Swiss Society of New York To Honor International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
New York, NY (PRWEB) January 27, 2016 -- Join the Swiss Society in celebrating 150 years of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
The Swiss Society of New York will hold its annual Swiss Ball on February 6th 2016 at Cipriani 42nd Street: A night of dancing, entertainment, fine food, a silent auction in support of the Swiss Society’s Fellowship and the Young Swiss Late Night Ball. The Swiss Ball is held under the patronage of the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York.
Jeannette Seifert-Wittmer, President of the Swiss Society, looks forward to the celebration: "It is our distinct pleasure to recognize the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for their humanitarian action for over 150 years and we are thrilled to welcome Rolf Soiron, Member of the Assembly of the ICRC, as Guest of Honor of the Swiss Ball 2016. In collaboration with the ICRC, proceeds of our Silent Auction will allow us to fund this year's Swiss Society Fellowship Prize for a joint project. Thanks to our numerous generous sponsors, guests will enjoy a magnificent evening with fine dining, Swiss entertainment and dancing."
Much has changed, of course, since the first Geneva Convention was signed by twelve states, including Switzerland, more than 150 years ago. Both the Geneva Conventions and the Red Cross were the initiative of Henri Dunant, Geneva native. An eyewitness to the Battle of Solferino in 1859, he was appalled by the lack of care for the wounded and immediately organized aid on the battlefield. In 1862, he published his memoirs under the title Un souvenir de Solférino. The publication attracted great attention throughout Europe, and paved the way for the foundation of the Red Cross and the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, which since 1876 has been known as the International Committee of the Red Cross. Since the adoption of the first Geneva Convention 150 years ago, international humanitarian law has become a central pillar of the international legal order. Ultimately its provisions serve to protect our key characteristic as human beings: our humanity.
The Swiss Ball, the annual gala fundraiser of the Swiss Society, is a cornerstone of the broader Swiss community in the New York tri-state area. Each year we honor a uniquely successful Swiss person or institution, and this recognition extends further by means of the Swiss Society Fellowship. This increasingly important grant funds exciting projects in the legacy of the honoree.
Useful Links / Additional Information
More Information on the Swiss Fellowship Prize:
https://swisssociety.com/swiss_society_prize/
Program and invitation to the Swiss Ball 2016:
https://swisssociety.com/events/270/view_detail.html
Photos and further information about outstanding past events:
https://swisssociety.com/past_events.html
International Committee of the Red Cross Website:
https://www.icrc.org
The Swiss Society New York
Since its beginnings in 1882, the Swiss Society has come a long way. In 1888, the Society began to hold annual banquets at prestigious New York hotels. For many years, the long gone Astor on Broadway between 44th and 45th Streets was the primary venue for these events.
In the 1920s, the Swiss Society began to transform itself into an organization carried by the growing Swiss business community in New York. This also brought about a change in the scope of the annual banquet; with a new set-up as a charitable annual ball, the now famous Swiss Ball was born.
Throughout the 20th century, the Swiss Society played a key role in the Swiss community of the greater New York area. In 1951, it began to organize luncheons (initially called “Déjeuners Suisses”) that featured prominent politicians, businessmen, scientists, artists and journalists from Switzerland and the United States. It also organized Swiss National Day celebrations and other events. In 1991 the Swiss Society participated in the celebrations for the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation.
Today, the Swiss Society organizes and supports numerous cultural events throughout the year. The Swiss Ball today attracts several hundred people from a broad spectrum of businesses and industries.
The Swiss Society of New York is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to encouraging the extensive historical friendship between the United States and Switzerland and to supporting Swiss culture and heritage in the New York tri-state area and other regions of the United States.
For further information:
Write to info(at)swisssociety(dot)com or call 212-755-1790 (Secretary’s Office). Ask for Jeannette or Lukas and your call or message will be forwarded.
Lukas Sieber, Swiss Society of New York, Inc., http://www.swisssociety.com, +1 212-755-1790, [email protected]
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