LONDON, (England) CNN — Natalia Vodianova is best known as the supermodel who has graced the cover of Vogue, walked the catwalk for the
likes of Chanel and Versace. Supermodel Natalia Vodianova’s charity plans to build hundreds of play parks for children in her native Russia. But Vodianova has a dream that couldn’t be further from the glitzy world of fashion — to build 500 play parks in her native Russia. Deeply affected by the tragedy she returned to New York, where she was living at the time, determined to do something to help the surviving children. Vodianova organized a fundraising event that generated $350,000 to build the children a playground and she founded her charity, the “” With an ethos that play is not only therapeutic for children, but a necessity, the foundation aims to provide playgrounds for Russia’s urban youth. So far the charity has built 23 playgrounds around the country, starting in her home town of Nizhnii Novgorod, and there are 15 more in the pipeline. “For me, since I started my charity, it has been a very different way of life,” Vodianova told CNN.
“Giving back just feels so great. I always try to open each play park with myself present for the children, because it makes it more special for them. I go to very remote parts of Russia are far from Moscow and it gives these children an extra message of love.”