(Boston, May 20, 2006) - Boston's Museum of Fine Arts provided the backdrop for a gala black-tie event at which Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover (Princess Caroline of Monaco) was honored with the Children's Champion Award by the New England Chapter of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF (www.unicefusa.org) and raised in excess of $250,000 for the cause.

While paying a heartfelt tribute to a group of Nepalese mothers whose determination and courage helped vaccinate a nations' youth against the measles, The Princess of Hanover likened the struggle to protect the world's children from myriad threats and challenges to a mountain climb.

"In our struggle we, like the women of Nepal, face Himalayan challenges...our mission is to mobilize the conscience of the world on behalf of children," She said.

"Our guiding principle is the quality of the legacy we shall leave to those who will inherit this ever-smaller planet of ours."The Princess of Hanover evoked Her deep American ties and said that She held America and western democracies to the highest standards in setting a good example for the world to follow.

"We live in countries whose official policies directly or indirectly destroy more children's lives than we can ever hope to save. We can't be child advocates and feel comfortable with that." But I hold our societies and ourselves to a higher standard. Partly because I know that in our societies we can actually get things done! Our freedom gives us power, and a duty to use it to make essential changes."

The award recognized Her longstanding dedication to helping the world's children, in particular in Her capacity as President of AMADE (World Association of Children's Friends) and She accepted the award on behalf of the volunteers and AMADE's Secretary-General, Mr. Francis Kasasa, who accompanied the Princess of Hanover to the event.

AMADE Mondiale (an acronym for the French, Association Mondiale des Amis De l'Enfance) was established in 1963 by H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco as a non-profit child-advocacy NGO to promote and protect the rights of the children of the world through humanitarian aid programs and now boasts 23 branches across the globe. Princess Grace once referred to AMADE as "a word easy to remember as it sounds like "amour" (love in French)."

The Princess of Hanover, named President of AMADE and appointed a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador in 1993, continues this long and loving legacy of Her mother. His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco is Honorary President and also an active fundraiser and supporter of AMADE.

AMADE Mondiale, headquartered in Monaco, has become an internationally recognized nongovernmental organization with consultative status with UNICEF, UNESCO and the United Nations Economic Social Council and with participative status with the Council of Europe.

VIP guests at the event included former US Secretary of the Navy and Chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA (and a cousin of Princess Grace) Mr. John Lehman; The Princess of Hanover's cousin, Mr. Christopher LeVine and his wife of Philadelphia; Monaco's Ambassador to the United Nations, H.E. Gilles Noghès; Monaco's Consul General Hon. Maguy Maccario-Doyle; Mr. Charles "Chip" Lyons, President of the US Fund for UNICEF, Kimberlea Tracey, Director of the US Fund for UNICEF and Event Chairs Sally and William Cottingham.

Previous recipients of the Children's Champion Award have included Nelson Mandela, H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan, Sir Roger Moore and Harry Belafonte.

Source: Consulate General of Monaco in New York

Read The Princess of Hanover's Acceptance Speech