"We Can" campaign generates over 100 million roubles

Over 100 million roubles has been collected within a "We Can" campaign, intended to coincide with the International Children’s Day, told the Tatar Culture Minister Zilya Valeyeva a briefing at the government premises.

According to Ms Valeyeva, over 100 million roubles has been collected within the We Can campaign, including about 67 million from Tatarstan’s municipalities and 14 million to the Ak Bars Sozidanie’s account. Besides, over 585 thousand messages have been sent within an sms-campaign, to run until 1 July. The funds have been used to provide aid for children’s institutions in Tatarstan and to families that have found themselves in a difficult situation. Some of the institutions have been given buses, home appliances, rehabilitation equipment, performed repairs at and so on.

The Advisor to the President of Tatarstan on social affairs Tatiana Larionova emphasised that before the campaign, local children’s institutions had stated their needs in equipment. A programme was approved on spending charity funds for particular purposes. A full report on spending the funds, collected within the "We Can" campaign, will be published at the local council on charity work's website and dispensed to media editions.

“Most importantly, the International Children’s Day has allowed us to understand that everybody can help people in need,” considers Zilya Valeyeva. “I wish the tradition of patronage and charity became one of Tatarstan’s main distinctions.”

The culture minister expressed gratitude to all those who responded to children’s suffering and took part in the events, timed to coincide with 1 June. She highlighted the Channel One’s management, who this year decided to hold a corporate event called Be The First for Tatarstan’s children. Ms Valeyeva specifically thanked the Tatneft company for donating 18 million roubles within the campaign, as well as the Tatneft Arena and Riviera entertainment centres for providing their grounds for the charity events and the Tatarstan media for extensive coverage of the event.