WORLD MONUMENTS FUND CELEBRATED 35TH ANNUAL HADRIAN GALA
Bénédicte de Montlaur, President & CEO of World Monuments Fund (WMF); Chair Emerita of WMF Dr. Marilyn Perry; Architect Peter Marino
The evening honored Peter Marino and Dr. Marilyn Perry, and raised a record $2.1 million to safeguard monuments around the world.
New York–October 29, 2024: Last night, on Monday, October 28, World Monuments Fund (WMF) – the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places – hosted its 35th annual Hadrian Gala at The New York Public Library’s iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. The evening honored architect Peter Marino, FAIA and Dr. Marilyn Perry, Chair Emerita of World Monuments Fund and President Emerita of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, for their extraordinary efforts to save and restore the city of Venice. Since 1965, WMF has raised $300 million to support more than 700 diverse cultural heritage sites across 112 countries. The Hadrian Gala is WMF’s annual benefit to support these efforts, with this year’s event raising a record $2.1 million.
The Venetian-inspired evening included performances by acclaimed opera singer and Grammy Award-winner Anthony Roth Costanzo and members of the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra, and a dinner menu designed in collaboration with legendary chef Daniel Boulud, along with a live auction led by Christie’s.
Notable Guests Included: Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Brook Berlind, Fiorella Ballabio, Shalini Bhupal, Suzanne Deal Booth, Bonnie Brennan, Wendy Brandow, Anna Somers Cocks, Bob Colacello, Susan and François de Menil, Layla Diba, Anh Duong, Richard Edwards and Kevin Ramnaraine, Jennifer Fischer, Mark Fletcher and Tobias Meyer, Amanda Foreman, Marina Kellen French, Bart Friedman and Wendy Stein, Sabine Getty, Germano Giuliani, Lorna and Edwin Goodman, Cassandra Grey, Cornelia Guest, Marlene Hess, Jane Holzer, Rashid Johnson, Y.Z. Kami, Eleanora Kennedy, Jack and Nora Kerr, Peter and Elbrun Kimmelman, Julia Koch, Laura Kugel, Elizabeth Kurpis, Bradley Lander, Stephen Lash, Anthony Ledru, Christian Louboutin, Deirdre Major, Jonathan Marder, Monika McLennan, Juan Carlos Menendez, Peter Miller, Janet Montag, Dr. Eric L. Motley, Alexandra Munroe, Kristina O’Neill, Catherine Orentreich, Priya Paul, Elizabeth Peabody, Marc Porter, Anna Raginskaya, Indré and Justin Rockefeller, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Carol Saper, Lauren Santo Domingo, Richard and Marjorie Schneidman, Christine Schwarzman, Hélène Marie Shafran, Daisy Soros, Melissa Stewart, Ellen and Bill Taubman, Begum and William H. Taft V, Barbara Tober, Thomas Vecchione, Kulapat Yantrasast, Kate Young, Manuela Wirth and Iwan Wirth.
To begin the night, President and CEO of WMF Bénédicte de Montlaur stated: “Today, World Monuments Fund is as much a movement as an organization. A movement of communities around the world committed to preserving their local cultural heritage; professionals dedicated to our shared global heritage; and a movement of leaders and philanthropists who believe that the diversity, beauty, and meaning of these cultural treasures hold the power to bring us a little closer together, make us a little bit more respectful of our differences, and inject wonder into a world in desperate need of all these things.”
Architect Peter Marino, FAIA, who was selected for his contributions to heritage and preservation in Venice, commented: “It’s a great privilege to be recognized by World Monuments Fund at this year’s Hadrian Gala and support WMF’s mission to preserve and protect the world’s architectural and cultural heritage. As chairman of Venetian Heritage, I work to preserve and restore the architecture and art in one of my favorite cities — Venice — which WMF has also worked tirelessly to protect.” Marino is currently Chairman of Venetian Heritage, having been a board member since 1991. He has supported extensive architectural and art renovations and restorations within Venice, including Ca’ d’Oro, on Venice’s Grand Canal, Museo di Palazzo Grimani, and life-size Antonio Rizzo statues for the Ducal Palace that inspire preservation efforts worldwide.
