Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine Of Serbia hosted the Annual Lifeline Benefit Luncheon 2019 at the Metropolitan Club in New York City In aid of children’s hospitals in Serbia. Lifeline Humanitarian Organization is an international effort founded in 1993 as an urgent response to the tragic situation in the former Yugoslavia, which was afflicted by conflict and sanctions. The goal of Lifeline is to reduce and relieve the suffering of physically and mentally disabled children, orphans, the elderly as well as to improve medical facilities in the country
Guests at the luncheon were welcomed by New York Vice President and Co-Chairman Cheri Kaufman. The attendees enjoy the music and the performance of multifaceted, lyric soprano Barbara Grizer and an award recipient of American- 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.
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.”
HRH Crown Princess Katherine then invited Dr. Harvey Karp, famous pediatrician and the author of parenting book 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 and portraits.
Notable attendees included: Patron HRH Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia and Crown Prince Alexander, 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. 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, Maria Fishel, and Sharon Bush.
Lifeline’s Board of Directors includes David Hryck (President), Cheri Kaufman (Vice President), Slobodan Bekvalac, Dragana Djuknic, Susan Gutfreund, Kyle Wool, Bojana Jankovic Weatherly, Anthony Hayes, and Ann Conry.
For further information concerning Lifeline, please visit www.lifelineny.org
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