On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, the Princess Grace Foundation–USA hosted the Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 42^nd Street in New York City and presented 21 Awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film, as well as two Princess Grace Statue Awards to artists who have previously won Awards and have shown achievement and growth in their respective fields.  Every year, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) proudly awards these grants at its annual gala to support its mission of providing crucial support to emerging artists in America.  This year, PGF-USA awarded more than $750,000. 

PGF-USA was proud to present award winning actress Glenn Close with the Prince Rainier III Award in recognition of her outstanding career and contribution to the arts.  This award was presented to her by award winning actor Ted Danson, her Damages co-star.  Tony® Award winning actor and Glenn Close co-star in Barnum, Jim Dale served as the evening’s emcee.  The Gala took place in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.

The evening included dinner, dancing, silent auction, live auction and award ceremony.  A highlight of the evening was a live auction featuring a walk-on part in an episode of Law & Order donated by Platinum Sponsor and series writer/producer, Dick Wolf.  The winner of this lot was famed tenor Placido Domingo.  All auction proceeds benefited the Princess Grace Awards to advance its mission of providing crucial support to emerging artists in America.

Noelle and Dick Wolf, Emmy® Award winning writer/producer of Law & Order and Dolly Lenz, Vice Chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman were the evening’s co-chairs.

NOTABLE ATTENDEES

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, Kimara Ahnert, Rose Byrne (Damages), Tabatha Coffey (Tabatha’s Salon Takeover), Glenn Close, Jim Dale (Pushing Daisies), Ted Danson, Placido Domingo, Rene Fris (Shear Genius), Jeff Goldblum (Adam Resurrected), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) & Peter Hermann (Law & Order: SVU), Anne Randolph Hearst (PGF-USA Board) & Jay McInerney (author), Tommy Hilfiger (designer) and Dee Ocleppo, Celeste Holm (Grace Kelly co-star, High Society), Ara & Rachel Hovnanian (artist, PGF-USA Board), Hon. John F. Lehman (PGF-USA Board Chairman) & Barbara Lehman, Dolly Lenz, Judith Light (Ugly Betty), Maguy Maccario-Doyle (Consul General of the Principality of Monaco), Petra Nemcova, Bebe Neuwirth (Tony® Award, Chicago), Prince Reza Pahlavi (former Prince of Iran) & Princess Yasmine, Lex & Shafi Roepers, Lily Safra, Dr. Jon Turk (PGF-USA Board) & Carolyn Gusoff, Christopher Walken and Noelle & Dick Wolf (Emmy® Award winning writer/producer Law & Order).

ABOUT PGF-USA