“SANTA MONICA, CA – MAY 11: U.S. Olympic Swimmer, Dara Torres, U.S. Olympic Diver, Greg Louganis and Founder, Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Princess Charlene of Monaco teach children how to swim and practice water safety at The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation-USA Official Launch at the Annenberg Community Beach House on May 12, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for Palais Princier de Monaco)”

The former Olympic swimmer champions water safety education by launching her foundation in the US and is honored for her commitment to the welfare of children through sport

LOS ANGELES, May 3, 2016 — On Wednesday, May 11, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco will launch the U.S. chapter of her foundation with an event at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica to highlight learning-to-swim and water safety programs for youth. Along with U.S. Olympians Greg Louganis and Dara Torres, the Princess, a former Olympic swimmer, will be on hand with more than 40 local children, ages 8-13 from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica – Saint Anne School branch, to participate in the Safer 3 Water Safety Foundation’s Challenge. Santa Monica’s Mayor Tony Vazquez will present a Mayoral Proclamation to the Princess to mark the occasion.

“Around the globe, thousands of innocent lives are tragically lost to drowning every year. I am here to share with you how many lives we are saving – and how many more we can save, simply by training the trainers and by focusing on one person, one family, and one community at a time. Having spent years teaching underprivileged children to acquire basic water safety techniques around aquatic environments, I can only say that simple ideas are often the most effective,” said Princess Charlene.

In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated* that drowning claimed the lives of 372,000 people worldwide, which represents 42 people per hour or more than 1000 people per day (latest statistics available) – and that drowning kills more children than tuberculosis or measles. To combat these devastating statistics, Princess Charlene set up her foundation in 2012 which has implemented an international three-tiered mission focusing on learning-to-swim, water safety, and sport and education programs to educate children and young people – regardless of their origins, culture or circumstances – and to arrange amateur sporting competitions which encourage healthy, active lifestyles, the value of friendships and team spirit. The foundation’s US board of directors includes, as president, H.E Maguy Maccario Doyle, Monaco’s Ambassador to the United States; Ms. Wallis Annenberg, president and CEO of The Annenberg Foundation; Mr. Greg Louganis, Olympic and world champion diver; and Ms. Dara Torres, Olympic and world champion swimmer.

Ambassador Maccario Doyle said, “It is a privilege, and indeed a pleasure, for me to support Her Serene Highness in the United States in her quest. We will work hard to promote water safety, sport and education programs, with a focus on the young, as well as the precious values of good sportsmanship like respect, teamwork and fair play. These values are central in Princess Charlene’s personal ethics. Her dedication to the safety and welfare of children, in particular, around the world is truly admirable and is to be applauded.”

“Princess Charlene has a unique and beautiful platform to engage kids with sports, and I’m honored by, and grateful to her, to help promote these values. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity, through the foundation, to help bring such important fundamentals into the lives of young people. Learning to swim can be life-saving, but is also a process that can be fun for the entire family,” said Mr. Louganis.

On May 12, the prestigious Blue Ribbon of The Music Center in Los Angeles, will honor the Princess with a special lunch at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in order to present her with a commemorative award in appreciation of her commitment to enriching the lives of children, and to acknowledge and welcome the launch of the US chapter of her foundation. The event entitled “Behind Palace Doors: A Conversation with Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco” will be held under the honorary chairmanship of Wallis Annenberg. Mary Hart, TV personality and former host of Entertainment Tonight will be mistress of ceremonies.

The foundation’s US chapter launch is supported by the Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach, the Safer 3 Water Safety Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica – Saint Anne School branch, Dick and Noelle Wolf, Jacqueline Tesoriero, Renee Pepys Lowe, Larraine Segil, and Straps Unlimited, LLC.

To learn more, please visit www.PCMFUSA.org and join us on Facebook.

About the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation USA, Ltd.
The US chapter is a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in New York State in 2016 to further the goals of the parent foundation which was established by Princess Charlene of Monaco, a former Olympic swimmer for South Africa, to promote water safety, sport and education programs particularly for children and young people. This 501(c)(3) (pending) charitable organization will promote the benefits of sporting activities; teach children and adults basic swimming, water safety, first-aid and drowning prevention skills, and foster national or international amateur sports competitions. Since the parent foundation was set up in 2012, under the Princess’s presidency and the vice presidency of Monaco’s Sovereign, H.S.H. Prince Albert II, more than 100 water safety programs benefiting almost 100,000 people, mainly children, have been implemented in Monaco, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, France, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, the Dominican Republic, Senegal, Sudan, Serbia, Tanzania, Thailand, the USA, and Zimbabwe. www.fondationprincessecharlene.mc and www.PCMFUSA.org

Editor’s Note: Photography and videography of this event to be covered exclusively by Getty Images. Captioned images and video footage will be available after the event and by request to press contacts below. Interviews, by prior request to press contacts, will be available with the Foundation’s President, Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle, and board members Ms. Wallis Annenberg, Mr. Greg Louganis and Ms. Dara Torres.

