"If you have seen a child dying without
reason or children loosing their sight due to the lack of vitamin
A, children with arms as thin as your finger, you will be moved
as much as I was and you will advocate their case with the same
passion as I do" -
Sir Roger Moore
Sir Roger Moore was the VIP guest of the UNICEF
charity ball celebrating the organization’s 60th anniversary
hold in Hotel Hilton Budapest on 2nd December 2006. The UN General
Assembly passed the resolution on establishing a Children’s
Emergency Fund on 11th December 1946. The Hungarian National Committee
for UNICEF invited the popular British actor to Hungary to commemorate
this anniversary.
The visit of Sir Roger Moore –being Goodwill Ambassador
of UNICEF since 1991- marked the first „official”
visit of a UNICEF Ambassador to Hungary.
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The net income of the charity gala will be
divided among two goals: half of the revenues will support
the purchase of toys for kindergartens in the rural areas
of Hungary and the Hungarian National Committee will contribute
with the other half to the joint school building project
of UNICEF and Nelson Mandela foundation in Africa.
Sir Roger Moore accompanied by his wife, Lady Kristina
visited in Budapest a kindergarten established for children
raised by homeless families, supported by the Hungarian
National Committee for UNICEF.
Photo
© Aniko Hortolanyi |
The Goodwill Ambassadors
UNICEF is supported in its activities worldwide by several celebrities.
The position of the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador was „invented”
by the Children’s Fund 50 years ago, in order to provide
a proper framework for the supporting activity of Danny Kaye,
the famous US comedian.
Sir Roger Moore is currently the Doyen of all Ambassadors, taking
over this informal leader position following the death of Audrey
Hepburn. Other UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors are among others Roger
Federer, Susan Sarandon, Shakira and David Beckham.
The National Committee has appointed two Hungarian Goodwill Ambassadors:
Ms. Judit Halász, an actress and Mr. Gábor Presser,
a musician. Sir Roger’s visit was the occasion for announcing
new Goodwill Ambassadors; the Hungarian National Philharmonic
Orchestra, thus Hungary will have the most – over two-hundred
- Goodwill Ambassadors in a single country.
Goodwill Ambassadors are appointed for 3 years; they are remunerated
with 100 HUF for this period. The remuneration is received by
Zoltán Kocsis, Music Director of the Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sir
Roger visited the rehearsals of the National Philharmonic
Orchestra, newly appointed as Hungarian Goodwill Ambassadors
and thanked for their commitment to UNICEF. Photo
© Aniko Hortolanyi
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The Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra made the commitment
of giving a beneficiary concert for UNICEF December each year
held in the Budapest Palace of Arts.
The bouquet of flowers of appreciation
Sir Roger Moore presented Ms. Judit Halász
during the press conference with the UNICEF bouquet of flowers
as an acknowledgement of her artistic work, which has been
successfully supporting children in their mental and spiritual
development and enrichment.
The bunch of flowers also thanks her for advocating for
UNICEF.
Ms.
Judit Halász, Hungarian Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF
receives the Bouquet of Appreciation from Sir Roger.
Photo
© Aniko Hortolanyi
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The Hungarian National Committee for UNICEF has been awarding
the bouquet of flowers of honor for a decade, which has already
acknowledged Ms. Göncz, wife of the former President of Hungary,
Ms. Katalin Gönczöl, first ombudsperson in Hungary,
the National Service of District Nurses, the Kaláka music-band
and the Budapest Ervin Szabó Children’s Library.
The bouquet of flowers is accompanied by the message of Sir Roger
Moore: „I am handing you over this bouquet of flowers as
the sign of UNICEF’s highest appreciation. Let it become
the symbol of a better world which we can create with our love
and care for the coming generations.”
Sir
Roger at the dinner table at the charity ball in conversation
with the wife of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Ms. Klara
Dobrev, patron of the ball. Photo
© Aniko Hortolanyi
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More about UNICEF
The largest child care organization of the world is present in
157 countries with its programs and projects being funded exclusively
by voluntary contributions, donations, sale of postcards as this
organization does not receive any funding from the UN budget.
UNICEF lists several achievements during the past six decades
with its partners:
