|
Natalia was born in Nizhny Novgorod, one of Russia's largest city, 300 miles east of Moscow. She lived in one of Nizhny's poorest districts with her mother and two half sisters, one of whom is an invalid. As a child, she worked with her mother selling fruits on the street. To help her family out of poverty, as a teenager she began her own fruit stand with a friend. When she was 17, she saved enough to enroll in a modeling academy in Paris.
By 2000 her hard work and dedicated approach offered her jobs with designers such as Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent. In 2001 Natalia married Justin Portman and gave birth to their first child. Since then, she has become the face of Calvin Klein, Chanel and David Yurman, Guerlain and Jacob & Co and is recognized as one of the world's top fashion models.
Natalia's experiences as a child and opportunities as an adult have allowed her to become a bridge between the international community and the needs of Russian children. To help this cause, in 2005 Natalia and Justin created the Naked Heart Foundation. She currently devotes her time to being a mother of three, modeling and helping less fortunate children in Russia.
|
 |
|
The Naked Heart Foundation was established to construct modern Play Parks for less fortunate children in Russia, spreading health and happiness in Natalia's homeland. Russia has an estimated 2,000,000 street children and 6,000,000 children living in poverty. By providing children with a safe place to play, our play parks bring children off the streets and into a safe area where they may find community and purpose.
Our Play Parks are modern, approved by international safety codes, cost between $200,000 and $400,000 and take 10 weeks to build. Our mission is simple and sustainable: We research an area in need, design a Play Park with a community, raise money to purchase the play park and monitor the play park's construction. An agreement is signed with the local government who takes responsibility for the maintenance and security expenses, so the Naked Heart Foundation doesn't spend a dollar further but ensure that the Play Park will be maintained perfectly.
Naked Heart is a registered charity in Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom. In the UK, NHF is registered with charities commision under number 1122345, making most donations tax deductible. In the US, NHF has the 501c3 status, making most donations tax deductible. Naked Heart is proud to have a distinguished group of business leaders who advise financially, celebrities to assist in public relations, and managers to facilitate a sustainable and successful foundation. Naked Heart's Officers and Advisory Committee have in gratitude donated or underwritten all of their costs to help the Naked Heart Foundation's mission.
If you or your organization would like more information regarding Naked Heart or are interested in a partnership for an event PLEASE CONTACT US.
|