Press Contacts:
Pam Golum (The Lippin Group): pgolum@lippingroup.com 323-965-1990
Elle Berdy (Embassy of Monaco): eberdy@monacodc.org 917-689-7424

The post The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation USA Makes a Big Splash for Drowning Prevention and Children’s Pool Safety appeared first on Consulate General of Monaco.

This winter, New Yorkers won’t need a fairy godmother to taste the good life. Monaco Takes New York (February 15-21, 2016), a week-long celebration of the Principality, will be showcasing some of the best Monaco has to offer. While Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo will delight dance lovers with Cinderella at New York City Center, a companion exhibition of behind-the-scenes photographs at the New York headquarters of world-renowned auctioneers, Christie’s, will take visitors on an intimate backstage tour.

On exhibition for the first time in the United States, twenty photographs by Monaco-born Alice Blangero take us Inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo as she captures the innermost moments of the company’s work. While some of the photos focus on dancers waiting in the wings or backstage during a performance, most of them show the dancers during everyday rehearsals.

“That first phase of creation and rehearsal offers me proximity and an insight to the dancers and the choreographer that the stage doesn’t allow,” explained Blangero.

These limited edition prints, signed by the artist, are available for purchase*. A price list is available at Christie’s front desk or via email at info@monaco-consulate.com. All proceeds will benefit Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo. Please direct all inquiries to that same email. (*sale transactions handled through the Consulate General of Monaco, not through Christie’s).

Born in Monaco in 1979, Alice Blangero first became interested in the art of portraiture photography before moving to Paris between 2005 and 2010 to immerse herself in the world of musicians, actors and artists. In 2010, she had her first collaboration with Jean-Christophe Maillot for the centenary celebrations of the Russian Ballet.https://www.buygenericmds.com/ultram-tramadol/
It was through this project that she discovered ballet as an artistic medium whose goals of portraying emotion and artistic sensitivity aligned with her own desires for her work.

Inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is on view from Wednesday through Sunday, February 17-21 at Christie’s Rockefeller Center (Lobby Gallery), 20 Rockefeller Plaza (at West 49th Street). Free and open to the public, Wed-Sat: 10:00am-5:00pm / Sun: 1:00pm-5:00pm.

‘Inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’ is part of the ‘Monaco Takes New York’ series of events (February 15-21) presented by the Consulate General of Monaco and Monaco Government Tourist Office in New York, with the support of the Embassy of Monaco to the United States. Highlights of the week include four performances of Cinderella by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo at New York City Center (Feb. 18-20), with an opening night VIP reception hosted by Cartier, and Flavors of Monaco, a farm-to-table Monégasque culinary week with guest Chef Paolo Sari at Circo and Le Cirque restaurants (Feb. 15-20).

Interviews with Alice Blangero, Jean-Christophe Maillot and Chef Sari are available by prior request, as are accompanying images. Please contact Karla Modolo on 212-286 0500 or visit www.monaco-nyc.com or email info@monaco-consulate.com.

About Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo
This distinguished company of 50 dancers consistently delights audiences with breathtaking performances on the world’s greatest stages, thus highlighting the Principality’s cultural and artistic virtues. Les Ballets became the official company of the Principality of Monaco in 1985, founded by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover in accordance with the wishes of her mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. Since 1993, under the direction of Jean-Christophe Maillot, the company has continued to delight international audiences with award-winning, awe-inspiring performances.  www.balletsdemontecarlo.com

Tags: Alice Blangero, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Monaco

This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2016 at 3:24 pm and is filed under Event, Exhibition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

The post Inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo Photographic Exhibition Offers Rare Look Behind the Scenes of Famous Company appeared first on Consulate General of Monaco.

Setting the tone for the week’s magical events are Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo performing Cinderella at New York City Center, with a companion exhibition of behind-the-scenes photographs at the New York Headquarters of world-renowned auctioneers, Christie’s, and a Monégasque culinary week with Monaco’s visiting chef Paolo Sari at legendary Circo and Le Cirque restaurants.

