KRASNOYARSK , Russia ( CNN ) -- `` It kept you alive , '' a tearful Dwight Griffith told his adopted son as the two looked at an infant incubator during a tour of the Russian hospital where he was born . Alex Griffith , 16 , raised more than $ 60,000 for a new playground at the Russian hospital where he was born . More than a decade after L.S . Berzon City Clinical Hospital No . 20 cared for him , 16-year-old Alex Griffith wanted to show his gratitude . `` Russia is part of me and this hospital is part of me . They gave me life , so I [ wanted ] to give back to them , to give them a fun place to play , '' said Alex , who lives in Forest Hill , Maryland . As part of a Boy Scout project , Alex donated hundreds of hours and raised tens of thousands of dollars to build a new playground for the hospital . Alex -- originally named Sergey -- was abandoned by his parents shortly after he was born at the hospital in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk . He weighed less than 2 pounds and doctors said he had a mild case of cerebral palsy . His condition improved slightly over the next 11 months , when Dwight and Jenny Griffith adopted him . `` The first time we saw Alex , he had rickets and he was malnourished , '' remembered Dwight Griffith . `` At first Alex did not smile and hardly moved . '' Watch Alex visit the hospital for the first time in 15 years » . Alex grew healthier throughout his childhood and became active in the Boy Scouts . In 2007 , he set out to build a new playground at Hospital 20 as his service project to become an Eagle Scout , the highest earned rank of the Boy Scouts of America . But the teenager had his work cut out for him . In photos his parents took when they traveled to Russia to adopt him , Alex saw that the existing playground had a single rusty swing with a rotten wooden seat and a sandbox that he described as `` a mud pit because of all the rain . '' `` I was just like , 'Wow , that 's a lot different , ' `` he said . Alex devoted 2 ½ years to his Krasnoyarsk Playground Project . In addition to recruiting more than 500 volunteers in five countries , he raised more than $ 60,000 by soliciting help from local Rotary Clubs and joining forces with other Boy Scouts for candy sales , car washes and barbeque fundraisers . Alex oversaw every aspect of production , from designing and purchasing the playground to shipping equipment overseas . The project is a hit . Young patients and their families now have at their disposal swings , a rock wall , a climbing bridge and 5-foot tall zip slides . The playground is painted red , white and blue and the entrance has two totem poles : a bear for Russia and an eagle for America . Watch children enjoy the state-of-the-art playground » . Alex and a small group of volunteers traveled to Hospital 20 in early August to set up the playground . A dedication ceremony was held there on August 12 -- Alex 's birthday . `` It makes me feel awesome opening the playground on my 16th birthday , '' he said . `` It 's just made me really happy just being here . '' The people of Krasnoyarsk have embraced the teenager , especially the children . `` I like this playground , because when you slide on it all the sadness goes away , '' said 11-year-old Sonja Sultanova . `` I think that Alex is a noble person . '' Alex no longer shows signs of cerebral palsy , but he does have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , impulsivity and a frail frame . His parents believe some of his conditions relate to his time in the hospital , due to a small staff with a lack of resources to provide enough care for the babies . Still , he and his parents are thankful he is doing as well as he is , having grown into a typical suburban teenager alongside his four adopted siblings . He enjoys riding his dirt bike and playing video games . Alex anticipates finding out if he becomes an Eagle Scout within the next couple months , but he is already satisfied with the outcome . `` This project has been a lot of fun and other kids who have been adopted are contacting me asking for advice , '' he said . `` I am going to do whatever I can to help them . '' Want to get involved ? Check out the Krasnoyarsk Playground Project and see how to help .
Alex Griffith , 16 , was adopted as a sickly baby from a Russian hospital . He has been in the care of his adoptive parents since he was 2 years old and is now 17. The project was part of Griffith 's quest to become an Eagle Scout . The top 10 CNN Heroes will be announced on October 1 .