Lifeline New York Marks 30 Years of Humanitarian Work with Annual Benefit Dinner
Founded by Crown Princess Katherine, Lifeline New York aims to improve healthcare in Serbia, particularly for children in need. Their annual benefit dinner was held at the Lotos Club in New York City.
Lifeline Humanitarian Organization is an international effort founded thirty years ago, in 1993, as an urgent response to the tragic humanitarian situation in the former Yugoslavia, a region afflicted by conflict and sanctions. The goal of Lifeline is to reduce and relieve the suffering of physically and mentally disabled children, orphans, and the elderly, while also working to improve medical facilities throughout the country.
HRH Crown Prince Alexander and HRH Crown Princess Katherine addressed guests at the benefit dinner. Crown Princess Katherine expressed her gratitude to her husband and to everyone involved with the Lifeline Foundation, sharing that her humanitarian efforts for Serbia began three decades ago by providing medical equipment for the University Children’s Hospital in Belgrade.
Crown Princess Katherine emphasized that children, along with their health and wellbeing, remain at the core of her humanitarian activities, as well as the work of her foundation in Belgrade and all Lifeline humanitarian organizations more broadly.
A Night of Giving and Celebration
Humanitarian items, including clothing, paintings, and portraits, were donated and auctioned throughout the evening. What made the fundraising feel especially personal was how directly each contribution tied back to Crown Princess Katherine’s original mission, transforming a single evening of celebration into tangible support for the very children’s hospital where her work first began three decades earlier.
Singer Gwyneth Giangrande performed alongside pianist Nick Guerrero for attendees throughout the night.
Patrons and guests in attendance included HRH Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia and HRH Crown Prince Alexander, HE Ms. Olgica Vlačić, Bishop Irinej, fashion editor Rushka Bergman, Catherine Broadbent, Jack Hartnett, TV personality Tijana Ibrahimovic, entrepreneur Cheri Kaufman, fashion designer Nicole Miller, Peter Pizzino, Kyle Wool, President of Wealth Management at Revere Securities, Soo Wool, EF Hutton CEO Joseph T. Rallo, Ashley Rallo, Greg Roumeliotis, Gillian Tullman Whealen, Ryan Whealen, David Boral, Lisa Boral, Maryanne Grisz, FGI President, Ana Martins, Ted Kim, Sun Song, Ivan Martinovic, Kristina Martinovic, Ella Legresley, Nicole Legresley, Bill Schlight, Nadia Martincic, Jay Yu, Seo Pak, Mara Radulovic, Nanad Grmusa, Kristina Bundra, Greg and Sheila Giangrande, and Dr. Benjamin Sadock and Dr. Virginia Sadock.
Lifeline’s Board of Directors is comprised of David Hryck, President, Susan Gutfreund, Vice President and SKG Decor, Cheri Kaufman, Vice President, Slobodan Bekvalac, David W. Boral, Dragana Djuknic, Anthony Hayes, Peter Pizzino, Joseph T. Rallo, Kyle Wool, and Dr. Bojana Jankovic Weatherly.
