili /2016 – $10,000 Urgent Medical Treatment for a rare type of Sarcoma Cancer for Young Georgian Father Rostevan Kilosanidze 2015 - $1,000
PRESERVING GEORGIAN CULTURE AND ART 2015 - $857.04 Friends of Georgian Ballet-Stipend for Vakhtang Chabukiani Ballet School for 2015/2016 academic year. $450 AFG funded: Stipend for young promising Ballet Dancer Ani Kazhashvili
Workshop Quality of Life 16
PRESERVATION OF URBAN HERITAGE $12,900 Goal: Preserving urban, heritage and AFG hosted annual series of workshops and lecture seminars funded by US Embassy in Georgia and hosted well known experts in preservation field. In cooperation with New York Landmarks Conservancy and Ford Foundation two leading engineering experts from the top engineering US companies visited Georgia for a week for surveying and sharing their expertise for the ways of preserving Darejan's Palace. AFG Funded visit of experts: Pamela Jerome ICOMOS Board Member, Senior Advisory Board member Global Heritage Fund, Bethany Bingham - Director of Planning & Research NY4P (New York for Parks), public lectures, workshops and seminars “Quality of Life”
US Experts visit for Surveying problems of Darejan's Palace Complex
Public lecture on preservation 17
YOUTH PLATFORM Youth Platform is AFG's pilot Project on voluntary bases with no funding: Youth Social program and Youth Preservation Program. The principal goals are to raise awareness and promote the tradition of philanthropy among young generation and to raise engagement of Georgian youth in the preservation of Tbilisi's urban heritage, architecture and culture;
Youth Platform students participating in workshop
Youth platform students: on-site walking tour and making presentation 18
AFG has been conducting the project since 2015 in cooperation with Givi Zaldastanishvili American Academy giving more than 40 students participate in volunteering home care program apart from attending the lectures, seminars and on-site walking tours.
Zaldastani Academy students visiting Dzegvi Shelter Kids
Presentation at Darejan's palace Complex 19
AFG CHARITY GALA 2016 RAISED 90,000 USD AFTER EXPENSES 40 000 USD will go to support Hospice and Palliative Home Care program and 40 000 USD is earmarked for Dzegvi Community Building Reconstruction. TBC BANK Contributed 60 000 GEL for
Charity gala
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Dzegvi Shelter Building Reconstruction. Thank you for AFG All volunteers & supporters. In 2017th AFG's main goal is to reconstruct Dzegvi Shelter building and to provide a year support for palliative care program.
Cliff Isaak-Auctioning Gala
Georgian National Ballet Sukhishvilebi 21
FINANCIAL REPORT 2015 EDUCATION Education for Internally Displaced Children, Street and Vulnerable Children Education for Orphaned Children Digital Education for Children in Public School in Khoni Region
$83,738.00 $451.90 $2,500.00
HEALTH CARE Emergency Care Services for Disabled Children and Adults Relief for Tbilisi Flood Victims
$62,810.21 $1,000.00 $20,000.00 $20,000.00
ART AND CULTURE Direct Grants to Projects U.S. Office Georgian Office Total Direct Grants to Projects In Kind Grants Total Direct and In Kind Grants to Projects
$857.04 $130,479.99 $60,877.16 $191,357.15 $963.68 $192,320.83
FINANCIAL REPORT 2016 EDUCATION Education for Internally Displaced Children, Street and Vulnerable Children Services for Disabled Children Education for Orphaned Children Relief for Tbilisi Flood Victims Environmental Education
$53,311.27 $22,000.00 $2,000.00 $258.63 $9,046.00
HEALTH CARE Emergency Care
$65,543.32 $10,000.00
GEORGIAN CULTURE AND ART
$12,075.39
Direct Grants to Projects U.S. Office Georgian Office Total Direct Grants to Projects In Kind Grants Total Direct and In Kind Grants to Projects 22
$111,516.01 $60,462.23 $171,978.24 $61,365.29 $233,343.53
PATRON OF 2016 GALA
WINE
GOLD SPONSORS ADJARA GROUP HOSPITALITY
BRONZE SPONSORS
OTHER SPONSORS
SPECIAL THANKS U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, AmCham Georgia, Holly Holzer-Bass, Cliff and Rusi Isaak, David Evgenidze, Georgian National Ballet Sukhishvilebi, Elene Kalandadze, Mdzlevari, Kate Machavariani
AUCTION AND RAFFLE SPONSORS Hotel Kazbegi Rooms, Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel, Sheraton Batumi, Ikano, GAU, Funicular Restaurant, Schuchmann Wines, Lebanese Restaurant Amira, Strada, Keto & Kote Restaurant, Aura+, French Restaurant Le Marais, Betsy’s Hotel, Château Mukhrani JSC, American Medical Centers, Kate’s Bistro, Ureveli Wine, Cito, Baia Gallery, Kate Sidamonidze
GENERAL MEDIA PARTNER
MEDIA PARTNERS Georgia Today, Fortuna+
Help us to make a difference
HOW CAN I HELP? Your personal professional, or financial contribution to help the vulnerable children and elderly in Georgia is welcomed and appreciated. Your support, no matter how big or small, can help make a huge impact in the world. Get involved today and you can change the most needy people's lives in Georgia for the better. There are many ways you can help. Make a donation, or add your voice to our campaign and speak up for those who don't get heard. Share some of our stories, blogs and posts via your social media channels. . “Everything you give away remains yours and everything you keep is lost forever” Shota Rustaveli, 12th century Georgian poem “The Knight in the Tiger's Skin”
You can donate via website: www.afgeorgia.org, or contact us: In Georgia: 77 Nutsubidze str, Tbilisi 0177, Georgia Tel.: (995 32) 2397174 Email: lenakiladze@hotmail.com
In USA: P.O.Box 1200, Truro, MA 02666 Tel.: (508) 349 2180 Email: marusya@afgeorgia.org