Sergey Stopnevich: “Solidarity Remains the Strongest Form of Love”

Behind every act of charity lies a story. In the case of the Together Forever Foundation, that story is deeply human, rooted in faith, love, and determination.
Entrepreneur and father of six, Sergey Stopnevich established the Together Forever Foundation in 2016 in Limassol, turning a deeply personal experience into a lifelong mission: to bring hope to children battling rare and severe neurological disorders of the brain and spinal cord.
Today, thanks to the Foundation’s efforts, over 125 children have received the medical care and treatment they needed, but most importantly, they have rediscovered their smiles and dreams.
How did the idea for the Together Forever Foundation begin?
It all started with a personal ordeal. One of my children, my daughter Masha, had to undergo two very complex neurosurgical operations in Germany. Those days changed our lives forever. The fear, the uncertainty, the helplessness, everything a parent feels when their child is fighting for their life, left a deep mark on me.
And yet, throughout it all, there was something I never lost: faith and hope that my daughter would make it. And she did, thanks to the extraordinary doctors who stood by us and gave her a chance to keep smiling.
After her recovery, I realised I couldn’t just move on as if nothing had happened. I felt a responsibility to give this experience meaning and turn it into a mission. I wanted to help other parents who live through the same fear but lack the resources or knowledge to find the right doctors and treatment for their children.
That’s how Together Forever Foundation was born. Out of the belief that no family should ever face such a journey alone, and that every child, regardless of their country of origin or financial situation, deserves access to specialized care and the chance to live.
What were the first steps and challenges you faced?
The early years were not easy. When you start something like this, trust takes time to develop, even when your intentions are genuine. For the first two years, I personally funded the initial treatments of several children until the Foundation began building a community of supporters and partners who believed in our vision.
The greatest challenge was helping people realise that every contribution, no matter how small, has value. Behind every donation is a life waiting to be saved, a family searching for light in the darkness.
Those who support us know exactly which child their contribution is helping; they can see the results of their generosity in a child’s smile, in a photo after recovery, and in a message of gratitude that comes straight from the heart.
That is how a chain of trust and humanity was built, forming a community that proves that when we come together, hope can turn into action.
How would you describe the Foundation’s mission and vision today?
Our mission is clear: to ensure timely access to the right medical specialists for every child suffering from rare neurological disorders of the brain and spinal cord.
This means mobilizing medical networks without delay, covering the costs of treatments, surgeries, and rehabilitation, and guiding families through moments when everything around them feels uncertain.
Behind every child, there is a story, a parent searching for answers, and a family seeking hope. We do not see these families as “cases,” but as people who deserve care, compassion, and the same opportunities we would want for our own loved ones.
Our vision is a fairer world, where a child’s life and health are not dictated by the country they are born in or their family’s financial circumstances.
A world where treatment is a right, not a privilege. We aim to build a global network of care and solidarity that unites people, doctors, and communities around a common goal: life itself.
Your family seems to be at the heart of everything you do. What role do they play in this journey?
My family is the heart of the Together Forever Foundation. My wife, Anastasia, believed in my vision and embraced it wholeheartedly from the moment we met. In recent years, she has been actively involved in the Foundation’s work, contributing her insight and sensitivity to every initiative and decision.
The elder children in our family joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors this year. Artem has stood by the Foundation since it was founded. He participates in our charity events, supports our initiatives, and shares the Foundation’s mission with those around him, inspiring them to become part of this effort. Ksenia has also been actively contributing in recent years, bringing new ideas that bolster the Foundation’s growth and progress. Together, they embody the spirit of the new generation that continues this meaningful journey with dedication, respect, and compassion.
I deeply believe that philanthropy begins at home. When a child grows up observing their parents care, share, and give, they carry that kindness into their own journey. And that is the greatest gift we can offer our children, not material possessions, but the example of love and empathy.
For us, the Together Forever Foundation is not just a charitable organization. It is one big family supporting other families.
Since 2016, the Foundation has allocated more than two million euros to help children with rare neurological diseases, bringing hope to hundreds of families. What does this journey mean to you personally?
Every child we’ve helped is a story I carry with me. I don’t see numbers. I see faces, smiles, and moments. I remember parents calling us in tears of joy, doctors who made the impossible possible, and children who returned to school after months of rehabilitation.
Since 2016, with the support of our donors and partners, we have helped 125 children from around the world, offering treatments, surgeries, rehabilitation programs, and medical procedures that would otherwise have been out of reach.
Every time I hear that a child has recovered, I feel that we, as a community, have achieved something far greater than success. We have proved that solidarity can truly change lives.
That is the greatest gift of the Together Forever Foundation: to see hope return where it had been lost, and to realise that human kindness, when it finds its way, can become healing, a smile, a life.
For me, every child who continues to live, dream, and smile is a reminder that every effort, every step, every single day of this journey was worth it.
What has been the greatest reward for you along this journey?
The greatest reward is not hearing “thank you.” It’s hearing that a child has made it, that they’ve gone home, returned to school, back to life.
Seeing their smile, their joy, their future, those moments need no words. They fill your heart and remind you why you took this path in the first place.
Because when you realize that somewhere in the world a child is smiling because people chose to care, you understand the true meaning of Together Forever.
So, Let’s change children’s lives together!
You have achieved success in business, yet your greatest legacy seems to come from giving back. How do you connect these two paths, entrepreneurship and philanthropy?
For me, entrepreneurship and philanthropy have never been two separate realms. They both reflect the same desire to create something lasting, meaningful, and impactful for people. The only difference is how this desire is expressed in practice.
Entrepreneurship teaches you to organise, plan, and turn an idea into action. Philanthropy adds a deeper purpose to that process. It reminds you of why you create, why you strive, and what true meaning beyond success really is.
When a business operates responsibly, it already serves society by creating jobs, supporting families, and fostering progress and development. Philanthropy continues that mission on a more personal level. It allows you to apply the same principles of vision, leadership, and discipline in ways that directly touch human lives.
This way of thinking runs through every aspect of my life, from my professional work and philanthropic activities to the way I live and raise my children.
Family, after all, is where everything begins for me. It is where the values that guide every decision are formed and where the future takes shape. Together with my wife Anastasia, we try to pass on to our children that true success is not measured by titles or numbers, but by the positive impact you leave on the people around you.
The greatest legacy we can leave them is not our achievements or material possessions, but the example we set through our actions. To care, to share, and to walk through life with respect and humanity.