Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine accompanied by HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, and along with Lifeline New York, hosted the 6th Annual Benefit Luncheon to raise funds for pediatric cancer care in Serbia at Le Cirque on Wednesday October 5 with guests including Consul General of Serbia Mrs Mirjana Zivkovic, Lady Lully Gibbons, Ambassador Nancy Brinker, Kerry Kennedy, Ivana Trump, Kelly Bensimon, Dr. Ruth, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Jean Shafiroff, Kamie Lightburn, Dale Noelle, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Thomas James “Tommy” Tune, and Lucia Hwong-Gordon.
The President of the Board, Mr. David Hryck, welcomed guests and introduced the Event Emcee and Event Chair Cheri Kaufman, who introduced TRH Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine and the balance of the program. Former Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg who was lunching at Le Cirque congratulated Cheri Kaufman and Lifeline New York on the events success.
HRH Crown Prince Alexander passionately commented on the work that Lifeline New York does in connection with the HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation. The emergency aid and medical equipment supplied by Lifeline New York comes at a critical and pressing time. “We can take this opportunity to improve the health and wellness of our future generation. The equipment, expertise and doctor training that my wife’s foundation provides to the Serbian medical community have helped so many families. Lifeline New York does not discriminate against cultures or religions but helps all who cannot afford quality medical care.”
HRH Crown Princess Katherine addressed guests at the luncheon, and thanked her husband and everyone involved with the Lifeline Foundation. She said, “The people here today give me the strength and energy to carry on. There aren’t enough people in the world who are ‘good examples’ but all the people here are great examples as you could have been anywhere else, but chose to be with me and Lifeline to help save the children and those in need. The support from our community of friends and the Serbian diaspora is so critical. We are so blessed to have their continuous generosity.”
Dr. Hedvig Hricak, the chair of the department of Radiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, was honored for her humanitarian work and contributions to improving health care in Serbia. Dr. Hedvig Hricak is an international leader in the fields of oncologic imaging and molecular imaging. She is devoted to women’s health issues and has worked on countless global programs during her career. Dr. Hricak is a former President of Lifeline Humanitarian Organization where she and her husband Professor Alexander Margulis have supported Princess Katherine and Lifeline New York in countless healthcare projects for the people of Serbia, including: the development of a national Breast Cancer Screening Program, designing and leading training programs for radiologists and technologists, developing oncology conferences and providing expertise to improve the health care system. She spoke about how she has devoted her life to curing cancer in a country where breast cancer rates of diagnosis were three times higher than they are now.
Nevena Pavlovic, the permanent principal soloist at the Serbian National Opera Theater, performed the aria, Donde Lieta Usci, from Puccini’s La Boheme, to rapturous applause.
Dr. Leslie Lehmann – Global Health Initiative (GHI) Director, spoke about how her, “work with children’s hospitals and how dedicated medical professionals are to children. She continued to say, “how much Lifeline New York helps to provide new equipment that can drastically effect the survival rate of children.”
The event included a successful silent auction incorporating luxury items from Italian designers, Serbian designers and New York retailers including: Tizzini, Skatò, Duccio Venturi, Rivolta, MAG, Villa Artimino, Artwork by Prince Roberto Ruspoli, Eleuteri, Arme De L’Amour, Roksanda Ilincic, Beautique Restaurant, Kramer Studios Portrait, Rita Hazan Salon, Tiffany, Le Cirque Restaurant, Pierre Michel Salon, a Novak Djokovic autographed poster and a luxury fragrance basket.
Lifeline New York works directly with the 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. Over the years, Lifeline has provided items such as neonatal ultrasound machines, mobile mammography unit, radiology training of medical staff, electric hospital beds for intensive care units, devices for children with impaired hearing, and computers for orphans. Serbia is working hard to improve the lives of its citizens. However, tens of thousands of people, especially orphans, infants, children and people with disabilities, are in need of help. There is a desperate requirement for medical equipment and other supplies. Lifeline New York is a non-profit humanitarian organization that receives no government funding, whose work is made possible through donations from caring people. To learn more visit www.lifelineny.org or contact 212-867-5050, office@lifelineny.org.
