Codrina and Adrian Vierita - Amb of Romania, Louise Akerblom and Jean-Paul Senninger- Amb of Luxembourg, Margarida De Vallera and Joao De Vallera - Amb of Portugal, Ellen and Gilles Noghes- Amb of Monaco, Ronit and Urs Ziswiler- Amb of Switzerland, Hunaina al Mughairy - Ambassador of Oman, Shamim and Said Jawad - Amb of Afghanistan, Claudia Fritsche - Amb of Liechtenstein, Nancy and Bill Rollnick -IRC Chairmen, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Wilma and Amb Stuart Bernstein.
Welcomed
by trumpeters to the iconic Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach on Saturday,
January 31, 2009, guests of the 52nd International Red Cross Ball
united to embrace the time-honored traditions and global spirit of
community outreach generated by the American Red Cross.
Chairman of the American Red Cross, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, presented
the “Chairman's Award for International Humanitarian
Leadership” to Michele Kessler, the American Red Cross Global
Ambassador for the Measles Initiative. Kessler was honored for her
tireless efforts to vaccinate more than 500 million children in 50
countries and reduce measles deaths in Africa by 91percent.
Also honored were Nancy and Bill Rollnick who were presented with
the “Sue Whitmore Award,” the highest honor bestowed
by the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, for their
unyielding commitment to the Red Cross.
Critically acclaimed concert pianist Bruce Levingston, known for
his diverse repertoires, enchanted his audience with a Chopin nocturne
before they dined on a simple, yet divine three-course meal.
Foreign dignitaries escorted down the red carpet by the United States
Marine Corps 4th ANGLICO unit of Palm Beach included Ambassador Claudia
Fritsche of Liechtenstein; Ambassador and Mrs. Said Jawad of Afghanistan;
Ambassador Hunaina al Mughairy of OMAN; Ambassador and Mrs. Urs Ziswiler
of Switzerland; Ambassador and Mrs. Gilles Noghes of Monaco; Ambassador
and Mrs. Joao De Vallera of Portugal; Ambassador and Mrs. Adrian
Vierita of Romania; and Ambassador and Mrs. Jean-Paul Senninger of
Luxembourg.
Other guests included Dr. Elizabeth Bowden; the Honorable Nancy
Brinker; Mr. & Mrs. Tim Cannon; Mr. and Mrs. Chris Carlson; Mr. & Mrs.
David Chase; Mr. & Mrs. George Cloutier; Mrs. Esther Coopersmith;
Mrs. Herme De Wyman Miro; Ms. Susan Duffy; Mr. & Mrs. Mark Freitas;
Mrs. Nanci Gabay; Mr. & Mrs. Robert Gordon; Mr. & Mrs. Desmond
Keogh; Representative and Mrs. Ronald Klein; Mr. & Mrs. Michael
Lampert; Mr. Robert Leidy; Sir Geoffrey Leigh; Mr. Carl Loof; The
Honorable & Mrs. Per-Olof Loof; Mr. & Mrs. James Meany; Mr. & Mrs.
Alexis Mersentes; Ms. Therese Mersentes; Senator and Mrs. William
Nelson; Ms. Anka Palitz; Mr. & Mrs. Frank Pilotte; Ms. Beth Pine;
Ms. Lois Pope; Mr. & Mrs. Walter Raquet; Mr. & Mrs. Alfons
Schmitt; Mr. Otto G. Spamer & Dr. Carmel Donovan; Mr. & Mrs.
Dominick Telesco; Mr. & Mrs. William Tiefel; Mr. & Mrs. Robert
Tomsich; Mr. & Mrs. William Told; Mrs. Jean Tailer; and Mr. & Mrs.
William Walde.
