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Palo Alto Online

Friends and neighbors

by Terry Tang

I n August 2001, Luda Shuster and her husband, Tom Pencek, were hosting more than 50 people in the backyard of their Palo Alto home when they decided to make the party about more than just food. They wanted to tell their guests about a new non-profit they had helped to establish, which was aiding the plight of Russian refugees.

But wanting to keep the atmosphere festive, Shuster asked her daughter, Sasha Motalygo, an NYU graduate with musical theatre experience, and some of her friends, to put on an impromptu concert. Perhaps buoyed by the unexpected entertainment, people did more than just lend an ear.

"We raised $1,000," said Pencek, who even displayed photos of refugees they helped. "We were just looking at each other going, 'Gee, that was fun.'"

From there, a fundraising plan was born. Since 1999, Rescuing Global Neighbors (RGN) -- whose 11 volunteers are mostly Russian-born Bay Area residents -- has made it a mission to better the lives of displaced or critically ill people throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States. By partnering with two organizations based in the former Soviet Union, RGN distributes crucial funds directly to displaced refugees, sick children or the parents who care for them.

So far, producing benefit concerts with local talent has proved a profitable strategy. "Music for the Neighbors," which takes center stage at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto on Saturday night, marks the group's third concert in almost a year. Touching on various genres -- from Bach to the Beatles -- the showcase will bring together an eclectic mix of singers and musicians. The proceeds will go to Help Save the Children, a charity specializing in subsidized health care, and sometimes burial costs for sick children.

Cindy Mong, a Stanford junior studying human biology, is among the classical musicians participating and giving their free time. The seasoned violist, who began studying music in the seventh grade, will perform a repertoire of Bach and Rochberg pieces with a pianist accompaniment. Mong joined the artist roster, largely in light of RGN's previous relationships with performers. Frederick Weldy, a senior lecturer at Stanford's music department, had played at RGN's last concert and put Shuster in touch with Mong's viola instructor.

"Their other concerts had other Stanford music professors perform before and there was a really great response," said Mong, who has performed in various music festivals and with the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. "The organizers have been very understanding about things like arranging transportation. They've taken care of it all, which has been great."

Emiliya Serebrennikova, a Mountain View resident who emigrated from Russia 10 years ago at the age of 45, will play solo pieces from Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt. A trained concert pianist, she used to teach music to Shuster's daughter and the two women managed to stay in touch. Although she has not visited her homeland since emigrating, Serebrennikova still has friends there. So, she is aware of the poverty level and the "tens of thousands of children in Russia" who need financial assistance.

"I don't know much about this particular organization, but I trust the people," Serebrennikova said. "There are many organizations in Russia that you can't trust. I asked many times if it would directly go to the neediest people."

With war dominating so much of world news, Regina Kanevsky, chief financial officer for RGN, thinks their benefit is even more relevant.

"I think it's helping that we're doing something good," Kanevsky said. "With Sept. 11 and war, we're doing something for real human beings and helping people. It gives us an opportunity to explain to Americans about our mother country. And it gives us the chance to show real people what's going on there right now."

The seed for RGN was planted when Alexandra Shaykevich, RGN director and a previous staff member of the Russia-based charity, Committee of Civic Assistance (CCA), submitted an article to a Russian newspaper comparing the dramatic differences in quality of life between refugees there and Russian ÈmigrÈs living in the U.S. Disturbed by so many hard-luck stories, both Kanevsky and Shuster readily donated money but wanted to do more.

The two women, who had been friends for 18 years, recruited Pencek and Shaykevich and began the paperwork for establishing a non-profit. Soon, other friends with ties to Russia -- including Shuster's ex-husband -- eagerly offered professional expertise as members of either the board or the advisory council. They then began crafting an official mission statement. For Shuster, "neighbors" seemed like an operative word.

"It's really helping the neighbors, except our notion of the neighbors was a little bit wider," Shuster said. "The stuff we are doing is like bringing the casserole to the neighbors."

Despite being such a young and small charity, RGN's donations do make a difference. And the group has the financial records and eyewitness accounts to prove it. In September of 2000, Shuster and Pencek, using their own money, spent part of a vacation in Moscow as pseudo-inspectors. They met with representatives from both CCA and Help Save the Children -- both independent of Russia's government -- to initiate a personal relationship. They observed first-hand patients at the Russian Children's Clinical hospital who had benefited from their previous contributions.

They also saw the American dollar's astonishing purchase power in the former Soviet Union. For instance, $200 can buy a patient an artificial limb. One hundred and fifty dollars can cover a wheelchair. In addition, $30 affords an artificial eye or meals for a family of four. Prices like these compel the staff to take any donation seriously.

"Five dollars can compare to $50 in Russia," Kanevsky said. "When we send out flyers at work, this is what we try to explain...Every dollar counts."

RGN organizers are hoping that at least 300 people will attend the Saturday concert. Although they aim to raise close to $2,000, Pencek explained that ticket prices were kept at $20 or lower, so that all ages could afford to come. More importantly, by broadening the audience, the board will hopefully net new volunteers from the experience. With 11 official volunteers, the group relies heavily on the periodic assistance of extended family and friends.

"We really depend on these concerts to help us build this community," Pencek said. "A lot of people have come up after these concerts and asked, 'What can I do?' As we get more people involved, we can get the staying power."

What: "Music for the Neighbors," a benefit concert for Help Save the Children. Performers will include classical pianist Emiliya Serebrennikova, vocalist Alexander Zeyliger, a cappella group BOHiCA, violist Cindy Mong and vocalist Michael Weinstein.

Where: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave. (between Middlefield Road and Cowper Street) in Palo Alto Weekly

When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Cost: Tickets are $20 general admission; $10 students, seniors and recent immigrants. Tickets will be available at the door or online at www.acteva.com/go/RGN. Tickets are 100 percent tax-deductible.

Info: For more information about Rescuing Global Neighbors, visit www.rgn.da.ru