Past Events
February 25, 2020, in partnership with "the Artist" Foundation," we hosted our annual charity concert Life in Motion at Moscow's Theatre of Nations! It was a truly incredible event, in which renowned Russian artists collaborated with the many children we have helped to create an amazing evening full of inspiring performances. We are so grateful to all of our partners and supporters who continue supporting our mission of helping children with special needs realize their dreams to walk and live a more fulfilling life. Thank you for your support!
On June 8th, 2019, our special 10K Team - started the 2019 Marathon Fundraising season supporting the I Want to Walk program! The team will participate in the the NYRR New York Mini 10K, the world’s original women-only road race. I am so happy to be a part of this amazing group of dedicated ladies!
We count on everyone's support! Please consider making a kind donation supporting this important cause!
You can support us here by visiting: https://www.crowdrise.com/mariannalarin1?lang=en-us&fbclid=IwAR00LyrqTLFZvO4jAIeoJBoaDV2h6duZM-VaQesWUrVWmyDEIPus9PekJp0
Thank you very much!
Natasha Shaginian-Needham
Life in Motion Charity Concert - Moscow, February 2019
We want to thank all of our supporters who attended the annual Life in Motion charity concert in Moscow! We are excited to announce that all proceeds will be used to fund a new orthopedic center in Moscow. We will continue cooperating with orthopedists and surgeons from the US in order to realize many disabled children's dreams to walk and live a more fulfilled life.
We will update you on the new orthopedic center soon. As always, we are immensely grateful for your persistent care and support for our efforts to give every child, despite their disabilities, a chance to live their lives in motion!
Life in Motion - Second Birthday Celebration, New York, June, 2019
TCS New York City Marathon - November, 2018
We are so incredibly proud for all of the runners who ran the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon to raise funds and awareness for Life in Motion International. Thank you to our amazing and dedicated team: Alexander Dolya, Alexandra Kulesha, Anthony Proetta Jr., Marianna Larin, Inessa Emelina, Larissa Pokrovsky, and Allison Fleece. Thank you to all of our supporters! It allows us to make children's dreams of walking come true! You can continue your support by visiting https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/life-in-motion-international-inc-nyc-2018/.
Life in Motion Charity Concert - Moscow, February 2018
On February 15th, in collaboration with the Artist Foundation, we hosted our annual Life in Motion Charity Concert at the Theatre of Nations in Moscow. The concert included performances by famous Russian artists and dance groups. Most importantly, the concert showcased the incredible bravery and talents of people with disabilities. The strength and power of their spirits inspired not only the audience at the concert, but many charity organizations such as the Artist Foundation and Life and Motion Foundation to persist in raising awareness and funds to help the dreams of these children come true.
Dear friends,
Our Life in Motion - Elbrus 2017 mission has been accomplished with success! 16-year-old girl, Polina was an inspiration for 9 members of the team, as she climbed the mountain on her prosthetic leg.
Why are we doing this, for the last 6 years – mt. Kilimanjaro, mt. Everest’s Base Camp and now Elbrus? We want to show again and again that all limitations are in our heads and with inside strength people can overcome their fears, push all boundaries and make the impossible - possible. Yes, even climbing the highest mountain on prosthetic legs!
This Elbrus trip was the most challenging of all. Snow, ice, 30 km per hour wind, cold nights with the temperature dropping to negative 25C. We had to walk very slowly, carefully making one step at a time on crampons even having to use a rope and ice-axe at some parts of the mountain.
Everyone had their own goal, reaching a personal peak, widening their own resources, maximizing their own abilities. We worked together as a team, supporting each other with jokes and laughter - great friends on the mountain :).
After the trip our Polina said: “It is a common opinion that only physically strong people can climb mountains and I wanted to show that my physical challenges are not an obstacle. It was my first summit and I learned many important things - how to give and share, how to support, how to step outside of my comfort zone. I am a different person today. I am proud of myself and I am looking forward to my future, new peaks in my life."
Will we do it again? Of course!
Thank you everyone who supported us during this 10 day expedition! Your encouraging words were a big part of our success. We truly “Stepped Up” together.
We want to thank our partners - Mitsubishi Corporation (Russia) for sponsoring our Life in Motion -Elbrus multimedia project and WHOA Travel for supporting Polina's hike! Your partnership helped to make our mission successful.
I am happy to share some photos and TV stories - even if they are in Russian the video requires no comments. To watch them, please click here and here.
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Natasha Shaginian-Needham and the Life in Motion team.
Dear friends and supporters,
Ogilvie House Garden at The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
On June 14th, 2017 we celebrated the official launch of Life in Motion!
