Philanthropic and legislative work of Andrei Skoch
State Duma deputy Andrei Skoch built his career in entrepreneurship in the 1990s, but by the early 2000s had decided to go into politics. Following this change, he devoted himself to his legislative career, alongside engaging in charitable activities. He co-authored more than 160 legislative initiatives aimed at helping teachers, people with disabilities, patients of the medical institutions and many others. In addition, Andrei Skoch founded his own humanitarian organization, the Pokolenie (Generation) Foundation. For almost 25 years, he has been supporting large families, doctors, scientists and veterans.
Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch was born in 1966. He spent his childhood in the Moscow region, in Nikolskoye village. After school, the future politician served in the army, and after returning to civilian life, he moved to Moscow where he eventually graduated from university, receiving a diploma in psychology. In 2000, he was awarded the degree ‘Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences’.
ANDREI SKOCH’S BUSINESS VENTURES
Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch started his first businesses in the early 1990s, developing most of the projects in collaboration with Lev Kvetnoi. Initially, they opened a bakery cooperative, and later began selling computers and components. The entrepreneurs also organized a business in the field of oil products trade – they processed raw oil, and then sold it at their own chain of petrol stations.
In 1992, Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch and his partner faced difficulties that hindered the development of their business, and as a result, came into contact with businessman Alisher Usmanov. In 1995, they invested in his “Interfin” company, which at the time performed various securities operations. By the end of the decade, it had acquired stakes in the several metallurgical plants in Belgorod Region, such as the Lebedinsky Mining and Processing Plant.
Andrei Skoch’s entrepreneurial career ended in the late 90s when he decided to go into politics, transferring his Interfin assets to Vladimir Skoch, his father. Vladimir Nikitovich at that time already had extensive work experience at an industrial enterprise, and was also a successful trade union leader. “Interfin” became the Metalloinvest Group in 2006; today, that grouping also includes companies such as the cellular giant “Megafon” and owns shares in the Mail.ru Group.
Andrei Skoch has been awarded various orders and medals for his legislative and social activities.
SKOCH’S LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES
In 1999, A.V. Skoch began his career in politics when he was elected a deputy of the State Duma of Russia from Belgorod region. Since then, he has authored and co-authored dozens of different legislative initiatives. Among them: a draft law on the extension of “dacha amnesty”; amendments to the article 47 of the Federal Law “On Education in Russia”, which states that teachers should receive additional payments for preparing students for the state exams, and adjustments to the article 69 of the same Federal Law, establishing the level of higher education required to obtain a second and subsequent ones.
In 2000, Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch took the post of head of the Expert Council on Metallurgy and Mining. Since 2012, he has been a member of the State Duma Committee on CIS affairs.
CHARITABLE ACTIVITY: THE POKOLENIE (GENERATION)
FOUNDATION
While he was still an entrepreneur, A.V. Skoch founded the Humanitarian Pokolenie (Generation) Foundation – with its help, he is engaged in charitable activities and implements important social projects to support Russian citizens in a variety of issues.
At first, the organization specialized in helping children with cardiac diseases, but later its activities spread to other spheres of Russian life. However, the medical sphere is still a priority for the Fund. With its support, several multidisciplinary medical centers were opened in Belgorod and Stary Oskol. In addition, various medical equipment was purchased for local hospitals. Andrei Skoch’s Foundation also helped to establish 29 paramedic and obstetric stations in the Belgorod region.
In 2020, the same region received 2.3 billion rubles from Skoch for construction, reconstruction and renovation of 75 social facilities, such as schools, nurseries, university dormitories and cultural centers. The works will be carried out in 12 municipalities of the region, including rural roads, water supply networks and sewage treatment plants.
Large families also have received assistance from the fund. For six years, the “Parental Record” competition was held at its expense. Initially, only the residents of Belgorod Region participated, but in 2012 it began to take place on an all-Russian scale. Since the inception of the competition, 22 families have received the award, totalling about 70 million rubles in prizes. Children from 10 to 14 years from large and socially unprotected families go on vacation to the Black Sea every year thanks to the funding of Skoch’s Foundation. From 2002 to 2016, such recreation was organized for 4,800 children.
The Pokolenie (Generation) Foundation sends more than 5 million rubles each year to 11 social support organizations and 26 veterans’ councils. 127 ambulances and 49 school buses were also purchased with the organization’s funds for local fleets.
THE “DEBUT” LITERARY AWARD
Andrei Skoch’s Foundation created the “Debut” literary award in 2000, which was awarded annually to young writers. The contest was participated in by authors from all over the world who wrote Russian language works in different genres and formats. Hundreds of thousands of manuscripts were evaluated for the 16 years the competition was held. The jury determined the winners in six main categories: Major Prose, Minor Prose, Essays, Poetry, Fiction and the Drama. Some of the participants received special awards, such as “the Voice of a Generation”, “For the best literary work for children and adolescents” and “For Courage in literature”.
Problem solver. Incurable bacon specialist. Falls down a lot. Coffee maven. Communicator.