Chair Emerita of WMF and its longest serving Board Member (40 years), Dr. Marilyn Perry has been instrumental in the development of World Monuments Fund since joining the Board in 1984. An art historian, she lived in Venice during the 1970s prior to serving as President of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation (1981-2007). As Chair of the WMF Board from 1990 to 2007, she oversaw the development of the organization as staff and programs expanded and WMF's mission became global in scope. In 2015, for WMF's 50th anniversary, Dr. Perry wrote a brief history, Hadrian’s Way: Creating World Monuments Fund (1965-2015) to document the organization's development and its impact on the evolving heritage world. Accepting the 2024 Hadrian Award, she remarked, "One of our early challenges at WMF was to demonstrate to a larger audience the universal value of our work. Presenting the Hadrian Award (named for the ancient Roman Emperor) to notable international individuals drew attention to their concern for heritage sites and recognized the value of a universal movement. Now, as a Hadrian Awardee myself, I celebrate World Monuments Fund as a core adventure of my life."
The 2024 Hadrian Gala is made possible by the generosity of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, GRoW @ Annenberg and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). Additional support is provided by Tiffany & Co.
About the Hadrian Gala
Each year, World Monuments Fund’s Hadrian Gala honors champions of conservation for their passionate commitment and extraordinary contributions to preserving and protecting the world’s shared cultural heritage. Since 1988, World Monuments Fund has presented the Hadrian Award to recognize leadership that advances the understanding, appreciation, and preservation of the world’s art and architecture.
Previous Hadrian Award honorees include: The Krehbiel Family, Maryvonne Pinault, and Tata Sons (2023); Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, Suzanne Deal Booth, and Christian Louboutin (2022); Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan and HRH Princess Dana Firas (2019); Prince Amyn Aga Khan, of the Aga Khan Development Network and Dr. Eusebio Leal Spengler (2018); Deborah Lehr (2017); Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) (2016); Her Majesty Queen Sofía (2015); Mica Ertegün and Ellsworth Kelly (2014); Roberto Hernández Ramírez (2013); Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express (2012); Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder (2011); Ratan Tata and the Tata Family (2010); David Rockefeller Jr. (2009); Houghton, Doreen and Graeme Freeman (2008); Rahmi Koç and the Koç Family (2007); His Highness The Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur (2006); The Right Honourable John Julius, The Viscount Norwich (2005); Carlos Slim Helú (2004); Eugene V. Thaw (2003); Hélène and Michel David-Weill (2002); The Honorable James D. Wolfensohn (2001); Harvey Golub (2000); Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover K.G., The Honorable Simon Sainsbury, and Sir Timothy Sainsbury (1999); Richard Hampton Jenrette (1998); Phyllis Lambert (1997); His Highness The Aga Khan (1996); Lord Rothschild (1995); David Rockefeller, Sr. (1994); Dominique de Ménil (1993); Marella and Giovanni Agnelli (1992); Mrs. Vincent Astor (1991); His Majesty King Charles III (1990); Paul Mellon (1989); and Carlo De Benedetti (1988).
About World Monuments Fund
World Monuments Fund is the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places to enrich lives and build mutual understanding. For more than 55 years, working at more than 700 sites in 112 countries, its highly skilled experts have applied proven and effective techniques to the preservation of important architectural and cultural heritage sites around the globe. Through the World Monuments Watch—a biennial, nomination-based program—WMF uses cultural heritage conservation to empower communities and improve human well-being. In partnership with local communities, funders, and governments, WMF seeks to inspire an enduring commitment to stewardship for future generations. Headquartered in New York City, the organization has offices and affiliates worldwide.
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Media Contacts:
Keaton Ramjit, kramjit@wmf.org
Zach Wampler, zach@hellothirdeye.com
