THE PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO HOSTS “NIGHT FOR THE CHILDREN” GALA BENEFITING ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL

Actress and supermodel Amber Valletta lends her name to the Principality’s second gala for St. Jude on the luxurious French Riviera.

MONACO – June 11, 2004 – For the second time in its 40-year history, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will be the beneficiary of an international fund-raising gala in the enchanting Principality of Monaco.

Night for the Children, the “world’s most glamorous gala,” will be held July 23, 2004 at the world-renowned Monte-Carlo Sporting Club in Monaco. Hosted by La Maison de l’Amérique Latine de Monaco under the honorary presidency of H.S.H. Crown Prince Albert, the gala will benefit the St. Jude International Outreach Program and celebrate the hospital’s recent partnership with Costa Rica to help improve the survival rates of children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Among the many distinguished guests will be H.S.H. Crown Prince Albert of Monaco and other members of the princely family, H.R.H. Princess Ghida Talal, chairperson of the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan, famed Brazilian artist Romero Britto, and model and actress Amber Valletta, who attended the first St. Jude gala in Monaco six years ago.

Night for the Children Gala

“I was so honored to have been a part of this exciting event in 1998, and I’m thrilled St. Jude was invited to be the beneficiary again,” Valletta said. “I’ve visited the hospital on several occasions and I’ve seen first-hand the work they’re doing to save the lives of children everywhere. It’s so important that we continue to support the research at St. Jude. I hope everyone will take the opportunity to join me at this glamorous event in Monaco.”

The gala will feature an exclusive duet performance with U.K. artist Bonnie Tyler and French-singer Kareen Antonn. Bonnie Tyler has released more than a dozen albums and 60 singles over the course of her career. "Simply Believe," Bonnie's new album is now on release in France and follows her major success earlier this year with a re-worked French/ English recording of "Total Eclipse of the Heart,” with Kareen Antonn, which topped charts across Europe.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and from 60 foreign countries, and the hospital freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families without insurance coverage never pay for treatments.

La Maison de l’Amérique Latine de Monaco, a Monégasque foundation for the development of Latin America, will delight guests with Costa-Rican-themed events throughout the Principality during the week of the gala, including an art exhibit and a culinary journey at the Café de Paris. The Friday night gala will feature dinner, entertainment, a live auction and a luxury raffle.

Since 2002, the St. Jude International Outreach Program has partnered with the Hospital Nacional de Niños (HNN) in Costa Rica. The partnership includes the training of Costa Rican physicians and nurses, development of a bone marrow transplant program at HNN and a visiting fellowship program whereby physicians, nurses and researchers spend several weeks at St. Jude to learn about the hospital’s approach to clinical research and patient care.

The Night for the Children Gala is organized with the support of the Consulate General of Monaco in New York and the Monaco Government Tourist Office USA. For further information on Night for the Children, or the Principality of Monaco, contact the Monaco Government Tourist Office at 212-286-3330 or 800-753-9696.

Tickets to the event are $1,000 with special VIP tables available. For ticket information, please call 202-237-8573, or toll-free 888-819-0029 or visit www.nightforthechildren.com. Another great way to experience this glamorous gala while also getting the most out of your stay in Monaco, is by purchasing a “The Night for the Children” all-inclusive package with 2-nights stay at the luxurious Hotel Hermitage plus roundtrip airfare with Swiss Airlines, exclusively available via www.monacoauction.com. Enjoy savings of up to 50 percent off retail value when you bid or buy without bidding through MonacoAuction.