Eight visitors from Russia are in Oak Ridge learning about nonprofit and volunteer organizations.
    The residents of Obninsk, Oak Ridge’s Russian counterpart in the Sister City international program, are being hosted by the United Way of Anderson County during their 10-day visit, which began April 17.
    “This exchange may well be the first time a US. United Way agency has worked with representatives of a Russian city to encourage volunteer

activities in improving social services,” said Tom Row, president of the local United Way board of directors.
    The visit is funded by part of a $70,000 federal grant for a project called Sustaining Partnerships into the Next Century.
    The grant supports partnerships between US. and Russian organizations and institutions.
    “Charitable giving, whether in time, money or talent, is a new thing in Russia these days,” said Dr Ken Luckmann, former

President of the Oak Ridge Sister City Support Organization.
     “United Way, a superb organization we’ve seen in action here for years and years, is able to coordinate fund raising and distribution to worthy organizations, and to do a lot of this with volunteers.”
    As part of the program, Row and Annie Cacheiro, the executive director of United Way of Anderson County, will travel to Obninsk in May