{"id":256530,"date":"2024-10-25T12:22:19","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T10:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/?p=256530"},"modified":"2024-10-25T13:48:19","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T11:48:19","slug":"prince-albert-ii-presents-highest-honour-at-princess-grace-foundation-usa-40th-anniversary-gala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2024\/10\/prince-albert-ii-presents-highest-honour-at-princess-grace-foundation-usa-40th-anniversary-gala\/","title":{"rendered":"Prince Albert II presents highest honour at Princess Grace Foundation-USA 40th anniversary\u00a0Gala"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Sovereign presented actor, producer and Academy Award winner Michael Douglas<\/strong> with the Foundation\u2019s highest honour, the Prince Rainier III Award.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pierre in New York City was the prestigious venue for the Princess Grace Foundation-USA<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s 40th<\/sup> Anniversary Gala on October 23. The traditional gala honours the legacy of Princess Grace, and this year\u2019s edition celebrated 40 years of grant-making, with in excess of $19 million awarded to emerging artists since its inception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family and guests from the theater, dance and film communities gathered in their hundreds to recognise 2023 and 2024 Princess Grace Award Winners, Honoraria and Statue Award Recipients.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Douglas received the highest of these honours, the Prince Rainier III Award.  After a heart-felt tribute given by Bernadette Peters, herself a recipient of the award in 2019, the statuette, designed by NY-based artist Alex Soldier, was presented by Prince Albert II.  The Sovereign said of Michael Douglas: \u201cHis demonstrated life-long devotion to helping others throughout his accomplished career as an award-winning actor, and as a second-generation actor alongside his dad, Kirk Douglas is unparalleled. Michael and his family\u2019s commitment to philanthropy echoes My family\u2019s own commitment and I am delighted to present Michael Douglas with this year\u2019s Prince Rainier III Award.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat an incredible honor it is to be the recipient of this year’s Prince Rainier III Award.  I\u2019ve always been a fan of Grace Kelly\u2019s iconic screen work – as were my parents – and I cherished learning about my dad\u2019s friendship with Princess Grace during their Hollywood days and beyond.  I\u2019m humbled to have had the opportunity to continue that family friendship with Prince Albert II of Monaco over the years.  And so, to receive this esteemed award is extraordinarily special,” <\/em>said Douglas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prince Rainier III Award recognises a renowned leader in the arts whose own outstanding artistic accomplishments are coupled with demonstrated service to their community and includes a grant to the philanthropic organisation of the recipient\u2019s choice.  The statuette incorporates symbols representing all three disciplines \u2013 theatre, dance and film. This year\u2019s award honoured Michael Douglas\u2019 charitable efforts and dedication to the arts.  The grant will benefit The Douglas Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Prince Albert II with John Lehman, Trustee, and Diana Kemppainen, President, of the Princess Grace Foundation USA. Photo by Patrick McMullen via Getty Images<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Over 900 grants have been awarded since the Foundation was first established. Its President Diana Kemppainen  stated, \u201cI feel incredibly proud of the work the Foundation has achieved over the past 40 years. Our community of Princess Grace Award winners continues to impress me, and I love knowing that the Foundation has played a small, important part of their artistic journey. It\u2019s amazing to reflect on 40 years and think about those who built the Foundation: Prince Rainier III, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, and key members of the artistic community, Eduardo Garcia, Barbara Horgan – who were all so forward- thinking in how to support artists and carry forward Princess Grace\u2019s legacy.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Carly Hughes singing \u201cI Want to Go to Monaco\u201d. Photo Patrick McMullan via Getty Images<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Other highlights over the course of the evening included Carly Hughes singing \u201cI Want to Go to Monaco,\u201d previously performed by Liza Minelli at the 1985 Princess Grace Award Gala. A live auction featured THE CARTIER GRAIN DE CAF\u00c9 NECKLACE, a spectacular modern re-edition of the historical Grain De Caf\u00e9 Necklace worn by Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco. The piece is crafted in 18K yellow gold with 19 brilliant-cut diamonds delicately set on the tip of each coffee bean motif, a symbol of timeless elegance and the allure of Monaco.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>