Princess Charlene travelled to the tiny mountain village of Isola del Gran Sasso in the province of Teramo in southern Italy to inaugurate the Parrozzani Primary School, which had been destroyed in November 2016 by an earthquake.
The new 1,000m2 school will be host to 200 students and its construction was a joint effort by the Monaco Red Cross, Italian Red Cross and several private partners and citizens.
Princess Charlene, who since 2014 is a recipient of the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Italy, the highest honorific distinction given by the Italians, was awarded a gold medal by Italian Red Cross’s Vice President Rosario Maria Gianluca Valestro for her commitment and actions to the organisation and her continued humanitarian efforts.
She was accompanied to the opening by a group of children from the village, as well as by local dignitaries.
The former school, destroyed by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake quickly followed by two tremors measuring 5.7 and 5.3 respectively, is located in the Apennine Mountains in the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, one of Europe’s most biologically diverse areas boasting more than two thousand plant species, some unique to the region, as well as several rare animal species.
Monaco will host a day of fun activities for the kids as part of celebrations for the International Day of the Rights of the Child.
The Department of National Education, Youth, and Sports inflated a hot air balloon in front of the Grimaldi Forum this week signalling the upcoming event. It was attended by local schoolchildren and curious crowds.
20th November, the actual day of the event, will see the Grimaldi Forum converted into a massive play area reserved for kids three to 13 years old, where from 11:30am to 7:30pm there will be a host of activities such as creative workshops, games, bouncy castles, an escape room and food stalls. Entry fee is €5.
A charity concert by singer and impressionist Michaël Grégorio at the Grimaldi Forum will end the day’s festivities. The concert begins at 7:30pm and ticket are on sale at www.grimaldiforum.com starting at €39.
Badges with “I take part in the Day of the Rights of the Child” are also currently being sold at all local schools in anticipation of the event.
International Day of the Rights of the Child was created to coincide with Universal Child’s Day in 1990 by the United Nations General Assembly. The day offers adults and children alike the opportunity to advocate, promote and celebrate children and their rights, allowing for discussions and actions to create a better world for kids.
All proceeds from the event will be given to local charitable organisations who work with children in vulnerable situations or whose rights are being violated.
Interview: Brisa Trinchero, Princess Grace Foundation-USA CEO
This year, the Princess Grace Foundation took a bold new direction, bringing in two-time Tony Award-winner Brisa Trinchero as CEO. It marked the end of an era for the New York-based foundation, which had operated under Toby Boshak from more than two decades.
On the 90th anniversary of Princess Grace’s birth, Monaco Life sat down with Ms Trinchero to talk about the exciting new dynamic that she brings to the foundation and how Princess Grace’s legacy lives on through a new generation of exceptional artists.
Monaco Life: Can you tell us about yourself and how you came to be CEO of the Princess Grace Foundation?
Brisa Trinchero: I have spent the past 10 years in Broadway, producing and investing in all kinds of Broadway shows including Hamilton, Moulin Rouge, and Beautiful: the Carole King Musical. I am very fortunate that they have been incredibly successful and I have won two Tony Awards for producing. I also have a business background, but I have always been involved in the arts and entertainment, and now I have the opportunity to give back by working with a foundation that has given away so much money to emerging artists in dance, theatre and film.
I joined the Princess Grace Foundation in April, taking over from a predecessor who had been running it for 23 years, and our board of trustees was really excited to usher in a new era for the foundation. We are at this inflection point generationally of the people who really knew Princess Grace, and new generations who need to be reintroduced to her. What’s really exciting for me is the work that the foundation’s been doing in supporting these emerging artists – it’s been flawless in how they’ve executed the mission of Princess Grace’s legacy. But not enough people know about the amazing work that’s being done.
Princess Grace with her mother Margaret in the 1950s
What have you achieved so far as CEO?
There have been a number of exciting things to happen in the short period of time since I have been with the foundation. We launched a partnership with the Monte Carlo Television Festival and in June we had a very successful event, SpongeBob SquarePants Family Day, which Prince Albert and his children attended. It was an opportunity for us to highlight one of our Princess Grace Foundation Award winners, Steven Hillenburg, who created SpongeBob. Princess Grace was also one of the founders of the television festival, and her foundation’s grant literally supported Steven early in his career. So his work coming back to Monaco and being celebrated represented the full circle of this legacy.
One of the other things I am working on is building our community and expanding our base. We were fortunate to receive a brand new million dollar gift from John Gore, a theatre producer who is passionate about our mission. This really continues the momentum that we have and signals a new and refreshed energy of the foundation.
Prince Albert and Brisa Trinchero
Will we be seeing more of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA in Monaco?