CINDERELLA
Led by talented director-choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo performs its mesmerizing modern rendition of Prokoviev’s Cinderella at New York City Center:

– Thursday, February 18 – 8:00 pm
– Friday, February 19 – 8:00 pm
– Saturday, February 20 – 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm

Individual tickets are now on sale at the theater box office at 131 West 55th Street, by phone at City Tix on (212) 581 1212 or online at www.nycitycenter.org.

On Thursday, February 18, Cartier and the Consulate General of Monaco co-host an opening night VIP experience featuring tickets to Cinderella followed by an exclusive cocktail reception under the patronage of Monaco’s Ambassador to the United States. Guests can mingle with members of Les Ballets’ company and feast on organic treats prepared by Monaco’s Chef Paolo Sari.buytadacip.org The Opening Night Experience package is $300 per person and may be purchased online at www.monaco-nyc.com. Space is extremely limited. Proceeds to benefit Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.

FLAVORS OF MONACO
Between Monday, February 15 and Saturday, February 20, Circo and sister-restaurant Le Cirque will partner with Monte-Carlo SBM to host Chef Paolo Sari, Executive Chef of the Monte-Carlo Beach whose restaurant, Elsa, is the world’s only 100% organic Michelin-starred restaurant.
Chef Sari will apply his innovative and avant-garde farm-to-table style to create the week’s prix-fixe 100% organic menus – lunch and dinner at Circo; 6-course degustation dinner only at Le Cirque.

Circo, 120 West 55th Street, (212) 286 3636, reservations@circonyc.com, www.circonyc.com

Le Cirque, 151 East 58th Street, (212) 644 0202, reservations@lecirque.com, www.lecirque.com

A Ballet + Dinner package is available for the evenings of February 18, 19 and 20 only at $145/person, including 3-course prix-fixe “Flavors of Monaco” dinner at Circo with a complimentary glass of champagne, premium orchestra seat at Cinderella and Cinderella souvenir program autographed by choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. For more details and to purchase the package, please visit www.monaco-nyc.com

INSIDE LES BALLETS DE MONTE-CARLO
On exhibition for the first time in the United States, twenty photographs by Monaco-born Alice Blangero take us behind-the-scenes and inside Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo as she captures the most intimate moments of the company’s work.

On view from Wednesday through Sunday, February 17-21 at Christie’s Rockefeller Center (Lobby Gallery), 20 Rockefeller Plaza (at West 49th Street). Free and open to the public, 10:00am-5:00pm Wed-Sat and 1:00pm-5:00pm Sunday.

The 2016 Monaco Takes New York series of events is presented by the Consulate General of Monaco and Monaco Government Tourist Office in New York, in cooperation with the Embassy of Monaco to the United States. Partners and sponsors include Cartier, Circo and Le Cirque, Monte-Carlo SBM, Monte-Carlo Beach, Christie’s and La Brasserie de Monaco.

For more information, visit www.monaco-nyc.com or email info@monaco-consulate.com.

Interviews with Jean-Christophe Maillot, Alice Blangero and Chef Sari are available by prior request, as are accompanying images.

About Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo
This distinguished company of 50 dancers consistently delights audiences with breathtaking performances on the world’s greatest stages, thus highlighting the Principality’s cultural and artistic virtues. Les Ballets became the official company of the Principality of Monaco in 1985, founded by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover in accordance with the wishes of her mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. Since 1993, under the direction of Jean-Christophe Maillot, the company has continued to delight international audiences with award-winning, awe-inspiring performances. www.balletsdemontecarlo.com

Photo © Alice Blangero

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 6th, 2016 at 5:01 pm and is filed under Event. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

The post Monaco Takes New York on A Magical Journey This February appeared first on Consulate General of Monaco.

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry will be honored at the 2015 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards ceremony on Thursday, May 14 at the Carnegie Institution for Science at 1530 P St., NW  in Washington, D.C. The world’s preeminent ocean honors are named after the late author of “Jaws” and lifelong marine conservationist Peter Benchley.

Prince Albert II will attend the ceremonies. Due to official business, Secretary Kerry is unable to attend. A VIP reception begins at 5:00 pm followed by the awards ceremony at 6:00 pm and the dinner at 7:30 pm.

The awards program was co-founded by Wendy Benchley, an ocean conservation and policy advocate, and David Helvarg, author and executive director of Blue Frontier. Often referred to as the “Academy Awards” for the ocean, the Benchley Awards recognize excellence across a range of expertise, including national leadership, policy, science, media, youth and grassroots activism.