A year ago Happy Families International Center completed its transition to Life in Motion International. The new name soundly reflects the charity’s mission - supporting children with special needs and their motion in life.
The main program "I Want To Walk" helps children get prosthesis, make their first steps on their own and become a confident and integral part of society. The “I Want To Walk” program provides children with physical challenges the opportunity to achieve their goals and reach new peaks every single day.
When we help give these children a chance to walk they can go incredibly far - even reaching the peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Everest – yes, on their prosthetic legs!
We look forward to meeting you at the event!
On February 4th, 2017, Life in Motion Foundation and "Artist" Foundation organized a unique charity concert, the proceeds from which will benefit orphanages in Russia and provide orthopedic treatment for children with disabilities. The concert featured performances of renowned Russian artists and talented children, whose performances made this event particularly more memorable! The event was also widely covered by the Russian news media.
Scroll through the gallery to see some of the wonderful moments of the evening.
The links to to the Russian media's coverage of the concert:
Kultura: http://tvkultura.ru/article/show/article_id/166485/
Channel 1 Morning News: https://www.1tv.ru/shows/dobroe-utro/nashi-gosti/evgeniy-mironov-teatr-dlya-vseh-dobroe-utro-fragment-vypuska-ot-01-02-2017
Russia Today: https://russian.rt.com/nopolitics/article/356184-koncert-zvyozdy-kino-deti
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Join us on a photographic adventure and ascend the breathtaking volcanic peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro! This photographic exhibit captures every step of Sasha D'Jamoos and Alex Pohilko, two young men on prostheses, as they lead a team of climbers to conquer the tallest mountain in Africa in 2012 and 2014. You will be enthralled with the vistas and stirred by the extraordinary and limitless abilities of those who have been given the chance to WALK.
Limited edition photographs by acclaimed photographers Eric Johnson and Steve Remich will be available for purchase at the event and online. http://www.happyfamilies.org/photo-orders
Proceeds will benefit the I Want To Walk Program.
On March 3rd at Moscow Museum of Multimedia Arts, Happy Families International Center and the Moscow-based nonprofit "Artist" will hold an opening of a unique photo exhibition "Life in Motion - Kilimanjaro." The exhibition will present wonderful photos of orphans with disabilities who hiked up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for Russian orphans! The event will also celebrate the creation of a new organization "Life in Motion"! All of the proceeds from the event will benefit Russian orphans with disabilities.
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Dear friends,
Only 3 days left before NYC Marathon -Run For Children to Walk!
I want to THANK everyone who helped me to raise $3,000 - the Marathon goal for charity run! I would like to raise more and I hope that you can make a small donation which will help a child WALK!
I will run 26.2 miles on November 2, please cheer me on and help !
Kind Regards, Natasha (Director of Happy Families Center)
October 2, 2014, Washington DC - Photo Exhibit "Life in Motion - Kilimanjaro"
Join us on a photographic adventure and ascend the breathtaking volcanic peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro! This photographic exhibit captures every step of Sasha D'Jamoos and Alex Pohilko, two young men on prostheses, as they lead a team of climbers to conquer the tallest mountain in Africa in 2012 and 2014. You will be enthralled with the vistas and stirred by the extraordinary and limitless abilities of those who have been given the chance to WALK.
Entrance to the benefit is GRATIS.
DONATIONS gratefully accepted to make a child's DREAM OF WALKING come TRUE!
When: Thursday, Oct. 2nd, 6:30pm
Where: Mari Vanna Restaurant, Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C.
Limited edition photographs by acclaimed photographers Eric Johnson and Steve Remich will be able for purchase.
All proceeds will benefit the "I Want To Walk" Program. RSVP here
February 1, 2014 - Charity Concert "Life in Motion - Fashion, Sport, Dance"
In collaboration with a Moscow-based nonprofit "Artist," Happy Families International Center organized a unique concert, which was held in Moscow's Theatre of Nations. Many of Russia's prominent actors and musicians participated in the event, and it was widely covered by Russian media. The concert showcased several amazing stories of children with disabilities who overcame adversity, learned how to walk and how to adapt to post-orphanage lives. All proceeds from the event benefited orphans with disabilities in need of orthopedic treatment.
December, 2012 - First Annual Charity Concert "Life in Motion"
On December, 2012, Happy Families International Center, in collaboration with a Moscow-based nonprofit organization "Artist," held the first annual concert "Life in Motion." The event incorporated incredible dance performances from some of the world's best acrobats as well as ballet dancers. All proceeds benefited orphans with disabilities.