VIP Statements on This Year's Prize Recipient (DOC, 54 KB)

Statements in connection with SOS-Kinderdorf International being the 2002 recipient of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize

Lady Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

"I am thrilled for the SOS-Kinderdorf International organisation. I nominated SOS Children's Villages for the Hilton Humanitarian Prize because I've seen first hand the difference it can make for children. SOS Children's Villages takes kids out of often tragic situations and gives them a loving and supportive family atmosphere to grow up in. It's what every child deserves. I'm very proud to be associated with SOS-Kinderdorf International."

Lady Sarah Ferguson has been very involved in humanitarian work and particularly in child welfare for several years. The Duchess of York nominated SOS-Kinderdorf International for the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize 2002.

Lord Richard Attenborough

"I am so happy that the work of SOS Children's Villages has been recognised through this award, and that it will be used by them to support children in Africa whose lives are so drastically affected by AIDS. They have the same rights to education, health care and protection as any other child, and SOS Children's Villages have amply demonstrated that they can deliver the support the children desperately need."

Lord Attenborough of Richmond-upon-Thames (Richard Attenborough) has appeared in more than 50 films, including "Jurassic Park" and "Miracle on 34th Street". He directed the movie "Gandhi" which won eight Oscars in 1982. He is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.

SOS-Kinderdorf International Hermann- Gmeiner-Str. 51, 6021 Innsbruck, Austria P h o n e : + 4 3 / 5 1 2 / 3 3 1 0 - 0 F a c s i m i l e : + 4 3 / 5 1 2 / 3 3 1 0 - 2 7 w w w . s o s - c h i l d r e n s v i l l a g e s . c o m Professor and Mrs Stephen Hawking

"We have supported children in SOS Children's Villages since 1990. In 1997 we visited the village in Hanoi, Vietnam and were very impressed by the love and stability given to the children living there. Children who have lost their parents, as in our particular sponsored child's case, Thu Nhan, who was accepted by the village along with her two sisters and her brother when their parents died in 1990, are enabled to continue with their lives, feeling valued and loved."

"SOS Children's Villages are now reaching out to children with AIDS or who have lost parents as a result of an HIV infection. We are sure that they too will receive the same love that we saw in action in the SOS Children's Village in Hanoi. We are delighted that SOS Children's Villages have been awarded the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize."

Stephen W. Hawking is one of the world's leading astrophysicists and professor at Cambridge University in the chair that Isaac Newton once held. His many publications include the best selling popular books "A Brief History of Time" and "The Universe in a Nutshell".

FIFA for SOS Children's Villages ambassador Lucas Radebe

"This award means a great deal to me personally, not only because it recognises the great work that SOS Children's Villages do in caring for orphaned children but because it will be used specifically in southern Africa to help children orphaned by AIDS. This desperately needs to be done. Having visited SOS Children's Villages in South Africa, I know they will be able to deliver the support needed by these kids and I'd like to thank the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for making it possible."

Lucas Radebe is one of the most popular African soccer players. The defender is captain of the South African national team and captain of the English Premier League club Leeds United. He has been ambassador of the "FIFA for SOS Children's Villages" partnership since 1998.

SOS-Kinderdorf International Hermann- Gmeiner-Str. 51, 6021 Innsbruck, Austria P h o n e : + 4 3 / 5 1 2 / 3 3 1 0 - 0 F a c s i m i l e : + 4 3 / 5 1 2 / 3 3 1 0 - 2 7 w w w . s o s - c h i l d r e n s v i l l a g e s . c o m