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«GOLDEN HEART INTERNATIONAL AWARD»
Presentation of the third "Golden Heart" Award
The 3rd gala Golden Heart Award presentation ceremony was held at the "Rossiya" State Concert Hall on May 21, 2006.
This award is given for unselfish service to the higher ideals of mankind. By tradition, the famous Italian screen star Sophia Loren acted as the Patroness of the ceremony.
Such distinguished personalities as Ornella Muti, Jessica Lange, Steven Seagal and the Amici, Summer and Sky-High Band Groups were special guests of the ceremony in Moscow.
While in Moscow, the famous stars visited the Bakulev Cardiovascular Surgery Institute to present gifts to children undergoing treatment there.
"I could hardly hold back my tears when I held in my hands tiny tots that were hooked up to drip feeders," Sophia Loren told guests about her visit to the hospital.
"It is only in the movies that it is easy to save the world, but in real life you can consider yourself a hero if you manage to save at least one life, all the more so, that of a child," declared Steven Seagal.
Out of a long list of worthy candidates for the Award, the Organizing Committee and the Council of Trustees selected ten names. Fifteen Russian and foreign media outlets chose those who received the Award at the ceremony.
In 2006, the "Golden Heart" Award was conferred on:
- The Galina Vyshnevskaya and Mstislav Rostropovich Foundation
For vaccinating more than three million children against various types of hepatitis, measles and other diseases;
- The Stremsky family
For adopting 60 children;
- Birlant Kasayeva
For valor and unselfish aid to children who suffered from the war in Chechnya;
- Sara Nazarbayeva (First Lady of the Republic of Kazakhstan)
For her many years of service aimed at protecting the rights of the younger generation;
- Hannah Polack
For her many years of unselfish help to abandoned and homeless children.
In the "People's Choice" nomination, according to the results of open voting on the Award's site in which some 10,000
persons took part, the Award was given to:
- Tatiana Kondratieva For having freely donated more than 100 liters of blood and plasma.
The Laureates received Diplomas, Golden Heart Statuettes. Honorary Award Orders as well as valuable prizes and gifts, including automobiles, home videos, computer classes and others.
Invited foreign dignitaries, as well as prominent Russian statesmen, screen and sports stars, businessmen, scientists, ambassadors of foreign states and representatives of international organizations appeared on the stage to present the Awards at the ceremony.
Stars of the Russian stage, as well as especially invited foreign performers: the Amici, Summer and Sky-High Band Groups participated in the concert program of the ceremony.
Steven Seagal had a special surprise for the orphaned children in the audience. The famous actor appeared on stage with his own rock group. His resounding baritone voice and melodious songs were a great hit with all those present.
A gala reception for 600 invited guests in honor of the Laureates was given after the official Award presentation ceremony and concert.
The famous Italian actress Ornella Muti, accompanied by Russian beauties, Oxana Fyodorova and Dana Borisova, acted as the MC of a charity lottery with especially valuable prizes that was held during the reception.
By buying a 500-ruble lottery ticket, every guest was able to help Russian children suffering from grave heart and cerebral diseases.
The holders of the lucky tickets won many prizes among which there were:
- a Jaguar car;
- trips to exotic countries;
- jewelry and wristwatches;
- antiques.
All the revenues from the sales of tickets for the concert program and lottery have been forwarded to the program for saving the lives of gravely-ill children "Lifeline" with which the Organizing Committee of the Golden Heart Award has been fruitfully cooperating for many years.
Photos from presentation of the third "Golden Heart" Award:
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