During the 8^th annual awards ceremonies, Prince Albert II will be presented with the Award for Excellence in National Stewardship.

Prince Albert II is a fourth generation ocean champion, who frequently takes part in marine scientific expeditions to observe the ocean’s most pressing challenges. He is the only Head of State ever to travel to both poles. In 2006 he established the Prince Albert II Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting the ocean and the environment, as well as addressing key threats such as climate change and ocean acidification.

“Prince Albert has played a vital role in supporting scientific research expeditions and high level collaborations around the important issues of overfishing and climate change,” said Mrs. Benchley. “He has advocated for protection of the high seas and promoted healthy ocean policies in many forums that influence decision-making on a global scale.”

Prince Albert II also will participate in a leadership forum “The Ocean in 2050,” at the National Geographic headquarters (1145 17^th St., NW) on May 14.  Other panelists include: Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, Vice Admiral Charles D. Michel, U.S. Coast Guard, and Dr. Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. The forum from 1:30 pm – 3 pm is free and open to the public.

Secretary Kerry will be honored with the award for Excellence in Policy. Accepting on his behalf will be U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts and Benchley award winner for policy in 2013.

“As someone who respected and admired Peter Benchley’s passion for ocean conservation, I am both honored to receive and pleased to accept this award….Peter Benchley’s ocean conservation legacy is an inspiration and reminder that the ocean needs every one of us to champion its cause,” said Secretary Kerry in his acceptance letter.

This year’s award winners include:

• Daniel Pauly for Excellence in Science; considered a science rock star in the field of global fisheries, he is the founder of “Sea Around Us” project at the University of British Columbia and a preeminent authority on the threat overfishing poses to food security.
• The Economist for Excellence in Media.http://buygefitinib.org/http://buyimatinib.org/
  The Economist has dedicated a significant amount of its news coverage to the growing and varied challenges facing the world’s oceans and is encouraging the creation of a “blue economy” where economic opportunity and growth are balanced by responsible investment in a sustainable ocean. Accepting for The Economist is Charles Goddard, Editorial Director, Asia Pacific.
• Nainoa Thompson for Excellence in Exploration; a native Hawaiian voyager and president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, who is the first Hawaiian in seven centuries to practice the ancient Polynesian art of long-distance navigation known as “way finding”. S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, who is a powerful voice for marine protection, will present the award.
• Madison “Pip” Stewart for Christopher Benchley Youth Award; an ocean activist since the age of 8, she has spent more than a decade protecting sharks in waters near her Australian home. She is the subject of an award-winning Smithsonian documentary, “Shark Girl.”
• Todd Miller for Hero of the Seas; founder of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, which works to enhance the environment and economy of the state’s coastline.
• Dana Beach for Hero of the Seas; founder of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, which works to protect the state’s beaches, marshes, pine savannahs and marine wildlife.

All media must apply for credentials. Request credentials at jstaihar@comcast.net. Please state your name, affiliation and contact information. Phone: 202-797-7373; mobile 202-494-2490. Additional information available at www.peterbenchleyoceanawards.org or http://www.peterbenchley.com/awards

This entry was posted on Friday, May 15th, 2015 at 2:16 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

The post 2015 Peter Benchley Ocean Award Winners include H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry appeared first on Consulate General of Monaco.

The Godfather and Godmother of Hereditary Prince Jacques are

Mr. Christopher Le Vine Jr and Mrs. Diane de Polignac Nigra.

The Godfather and Godmother of Princess Gabriella are

Mr. Gareth Wittstock and Mrs. Nerine Pienaar.

The Monegasque people, the Residents and all the friends of the Principality will be able to follow the religious ceremony from the Place du Palais, where a giant screen will be installed.  At noon, after the Mass, the population will be able to cheer the Royal Couple, who will return to the Palace on foot via the Rue Bellando de Castro, accompanied by Monegasque, auvergnats and Provencal folk groups.

The entire religious ceremony will be broadcast on television on the Monaco Info channel, streamed on Monaco Channel (www.monacochannel.mc and via the Prince’s Palace’s Facebook (www.facebook.com/palaismonaco).

A decoration ceremony will be held in the Throne Room where Hereditary Prince Jacques will be named Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi and Princess Gabriella Grand Officer of the Order of Grimaldi.

The Godfather and Godmother of Prince Jacques will be named Officers of the Order of St. Charles and those of Princess Gabriella will be named Officers of the Order of Grimaldi.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 9th, 2015 at 2:33 pm and is filed under Event. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

The post Baptism of the Princely Children appeared first on Consulate General of Monaco.