UN Women For Peace Association held their annual March in March luncheon at the UN to a star studded and prestigious crowd of attendees and honorees.
In honor of International Women’s Day, the luncheon held in the esteemed Delegates Dining Room, honored actor and now director Paul Bettany, Bond No. 9 Founder Laurice Rahme, and Kraft Group head honcho/New England Patriots owner, Robert Kraft.
The inspiring day included thoughtful and forceful speeches from elegant Muna Rihani Al-Nasser; Chair, UN Women for Peace Organization, her esteemed husband H.E. Nasssir A. Al-Nasser; UN High Representative of The UN Alliance for Civilizations, and the astute United Nations Secretary –General Ban Ki-moon.
Oscar winning director and actor Ron Howard who was introduced as an “American original” took to the stage to introduce Bettany, who he directed twice in ‘A Beautiful Mind’, and ‘ The Da Vinci Code.’
Howard told the story of how Bettany would always talk about a homeless man outside his and Jennifer Connelly’s Tribeca home who had a cart full of classic books. After Hurricane Sandy, this man and other homeless disappeared. It pinched a nerve, the British born actor learned more and would go on to be an advocate for Human rights and unjust treatment. And now, he has new film ‘Shelter’ which he wrote, produced and directed about the plight of a homeless woman, starring his amazing wife Jennifer Connelly.
The film also starring Anthony Mackie will be distributed by Screen Media with a targeted release date of November 6.
Said Bettany, “I am humbled to be honored by UNWFPA, and to be part of the extraordinary work that they do.”
Robert Kraft was honored for everything the NFL, and especially the New England Patriots, are doing to bring awareness of violence against women to the public and show how men must be at the forefront of ending such violence.
“Men have to take a leading role in the prevention of violence against women,” says Kraft. “We have a tremendous opportunity, and social obligation, to work with advocates likes the UN Women for Peace Association to accomplish this mission. I am honored to accept this award and look forward to continuing our work towards this goal.”
Find out more. www.unwomenforpeace.org
Pictured:
Ron Howard, Jennifer Connolly, H.E. Nasssir A. Al-Nasser, Robert Kraft, Muna Rihani Al-Nasser, Paul Bettany
Jennifer Connolly, Paul Bettany