Princess Charlene kicks off Princess Grace Awards with Paramount Pictures tribute event

(L-R): Pierre Frolla, Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Agnès Falco, Secretary General of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, HSH Prince Albert II, Bruno Senna, Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, and Jo-Ann Strauss, Master of Ceremonies Photo: © Eric Mathon / Palais Princier As Monaco Life reported earlier this month, a world first sporting event will take place in Monaco on June 4, thanks to an initiative by Princess Charlene. The Riviera Water Bike Challenge (RWBC) is the first relay race of its kind on water, covering 21 kilometers between Nice and Monaco using Schiller S1 water bikes. The charity challenge is in support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s project in Burkina Faso, and in partnership with the Monaco Red Cross and Burkina Faso Red Cross, to put into service an aquatic rescue centre. The major fundraising event to support the RWBC was a gala dinner held in the presence of HSH Prince Albert at the Monaco Yacht Club on Friday, March 24. In addition to the limited number of gala tables, available in three packages – Ruby, Sapphire, and Diamond – there were also three separate auction elements to raise funds for the Foundation. Until 5 pm Friday, there was a silent online auction of 17 Lots, including tickets to the Wimbledon 2017 Men’s Final, a Michael Schumacher Gold Anniversary Helmet, Rafael Nadal’s tennis racket, a training session with Paula Radcliffe, and 2 passes to access the Monaco Grand Prix Fairmont Hairpin. In addition, there was a live auction on the night involving 8 Lots ranging from sports (HSH Prince Albert II’s Olympic shoes and Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes Benz Racing Suit) to art (last photograph of Charlene Wittstock before she got married, signed by Julian Lennon) to South Africa (Nelson Mandela’s handprints). Finally, guests had the opportunity to bid for a place on a specific Riviera Water Bike Challenge team. In total there will be 10 teams, each made up of 2 celebrity sports personalities and 2 amateurs. Between the live and silent auctions €266,150 was raised. [caption id="attachment_14406" align="alignnone" width="640"] Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14394" align="alignnone" width="640"] Photo: © Eric Mathon/Palais Princier[/caption] The athletes on hand Friday evening will take part in June’s Riviera Water Bike Challenge. This includes women’s marathon world record holder, Paula Radcliffe, Monaco Olympic gymnast Kevin Crovetto, Pierre Frolla, four-time world record holder in free diving and Ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, AS Monaco striker Valère Germain, Dan Luger, rugby world champion with England and Bruno Senna, race car driver and ambassador for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. Monaco’s mayor Georges Marsan, as well as Jacques Raffaele, Mayor of la Turbie, were present. As were Frédéric Platini, Secretary General of the Monaco Red Cross, Michael and Gareth Wittstock, Brett Gosper, CEO of World Rugby, and Judah Schiller, creator of the Schiller Bikes, which will be used to race. [caption id="attachment_14405" align="alignnone" width="640"] Photo: Eric Mathon/Palais Princier[/caption] The evening was presented by South African TV star and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jo-Ann Strauss, while entertainment was provided by Garçons Chics, Capital Collective and the South African Cenestra Male Choir. Article first published March 26, 2017.   

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A bizarre agreement between an employee and her boss has come to light during an investigation by the Federation of Trade Unions in Monaco. While working for the firm Le Plaisir du Palais, Beatrice di Peri (40) paid a cheque to her employer as a ‘guarantee,’ in exchange for which the employer changed the terms of her contract - making her employment permanent - in order for her to be able to raise a mortgage for an apartment, she claims. For some time she was a familiar face at a refreshment bar at the Princess Grace Hospital, where she worked alongside a colleague. She said: “"I worked for five years on a fixed-term contract, with three contracts: four years, one month and one year. And I needed to take a credit. The bank was asking me for a CDI. This was in December 2012. My boss had procrastinated then said to me: "We will make you a CDI in exchange for a cheque for 2,000 euros that will be cashed if we have to break the contract. So I gave a cheque for 2,000 euros to have a CDI.” However, following an accident at work she was not able to continue with her job. The cheque was cashed. While the Trade Union Federation fights her case, Beatrice sent a letter to the Labor Inspectorate to explain her story. “I am still waiting for the letter of dismissal from my employer and the reimbursement to my father of his 2,000 euros.”

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