» posted on Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 at 5:11 pm by admin
What is the Krasnoyarsk Playground Project ?

Alex Griffith
My name is Alex Griffith. I was born in the City of Krasnoyarsk in the Siberian Region of the Russian Federation in 1993. My parents adopted me when I was 11 months old. I am now 15 years old and am a Life Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
I have started working toward earning the rank of Eagle Scout, scouting’s highest honor. Earning the rank of Eagle Scout requires completing an Eagle Project, a service project helpful to any religious institution, school or community.
I would like to provide service to my birth home in Krasnoyarsk, Russia and have raised money to build a playground at the orphanage where I was adopted. You can read all about this project on this website, KrasPlayground.org.
filed under Alex Griffith | 44 comments | tags: About Alex, Eagle Project
rob ketron said:
Jun 05, 09 at 8:47 amAlex makes me prouder than ever to be an Eagle Scout.
Way to go, Alex!
Stacy Harrison said:
Jun 05, 09 at 10:40 amHi Alex,
What a wonderful gift and a fantastic way to give back to your roots! My son was born in Krasnoyarsk as well. We adopted him last year from Baby Home #5 in Sosnovoborsk. He is now 3. I hope to one day take him back there to show him where he came from and to help him learn more about Russia.
Take care and keep up the good work!
Stacy Harrison
The Russian Playground | periscopeUP said:
Jul 29, 09 at 6:37 am[...] Today’s the day. Alex and his entourage are leaving for Krasnoyarsk, to install their playground. Read about it on his blog: The Krasnoyarsk Playground Project. [...]
Yuliya said:
Jul 30, 09 at 10:42 pmhi Alex,
have just read about your idea to build a playground for children, and thought I’d leave you a msg with my support! hope everything goes the way you planned!
people like you make this World better!
Good luck to you and your family!
Yuliya
Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Virginia said:
Jul 31, 09 at 2:47 pmAlex, what a venture and all that goes with doing for others! You are an amazing person! Will follow your venture!
The best to you!
Virginia
Cyndi Knight said:
Aug 04, 09 at 1:20 pmHeard about what you are doing thru a friend and I just think it’s awesome! So many of us don’t think of ever giving back to this world what we have been blessed to know. You are truly a “hero” for not only coming up with the idea but for also following thru with it every step of the way. This world needs so many more like you and we’d all be so much better off! Congrats on your idea, ambition & energy to get the job done!
And to your parents, Congrats! on a job well done raising such an amazing young man!
God Bless You!
Cyndi
Melissa said:
Aug 05, 09 at 4:59 pmGreat job Alex, I am mom to 4 russian and one chinese americans. Its wonderful what you have been so sucessful in doing. You are a gift to two countries. What an honor. Keep it up.
Alexey Semenov said:
Aug 07, 09 at 5:22 amToday RT aired a report on your playground, you can watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BhJLfVLP3c&feature=channel_page
Jeremy said:
Aug 12, 09 at 7:39 pmSaw Alex and his troop at the orphange yesterday while visiting the little boy we are adopting. His project has gotten some very positive press here in Krasnoyarsk. On behalf of all families adopting from Russia, we thank you for putting such a positive light on Americans as adoptive families.
Владимир said:
Aug 12, 09 at 10:19 pmАлекс, привет! Спасибо за то, что есть ТЫ и ТВОИ приемные родители!
Спасибо за твоё доброе сердце и добрую душу!
Ты настоящий ЧЕЛОВЕК с большой буквы, настоящий БойСкаут!
И Россия и Америка могут такими людьми гордиться!
Для Красноярска это событие стало очень заметной и приятной новостью.
Детский городок получился очень ярким, красивым и добрым!
Дети и взрослые просто в восторге!
Это стало настоящим символом российско-американской дружбы!
Я очень желаю чтобы таких добрых дел и событий было как можно больше и больше!
Очень хочется чтобы наши страны – Россия и Америка – всегда крепко дружили, любили и помогали друг другу!
Алекс, ты СУПЕР! (т.е. ТЫ самый лучший, самый добрый, самый классный!!!)
Спасибо тебе Большое!
С уважением, Владимир
Россия, Красноярск, 12 августа 2009
Владимир said:
Aug 12, 09 at 10:36 pmАлекс, желаю всего доброго тебе и твей семье!
