THE founder of a Northside-based charity has been honoured for her work by the Russian embassy in Dublin.
Debbie Deegan, founder of To Russia with Love (TRWL), was honoured at a special awards ceremony hosted by the Irish Russian ambassador Maxim Peshkov.
Alexey Kuleshov, godson of legendary Russian icon painter Leonid Kurzenkov, presented Debbie with an icon of the Russian patron of children, Saint Nicholas.
The award celebrates the work of Debbie and the charity, which has transformed the lives of over 5,000 abandoned and orphaned children in Russia.
The Clontarf-based charity helps to improve the lives of young orphaned and abandoned children and follows on life after the orphanage with a progressive after care programme in Russia.
Last year Debbie Deegan launched her first book, also titled
‘To Russia with Love’, which tells the story of her extraordinary work. All proceeds go directly to help Russian orphans.
‘To Russia with Love’ is available now from all good bookstores and in e-book format. For more information visit www.torussiawithlove.ie