OREANDA-NEWS. November 23, 2015. Moscow Exchange hosted a round table meeting with Chulpan Khamatova, co-founder of Gift of Life, a charity that supports the families of children with cancer; Ingeborga Dapkunaite, co-chair of the fundraising council of hospice support foundation Vera; and Moscow Exchange employees. Moscow Exchange signed new agreements to continue supporting Gift of Life and Vera, and plans to allocate a significant portion of its total charity budget to the two foundations, as well as holding a number of joint events involving the charities and Exchange employees.

Moscow Exchange CEO Alexander Afanasiev said: "Moscow Exchange supports people in need and children in particular. We provide necessary funding to projects that benefit the whole of society through specialist foundations in particular areas. Making funds available to non-profit organisations makes spending more efficient and means we can support more people who need our help. It is essential for us that Moscow Exchange employees engage in charitable programmes and activities as volunteers and donors. This is an investment in our further development and professional growth, and we want to see our staff members as strong, interesting personalities".

Gift of Life charity co-founder Chulpan Khamatova said: "Moscow Exchange has been our partner for several years in supporting people who need help and their families. Providing help systematically is especially meaningful in today's challenging times. Thanks to Moscow Exchange we are able to further develop the unpaid donorship programme that has always been one of our most important priorities. Most of our patients need to undergo chemotherapy every day, and regular blood donations in clinics are essential to save their lives. We need funds for this project to exist and function effectively. Money is needed to finance on-the-spot donorship, the work of the donor call-center, and to pay salaries to staff working to attract new donors, as well as to cover expenses on our activities and events to promote voluntary unpaid donations. On behalf of our charity, our doctors and patients I would like to thank all the staff of Moscow Exchange who take part in our charity events and donate blood and money. We are very thankful for your trust!".

Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Vera hospice charity sponsorship council co-chair, said: "The funds that Moscow Exchange has donated over these years go directly towards implementing projects that are not easy to fundraise for, in particular to support hospices in the regions. Life is treasured at the First Moscow Hospice, though elsewhere this is not always the case. Vera provides aid to over 30 hospices in the regions that are eager to learn, grow and prove 24/7 access for friends and families. Giving support and care to the dying is just as vital as looking after newborns or adults. With qualitative hospice-based assistance the life of terminally ill patients, whether adults or children, is more comfortable and dignified, and relieved of fear and pain. This is all possible with your support, for which we are very grateful."

The Gift of Life charity was established on 26 November 2006 by actresses Dina Korzun and Chulpan Khamatova, and specialises in helping children with oncological and haematological conditions. The fund collects funds for treatment and rehabilitation of children, helps oncology and haematology clinics, raises public awareness of sick children, cooperates in the development of blood donation, provides social and psychological help to sick children, and helps volunteer groups at oncology and haematology clinics.

The Vera charity was established in November 2006. It is named after Vera Millionshchikova, who founded the First Moscow Hospice, which now bears her name. It is the only non-profit organisation in Russia that continually supports hospices and their patients. Vera Hospice Charity Fund currently provides aid to over 30 hospices in Russia and 450 families with children with incurable illnesses, regardless of diagnosis, age, or place of residence, and is working to create Moscow's first hospice for children and young adults together with the Gift of Life. The fundraising co-chairs are actresses Ingeborga Dapkunaite and Tatiana Drubich.

Moscow Exchange Group manages the sole multifunctional exchange platform in Russia for equities, bonds, derivative instruments, currencies, money market instruments and commodities. The Group includes the central depository (National Settlement Depository), and a clearing centre, Bank National Clearing Centre (Joint stock company ), performing the functions of central counterparty on the markets, which allows Moscow Exchange to render the full spectrum of trading and post-trading services to its clients.

Moscow Exchange ranks among the world's top 25 exchanges by total capitalisation of securities traded, and also among the 10 largest exchange platforms by bonds and derivatives trading. Securities of over 740 issuers are admitted to trading on the equities market of Moscow Exchange, including securities of the largest Russian companies by market capitalisation.