Удачи тебе во всех настоящих и будущих проектах!
Ты молодчина!
С уважением, Владимир
Россия, Красноярск, 12 августа 2009
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 5:58 pmhttp://www.krasrab.com/archive/2009/08/15/03/view_article
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:01 pmhttp://www.1tv.ru/news/social/149002
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:02 pmhttp://www.dislife.ru/flow/theme/4020/
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:03 pmhttp://www.5-tv.ru/news/21497/
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:04 pmhttp://www.tvc.ru/shownews.aspx?top=5&id=49329065-0066-4c60-9768-dc57ac3d1e55
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:06 pmhttp://sibir.rian.ru/society/20090805/81812391.html
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:07 pmhttp://www.usynovite.ru/massmedia/qxx43521G6.html
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:09 pmhttp://www.trava.ru/Tags.aspx?Tag=%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%b5%d0%ba%d1%81+%d0%b3%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%84%d1%84%d0%b8%d1%82
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:09 pmhttp://www.wardreams.com/amerikanskij-rebenok-postroil-igrovuyu-ploschadku-dlya-bolnyh-detej-krasnoyarska/
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:10 pmhttp://www.russkiymir.ru/russkiymir/ru/news/ruregions/news0479.html
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:11 pmhttp://www.krao.ru/ns2-item.php?id=345
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:12 pmhttp://www.mr7.ru/news/society/story_16624.html
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:13 pmhttp://info.sibnet.ru/?id=273010
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:14 pmhttp://www.kras-med.ru/events/news/287130_r.html
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:15 pmhttp://www.newslab.ru/news/287452
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:16 pmhttp://www.newslab.ru/news/287460
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:17 pmhttp://sirenty.ru/Kak-pozdravit-2/CHto-podarit-drugu-77/
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:21 pmhttp://www.er-tv.ru/index.php?area=1&p=news&newsid=9511&print=1
Vladimir said:
Aug 16, 09 at 6:23 pmhttp://video.yandex.ru/search.xml?text=%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%20%D0%93%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%84%D1%84%D0%B8%D1%82&where=all&id=6271446
Mary Kirkpatrick said:
Aug 17, 09 at 3:35 pmDear Alex, Congratulations on your good deed and recent trip.!Your story was passed to me by Russian journalists! You are quite famous in Russia now! I too have a daughter named Tatianna
born in 1993. Tatianna also traveled back, went to her orphanage, and met her Russian family. We now help others, located their Russian family members. You can read our story at:
http://www.russianfamilysearch.com
Please have your dad drop me a line if your family has and interest
in trying to locate your Russian family. Sincerely! Mary – Mom to Tatianna, Minusinsk, Kraysnoyarsk, Russia!!!!
Mike Vietti said:
Aug 18, 09 at 7:02 amWay to go Alex and team – everything looks incredible!!!
happymom4 AKA Hope Anne said:
Sep 06, 09 at 4:19 pmDear Alex:
Our family had the pleasure of meeting you and being able to help a tiny bit with your project back in the spring at the Russian Embassy in DC. Our son, Todd, enjoyed visiting with you for awhile. We are so happy and proud that you have accomplished the goal you set for yourself!! Having adopted from Khabarovsk, Russia, we know that the play ground equipment will be a huge blessing to the kids.
Next week, the project our family organized, sending a small team of Docs to a an orphanage of special neds children, will commence. You can follow along on our blog if you like. Someday, we hope to do something similar for the orphanage we adopted our Dd from. (God opened doors for us to go to a different country first.) Your story gives us courage for the goals we have set for ourselves!
God bless!
Paul Yackinous said:
Sep 11, 09 at 8:44 amAlex- Congratulations on completing your Eagle project. As an Eagle Scout, I understand how important a milestone this is for you and your family! Best of luck in the future.
Ed Tittel said:
Sep 11, 09 at 8:52 amAlex:
Just read the CNN article and want to congratulate you on an amazing achievement. To say you should be proud of what you have accomplished is a gross understatement. Your dedication and clarity of direction speaks to the spirit and intent of the Eagle recognition. As an active Venture crew advisor with a son who is also an Eagle let me express my personal thanks for globally demonstrating the values that set the Global Scouting program apart. You have not only earned the Eagle rank…you clearly have become the Eagle.
Yours in Scouting.
