It’s starting to feel like Christmas!
On Wednesday, December 12, 2018, the lobby of the legendary Hotel de Paris became a fairyland of colorful and glittering Christmas Trees, offered by generous donors that were auctioned in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II. A total of €174,800 was raised for the benefit of the Monegasque association Action Innocence, presided by Louisette Levy Soussan Azzoaglio, whose noble mission is to protect children in the internet. (Photo below: The Hall of the Hotel de Paris during the Christmas Trees auction 2018©EdWrightImages)
Action Innocence was created in 2002, and year after year since the start of this innovative charity sale back in 2004, Prince Albert joins his long time friend Louisette and her team, reaffirming his support for Louisette and her team continuous unrelenting work. Among the distinguished guests were H.E. Cristiano Gallo, Ambassador of Italy in Monaco, H.E. Marine Carne Trecesson, Ambassador of France in Monaco, Hinduja S.P. Shanu, Donatella Campioni, and Victoria Silvstedt, just to name a few.
While contemplating the splendidly adorned Christmas Trees, generous bidders and their children got immersed into the holiday spirit with the performance by the charming chorus of young girls and boys from the International School of Monaco (ISM), known as the ISM Voices, singing Christmas Carols under the direction of Colette Max Nielsen. (Photo: The ISM Voices chorus, December 12, 2018©EdWrightImages). Christmas is not about opening presents but opening our hearts!
Professional auctioneer Lionel Gosset of Christie’s France conducted the live auction, raising € 174,800 from the sale of 35 beautifully decorated trees. Action Innocence thanks the generous bidders who will enable the association to continue their mission to protect the dignity and integrity of children surfing the Internet.
Giving is receiving
As it has been customary for the last nine years, Action Innocence offers the proceeds from one of the decorated trees to another charitable association. This year, the revenues from the sale of the Silvana Ballardini Christmas tree benefited the Athina association.
To this date Action Innocence has supported these associations:
- 2010 – Association “DeVenir”
- 2011 – Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
- 2012 – Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco
- 2013 – Fight Aids Monaco
- 2014 – Centre de Sauvetage Aquatique de Monaco
- 2015 – Namaste
- 2016 – Les Anges Gardiens
- 2017 – Jeune J’Ecoute
- 2018 – Athina
Preserving the integrity of children in the Internet
Action Innocence is a non-for-profit association founded in 1999 in Switzerland, and created in Monaco in 2002 by adorable Louisette Levy Soussan Azzoaglio, seen in the photo insert by EdWrightImages.
Its mission is to create awareness among children and their parents about the dangers of the Internet, including preventing them from becoming victims of sexual abuse, remind children that anybody can hid behind the internet mask. The Internet is without a doubt the favorite means of communication for people of all ages.
This association works to protect the dignity of children by warning them of abuses such as cyber-bullying, sexting (sending of sexually explicit photos, images and text messages), gaming and the danger of impersonators, sexual predators and pornography. Their goal is to provide children with Internet safety tips and civil practices and help develop their critical thinking and decision-making skills, and at the same create awareness among parents and educators so they can become partners.
Today’s Quote
“Information technology and the Internet are rapidly transforming almost every aspect of our lives – some for better, some for worse.”John Landgraf
Monaco Reporter 