In the history of our Fatherland, the names of many Russian benefactors and patrons are inscribed in golden letters. Among them stands out Ivan Vasilyevich Kulaev, a man with a bright and remarkable fate. He was born in 1857 in the Krasnoyarsk region to a serf peasant family. From childhood, he helped his father with the household, and later he started his own business. First, he drove cattle from Biysk, then worked in gold mines, but these activities did not bring him wealth. Everything changed with the start of the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Kulaev took a contract for the construction and maintenance of some facilities and soon earned his first million.

Ivan Vasilyevich did not spend his money thoughtlessly but invested it in new projects. Thanks to his efforts, several steam mills, a copper smelting plant, and a brewery appeared in Siberia, and a network of grocery stores was organized. At the same time, Kulaev was actively engaged in charity. For example, in his native village, he financed the construction of a school and a church, often organizing gift distributions for children during holidays. The entrepreneur himself lived modestly and spent most of his time in merchant Harbin, where he received the news of the defeat of the Whites. Soon he learned about the nationalization of his enterprises and property.

However, this did not break Kulaev's spirit. Seeing the plight of Russian emigrants, he began organizing free canteens for them, opened schools and hospitals. Significant funds were sent by Ivan Vasilyevich to France, which had become the center of Russian emigration at that time. Charity was sometimes associated with risks to his life. Once he was kidnapped by bandits who demanded a ransom, but Kulaev refused to pay. Fortunately, everything turned out well: one passerby remembered the car's number, and the police quickly found Kulaev. Later, Ivan Vasilyevich moved to the USA and established a charitable foundation. Thus, he invested his capital in helping those in need.