Ed Tittel
Jake Precup said:
Sep 11, 09 at 10:26 amAlex I just read your story on CNN. Your story is very compelling and Eagle projects are about giving back to the community. I too am an Eagle Scout and I read that they had not made a decision yet on your Eagle Rank application. I want you to know that if anyone deserves the Rank of Eagle is it you. Thanks again for being such an upstanding person and giving the extra effort in your Eagle project!
Jake Precup
Curtis Koenig said:
Sep 11, 09 at 10:50 amAlex,
This is a worthy and wonderful Eagle project! As an Eagle Scout myself I would consider it an honor to have a young man such as yourself amoung our ranks. Thank you Alex for upholding and extending the high ideals of the Boy Scouts of America and the young people it serves. I hope you continue to give back to your troop, your community and the world.
Curtis Koenig
Eagle Scout
Assistant Cub Master Pack 465, Taylorsville KY
Lucy Valdivia said:
Sep 11, 09 at 11:06 amI am the parent of a little girl adopted from Krasnoyarsk at the age of 15 months. I have always felt a strong connection to the city & country that blessed me with the gift of Natalya. I remember the playground outside the orphanage & want to say Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishment. It is amazing & you should be tremendously proud of yourself.
Lucy – USA, NJ
Bob Bruno said:
Sep 11, 09 at 4:43 pmAwesome!!! My wife and I adopted our son Roman from Krasnoyarsk a little over a year ago. He is from the Achinsk Children’s Home there. What you were able to accomplish is amazing! We hope to take our son back to Russia to see his homeland some day. Did you eat at Mama Roma’s while you were in Krasnoyarsk? Congratulations again, I’m sure the children will enjoy it for years to come.
Mike Cohen said:
Sep 11, 09 at 7:25 pmGreat Work! How can we donate or help in any other way?
Jeff Lamberson said:
Sep 14, 09 at 8:28 amAlex
Thank you for your dedication and efforts towards earning your Eagle award from the BSA. As a fellow Eagle, I am honored to be associated with such a magnificent example of what we are all about. I am also born on August 12th (1971). I recieved my eagle in 1989. My brother is also an Eagle and was born on August 14th. You are an inspiration to all scouts. Dream big and work hard and it will happen.
I know your family must be extremely proud. Keep up the great work and I know you will go very very far in life.
I will be using you as an example for the parents in my Pack as to why it is so important to encourage the kids to go for their Eagle awards.
Best Regards
Jeff Lamberson
Eagle ‘89
Cubmaster 2009 Pack 670 San Elijo Elementary, San Marcos, Ca.
LUCIANO ORREGO TORO said:
Sep 15, 09 at 8:55 amAlex:
I am scout too…Thank you…by your life testify in scouting….you are the winner…if is possible, send me e-mail the original video of your project to promote the scouting in our countries..Colombia and Ecuador Countries…Our Scout Group sed you a great congratulation and Russia country too….Remember in our Group you have a others brothers scouts really….Now help us to increase the scout movement and the great world scout brotherhood….God Bless you and your family always….Your Brother in scouting Luciano Orrego Toro…luchoorrego@yahoo.es…From Colombia and Playas Ecuador Scouts Groups…
John Thilman said:
Oct 01, 09 at 12:27 pmAlex
As an Eagle Scout myself and a 2005 Visitor of Krasnoyarsk Siberia with my Wife (who was native of Krasnoyarsk before we got married), I understand totally what you had to go thru to complete the process in that area of Siberia. With over 23 Million Scouts in the World, The only Borders are Politics and Paperwork that slow us down just to help the people we want to in this World.
Thank You for doing that for Hospital #20 in Krasnoyarsk Siberia. “Scouting Leads the Way”
John Thilman
Scouting Volunteer – Texas
AbnRgr2000@yahoo.com
ugg boots said:
Jan 02, 10 at 11:58 pmAs an Eagle Scout myself and a 2005 Visitor of Krasnoyarsk Siberia with my Wife (who was native of Krasnoyarsk before we got married), I understand totally what you had to go thru to complete the process in that area of Siberia. With over 23 Million Scouts in the World, The only Borders are Politics and Paperwork that slow us down just to help the people we want to in this World.
Thank You for doing that for Hospital #20 in Krasnoyarsk Siberia. “Scouting Leads the Way