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About the foundation

The journey of the Wings of Dream Foundation began long before its official registration — with personal patronage of a school and a church near Mariupol.

A strong Russia begins with strong families, and what matters most in people is kindness and honesty
Vladimir Kovalev
Vladimir Kovalevfounder and chair of the foundation

The Wings of Dream Charitable Foundation was founded by Vladimir Vladimirovich Kovalev, who also leads the foundation as its chair.

The story of the foundation began long before it was registered. Since 2022, from the liberation of Mariupol, Vladimir Kovalev has taken Volodarske School No. 1 into his care — the State Budgetary Educational Institution “Volodarske School No. 1 named after Hero of the Soviet Union A. D. Yakimenko”. In that time many good initiatives have been carried out: resolving problems with the school engineering systems, above all the failing boiler house, supporting school events for the children, and buying computer equipment, software, stationery and teaching materials.

For Vladimir this is not simply charity but a family story. His father lives in Volodarske, and his grandfather — Alexey Konstantinovich Kovalev, a front-line veteran and holder of the Order of the Red Star — was head of that very Volodarske School No. 1 for more than 20 years, from 1967. To help the school his grandfather once led is to carry on his family’s work.

Vladimir Kovalev also gives continuing support to the Church of St. Nicholas in Volodarske, an active parish of the Donetsk Diocese.

At the end of 2025 it was decided to put this work on a systematic footing: on 29 December 2025 the Wings of Dream Charitable Foundation was registered. A team is now being formed to support the foundation beneficiaries on a permanent basis. Alongside targeted help, the foundation is developing its own cultural projects in Mariupol and the DPR.

Timeline

From a grandfather’s school — to a foundation

The grandfather’s story
  1. 1925

    Alexey Konstantinovich Kovalev is born

    The founder’s grandfather: a front-line veteran, commander of a mortar platoon, holder of the Order of the Red Star. After the war, a teacher.

  2. 1967

    The founder’s grandfather becomes head of Volodarske School No. 1

    Alexey Konstantinovich Kovalev — front-line veteran, holder of the Order of the Red Star and of the “Excellence in Education” distinction — led the school until the end of his days.

  3. 2022

    The beginning of patronage of the school and the church

    From the moment Mariupol was liberated, Vladimir Kovalev took Volodarske School No. 1 and the Church of St. Nicholas under his personal patronage: engineering systems, equipment, teaching materials, children’s events.

  4. 2025

    The decision to work systematically

    At the end of the year the decision was taken to place this personal help on a systematic footing and to create a foundation.

  5. 29.12.2025

    Registration of the “Wings of Dream” Charitable Foundation

    The foundation was registered in Moscow. A team is being formed that will support the beneficiaries on a continuing basis.

  6. 2026

    The foundation’s first projects

    Reconstruction of the boiler house at School No. 1 and the gas boiler house of the Church of St. Nicholas in Volodarske. Preparation of the cultural project “Generation of the Victors of Novorossiya”.

Values

Three rules the foundation works by

01
Targeted

We help a particular school, church or child — with a name, an address and a clear task. No abstract “support programmes”.

02
Transparent

Contracts, invoices, acceptance acts and photo reports for every project. Confirmation of any payment on request.

03
Personal

The chair of the foundation visits the beneficiaries himself, and the board of trustees takes part in the programmes — with concerts, expertise and time.

Join a cause that began with a single school

A donation, expertise or partnership — every kind of help reaches the beneficiaries in full.

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