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ROYAL COUPLE HOSTED ANNUAL BENEFIT LUNCHEON IN NEW YORK IN AID OF CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS IN SERBIA
For the 9th year in a row, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine hosted Annual Benefit Luncheon in New York to raise funds for the medical equipment for children’s hospitals in Serbia. Humanitarian foundation Lifeline New York whose Parton is HRH Crown Princess Katherine, organized this important event. The charity event took place at the Metropolitan Club in New York to unite in helping the treasures of this world, which are the children. The attendees enjoyed the music and the performance of multifaceted, lyric soprano Barbara Grizer and an award recipient of America-Israel Cultural Foundation Dror Baitel. Thanks to a donation of Vineyard Brands, guests also had a chance to try red wines Côte du Rhône Blanc and Rouge from Famille Perrin. Wine importer company with considerable expertise, Vineyard Brands was established in 1971 to represent only family-owned wineries. HRH Crown Prince Alexander addressed the guests at the luncheon and then HRH Crown Princess Katherine thanked her husband, and everyone involved with the Lifeline Foundation: „My humanitarian efforts for Serbia started 26 years ago by providing medical equipment for the University Children Hospital in Belgrade. Children, their health and their well-being are in the very core of all my humanitarian activities, as well as the activities of my foundation in Belgrade and all Lifeline humanitarian organizations whose patron I am. There is a very difficult situation with children’s hospitals in Serbia and they need to be equipped properly, much better than now, in order for our doctors and nurses to provide appropriate care for our sick children. After this event, when you meet your family members or friends, and they ask you:“What have you been doing today?”, you can proudly say that you have been saving children’s lives”, said HRH Crown Princess Katherine. Then HRH Crown Princess Katherine invited Dr. Harvey Karp, famous pediatrician and the author of the most important parenting book of the decade „The Happiest Baby on the Block“, to join her on the stage and continue the talk about the importance of helping children in Serbia. Humanitarian auction items were donated such as handmade clothing and footwear, paintings, portraits ect. Their Royal Highnesses among others were in company of HE Ms. Olgica Vlacic, Consul at the Consulate of the General Republic of Serbia in New York and Mrs. Nevena Toaso, Team Leader of Communications, Innovation and Partnerships at the United Nations. Their Royal Highnesses were graced by the presence of His Grace the Right Reverend Irinej Bishop of Eastern America the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Annual Benefit Luncheon had many important attendees, including, Rushka Bergman, an artist, film director and contributing fashion editor for Vogue Italia, Katarina Radivojevic, famous Serbian actress, Tijana Ibrahimovic, TV personality, Kiki Kennedy, Katherine LeFrak and Harrison LeFrak, as well as the Lifeline New York Board members: Mr. David Hryck, Chairman, Mrs. Susan Gutfreund, Vice President, Mrs. Cheri Kaufman, Vice President, Mr. Slobodan Bekvalac, Mrs. Dragana Djuknic, Mr. Anthony Hayes, Mrs. Ann Conry, Mrs. Bojana Jankovic Weatherly, Mr. Peter Pizzino and representatives of Mr. Kyle Wool. Lifeline New York works directly with HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation in Belgrade to provide critically needed humanitarian aid to the people of Serbia regardless of religion or ethnic origin, with a focus on aiding physically and mentally handicapped children, orphans and working with medical institutions to improve health care throughout the country.
