The Russian American Cultural Center (RACC) is open Tuesday's, Wednesday's, and Thursday's from 10am - 5:30pm. We are always looking for volunteers to assist with research projects, translation services, events and genealogy.

If you are unable to donate your time please consider supporting the center by making a tax deductable donation.

As a non-profit organization, the RACC depends on the generous donations and gifts of its members to fund its activities and projects in the community. One extra special case that the RACC has been involved with for the past year is the plight of six-year-old Zhenya Pankova. In addition to Zhenya, the center has also helped Peter Mikhailov a Ukrainian welder. Please read their stories below.

Six-year-old Zhenya Pankova is the Russian-American Cultural Center's youngest member but also one of its most cherished and admired. To watch this bubbly, laughing child learning her letters and numbers and playing alongside her kindergarten classmates, one would never know of the physical, emotional and financial hardships she and her parents have suffered. Nor of the great sacrifices her determined, loving parents Victor and Tonya have made to get the best care for their daughter, who is legally blind.

In her six years of life, the little Russian girl that could has had seven costly operations to bring vision to her otherwise healthy eyes. A rare condition known as prematurity of retinopathy has robbed her of her sight. Despite these setbacks, she still has the curiosity and mischievousness of a typical six-year-old.

RACC director Peggy Coleman learned of the Pankova's plight in 1999 when Victor; Zhenya's father, contacted her after seeing an ad in the Russian yellow pages. Victor, a ships technician from the Russian city of Orel, spent one homeless night in a bus station upon his arrival in Boston awaiting treatment that Zhenya would recieve at the renowned Schepen's Retina Institute. Although neither spoke a word of English at the time, the intrepid pair had traveled thousands of miles, across oceans and time zones, at great hardship and financial uncertainty, with the dream that American specialists could help Zhenya be able to see her parents and the world someday.

Since that fateful visit, Peggy's Center has helped with not only language and fund raising, but with connecting the Pankova's to the resources that they desperately needed: from medical and professional, to cultural and spiritual. The operations are costly and to date, the family owes over $33,553 in medical bills. In the spirit of true Russian hospitality, the Coleman's have generously offered the family refuge in their Manchester home. Not only has Peggy hosted the Pankova's and ushered them into American society and culture, but she has also been a tireless advocate in the search to find donors.

To date, one donor has offered to pay for one third of the cost and the Manchester Lions Club has given $5,000. Although Victor has found work as a carpenter, and the family is acclimated to life in America, the exorbitant medical expenses loom in the background. Miscellaneous expenses for food, travel and clothing and costly phone calls to their families in Orel, Moscow and Odessa take a toll on the frugal family's income.

If you are moved by Zhenya's story and would like to make a tax-deductible donation to help, please call the Russian American Cultural Center or visit our donations page.

Thank you! and spacibo!

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Most people would not consider Peter Mikhailov a lucky man. But the welder from Ukraine who suffered catastrophic injuries during a stint aboard a Greek frigate last year is lucky to be alive and to have the strong support of his family and friends he's made during his convalescence here in Boston.

Following his graduation from marine college, Mikhailov worked at many trades including serving on a submarine in Sevastopol, Russia, working as a welder, mechanic, fitter, and rigger. In Russian there is an expression that captures this kind of creative and industrious spirit: "zolatiya ruki" or golden hands.

Alla, his wife, was proud of her tall, strong husband who helped support not only their own big family but both their parents and their son's family. But life in post-Soviet Ukraine is difficult and like many others, Peter did not get his wages for months. When the opportunity arose to work on a Greek ship Peter took it although it meant being away from his family for a long period of time.

As the ship was traveling through the Atlantic towards Baltimore it was caught in a raging storm that threw huge waves onto the deck. When a hole appeared in a ventilator, the captain ordered Peter to repair it. Peter warned the captain that massive steel sheets lay on board and doing the job demanded taking a sheet, cutting and welding it. In any other weather this would still be a challenging and difficult task but during a storm it was especially dangerous. But the captain wouldn't listen to Peter's warnings and sent him out to repair the ventilator. While he was cutting the sheets, a huge piece was thrown onto Peter cutting his stomach and breaking his neck.
For four days, he writhed in pain aboard the ship. At last the captain managed to contact American pilots who airlifted him to Massachusetts General Hospital. Though there was little hope doctors, struggled to save Peter's life. Doctor Ruben Pilart is credited with performing the surgery that literally put Mikhailov back together again.

A month later, his wife arrived but she could not believe her eyes. Instead of the strong and healthy man she remembered before he left home she saw an unconscious, swollen, broken stranger whose kidneys did not work. She stayed at the hospital from morning to night and five months later, Peter Mikhailov walked out of Massachusetts General Hospital. Although he was out of the danger zone, he still required serious rehabilitation and was transferred to Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital. Doctor Piralt visited him twice while he was there and declared Mikhailov's survival an old fashioned miracle.

Although Peter has weathered the storm and is recovering from the trauma, he still needs more surgery. "The American surgeons managed to work wonders on Peter," Alla says. "He received medical treatment that he could never get in his country and he has a chance to completely recover after one more operation." She is fearful that if he were to return home now the weakened state of medicine and healthcare in Ukraine would result in disaster. "I don't want to lose him."

In addition to medical woes, Peter and Alla face many other problems: visa extension, housing, and supporting themselves during the long road to recovery. Peter's Greek company refuses to pay compensation for the accident. "We would be absolutely helpless in this country if we didn't meet many generous and kind people who did their best to help us," says Alla. "We were lucky to meet Peggy [Margaret Coleman, Director of the Russian American Center]; she is doing so much for us. She negotiates with lawyers, communicates with doctors, organizes our accommodations, arranges English lessons for us, and gives us books to read. She encourages us in all possible ways."

The Mikhailovs are searching for a few kind people to help them navigate through this crisis. They would welcome either monetary help or simply friendship and compassion. If you would like to help the Mikhailovs, please call the Russian American Cultural Center or visit our donations page.

Thank you! and spacibo!

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