We have a number of exciting new events that are being created, and three of those will be in Monaco next year. One of the things we are taking very seriously in this new era of the foundation is Princess Grace’s legacy as a cultural bridge between America and Monaco. We are very fortunate that so many of our award winners are now some of the biggest stars and creatives in Hollywood, Broadway and in the dance world. So, as we look at events in Monaco, we are able to bring some of our very successful award winners here to showcase the amazing work they are doing, thanks to this foundation.
Your main event, the Prince Grace Awards Gala, is coming up in just a few weeks time…
Yes, on Monday 25th November we have our annual gala in New York (read Monaco Life for reports from our Fashion & Lifestyle Contributor Isabella Marino who will be at the gala). We are very grateful to have Rod and Karen Gancas from Monaco as our hosts for the evening and Prince Albert will be there of course. A highlight will be the presentation of the Prince Rainier III Award to award-winning actress and Broadway legend Bernadette Peters for her exceptional artistry and philanthropy.
For people who don’t know a lot about the Princess Grace Foundation, can you explain how instrumental it has been in launching the careers of young artists?
The Princess Grace Foundation-USA is dedicated to elevating extraordinary emerging artists in theatre, dance and film in the form of grants, scholarships and fellowships. Each year, the foundation convenes a panel of experts in theatre, dance and film and they review nominees sent by the top training programs in each of those fields. The nominees are very young; we are funding at the emerging stage, so for many of them this is the first major grant that they have won. In addition to the financial support, they also receive validation that they are on the right track. The award is incredibly prestigious and the Princess Grace name really means something to them.
Also, this foundation is unique in that once you have received a Princess Grace Award, you can come back year after year for continued funding, which is incredibly important. We are proud of that because it is really showing a commitment to these talented artists over the course of their careers.
Some of our award recipients are Jon Chu who directed Crazy Rich Asians, Cary Fukunaga who is directing the new James Bond movie, Tyler Peck – the star of New York City Ballet, famous playwright Tony Kushner, and actor Lesley Odom Junior who was the star of Hamilton… these are names who have really changed the American cultural landscape. And frankly, having this ongoing support early in their career allows them to take risks they might not otherwise be able to take.
Lesley Odom Junior receiving the Princess Grace Award
We are celebrating 90 years since the birth of Princess Grace this week. How important is it for the foundation to reintroduce Princess Grace to a new generation?
She was such an extraordinary woman. What she was able to accomplish at every point of her career, from making an unpopular move in her family by pursuing Hollywood, winning an Oscar and having a successful film career, to coming to Monaco and becoming a princess which was exciting but challenging, and as I understand it really shaping the cultural landscape here by bringing so much art, culture and Hollywood glamour. It is really incredible to see just one person who has had that level of influence. And then throughout her life she was giving back to these emerging artists in America.
Cary Grant and Grace Kelly
As I understand the story, just after the funeral her friends gathered together – Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Gregory Peck – with Prince Rainier III and thought the best way to honour her legacy was to continue what she had been doing quietly already. They created the foundation because they knew it is what she would have wanted, and now her legacy lives on in the arts world, something she was so passionate about, and her legacy literally lives on in these artists and the work they are creating.
How can the people of Monaco become more involved in the foundation?
We have a wonderful community here in Monaco and we are very excited about expanding that, particularly with people who have a passion for theatre, dance and film. I am here every other month and would love to meet people who would like to join our community. We have a fantastic team, board and staff, and I feel very honoured and fortunate that I get to spend my days carrying on such an incredible legacy. We would also like to express our gratitude to Prince Albert for how dedicated he has been in carrying on his mother’s legacy. It is really special and something that is very close to his heart.
To find out more about the Princess Grace Foundation-USA visit their website: https://pgfusa.org
The official cessation of hostilities of World War I were celebrated in Monaco on Monday in a solemn ceremony with many notable local personages in attendance.
President of the French Union of Monaco Christophe Pisciotta opened the ceremony at the traditional time of 11am when a wreath was laid at the foot of the monument of the Belgian King Albert I. The procession soon moved on to the cemetery where they gathered in front of the War Memorial.
Mayor Georges Mas gave a speech stressing the horrors of war and the war years in the Principality, noting nearly 20 million lost their lives and an equal number were wounded during the conflict. Monaco and France suffered heavy losses, both civilian and soldier, estimated at between 1.4 and 1.7 million. Monegasque citizens voluntarily went to war following the example of Hereditary Prince Louis II, who served in the French Army and eventually reached the rank of Brigadier General.
Jean-Luc Delcroix, the President of the Federation of French Groups of Monaco, also spoke and paid homage to all those who have sacrificed themselves over the years for their causes, reminding us that even today, the special forces and legionnaires risk their lives every day combatting the threat of terrorism.
The day was marked with all the sombreness expected and was a fitting tribute when recalling the end of the Great War, as well as to honour the soldiers who served their country during both World Wars.
Ceremonies were concluded at the Maison du France.
Penn is one of the top university hospitals in the United States. It is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League college in the same city where Princess Grace Kelly is from. Her namesake hospital in Monaco, known for its high quality of care, celebrated this relationship on Friday evening at a gala at the Fairmont Hotel. Doctors from both hospitals shared some recent innovations, as guests enjoyed food and drinks, all with the goal of raising money to continue this prestigious collaborative effort.[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ]
The event was inspiring, as doctors from both hospitals shared their experiences in the collaboration. Dr. Joseph E. Bavaria, a heart surgeon at Penn hospital, explained how the relationship between Penn and Princess Grace hospitals began in 2009, designed to teach fellows internationally, through the cardiology department. The relationship has since grown into other departments. One key benefit of the collaboration is access to clinical trials. The relationship between the hospitals has allowed them to give patients access to trials in the USA or EU that otherwise may have been restricted.
Dr. Gabriel Latcu, who describes himself as an “electrician of the heart”, is a cardiologist at Princess Grace Hospital. He described how his department has frequent teleconferences with Penn colleagues where they discuss difficult cases. In addition, there are exchanges, where doctors from Monaco and Philadelphia switch places. He shared with the audience a new innovation in heart surgery, where patients do not need to be cut open.
At Penn, Dr. Angela M. DeMichele specialises in breast cancer and leads the breast cancer research program, where new technologies for imaging and screening building on mammography are developed, specifically the process of tomosynthesis, a new kind of mammography. The collaboration allows both hospitals the opportunity to facilitate the best cancer care to patients. At the gala, Dr. DeMichele and her counterpart at Grace, oncology radiologist Dr. Cecile Ortholan-Negre, discussed their collaboration and how they have worked together to investigate and improve treatment for patients. Dr. Ortholan-Negre’s expertise with radiography was shown to reduce cancer in cases that were previous deemed impossible to cure. At Grace, the cancer treatment department is quite small but very well regarded. The relationship with Penn allows for both hospitals to have the most up-to-date care for patients.
Left to right: Natasha Girardi, Monaco Life Publisher Eric Brundage, Simona Sarboraria, Mikaëlla Dupuy and Irina Peterson at the gala dinner
In addition to doctors from both hospitals reporting new innovations in their specialties, Monaco residents Rina Spence and Tina Green were both honoured for their contributions to the partnership. With Princess Grace’s origins in Philadelphia, her spirit lives on through the dedicated doctors and supporters of Grace-Penn.
Monaco has presented its business credential at the 2nd China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
On the initiative of Monaco’s Embassy in China with the MEB’s support, the Principality of Monaco had a stand at the expo from 5th to 10th November, providing a unique opening into the market of the world’s second largest economy.
The annual event aims to be the world’s biggest import and international trade exhibition. For this second edition 155 countries, 26 global organisations and 3,893 companies attended the expo, the theme of which was ‘A new era, a shared future’.
In the National Pavilions hall, the 136m² Monaco Pavilion hosted 12 companies – Aton Green Energy, AS Monaco, Cosmétiques et Capillaires Monaco, GPS Monaco, L’Orangerie, Mazza Immobilier, Monacobor, Therascience, Carthage Héritage, ABTS & Partners, the MEB and Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, all there to showcase their expertise and the Principality’s advantages as a place to do business.
Heads of state and foreign ministers and ambassadors attended the CIIE opening by President XI Jinping on 5th November. Catherine Fautrier, Monaco’s Ambassador to China, represented the Principality.
In his address, President XI Jinping stressed the need to build a more cooperative global economy based on dialogue and cooperation. “We need to join hands not let go of them, and tear down walls rather than build them,” he said.
According to the MEB, many meetings and high-level contacts were made in the Monaco Pavilion throughout a packed and busy event. Mrs Fautrier attended the signing of a contract selling part of the food processing company FRIMO to the Chinese company Baiyang. Another agreement in the food supplement field was signed between the Therascience laboratory and China Comfort Group Chong Qing & Slow Look. The city of Chongquing, a partner of the agreement, expressed its intention to expand the partnership into university and hospital research, as well as industrial production.
For the Monegasque companies attending, this was their first CIIE and opportunity to discover China, or rediscover it from a new angle, and assess the opportunities this vast market has to offer.
Source: Monaco Economic Board
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