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Philanthropist, Arts Patron & Veterans
Activist
Dame Patricia Kennedy to Receive
Ellis Island
Medal of Honor
Ellis Island, Saturday,
May 11, 2013
On Saturday, May 11th, 2013,
Beverly Hills
philanthropist, arts patroness and veterans activist Dame
Patricia J. Kennedy along with a group of prominent
Americans will receive The National Ethnic Coalition of
Organization's (NECO) highest honor The Ellis Island
Medal of Honor at a ceremony on historic
Ellis Island
Among the
more than 90 other outstanding Americans who will be
honored along with Ms. Kennedy are
Dr. Regina M. Benjamin,
US
Surgeon General,
Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn,
USA,
US
Dept. of Defense,
Rep. Peter King
(R-NY),
Dionne Warwick,
legendary
recording artist, Alina Cho, CNN correspondent,
Mia Farrow, actress, Danny Masterson, actor,
Thomas Sherak,
Revolution Consulting Services,
David Merage,
philanthropist
and entrepreneur, Richard
"Dick" Vermeil, retired NFL Coach and
Steve Silks,
Deputy Chief, NYPD.
Past Medalists include
six Presidents, Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry,
education, the arts,
sports and government including Bob Hope, Renee Fleming,
Tony Blair, Michael Bolton, Joe DiMaggio and Bill &
Hillary Clinton.
NECO sponsors the Ellis Island Medals of Honor
which are presented annually to American citizens who have
distinguished themselves within their own ethnic groups
while exemplifying the values of the American way of life.
Past Medalists include six U.S. Presidents, one foreign
President, Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry,
education, the arts, sports and government and, of course,
everyday Americans who have made freedom, liberty and
compassion a part of their life's work.
Dame
Kennedy is a shining example of an American who has led the
way to help so many of her fellow Americans.
She is Founder and President
of the non-profit organization STEP UP 4 VETS,
which she started in 2008 to offer healing opportunities
through cultural events to our men and women who have served
in the military. Veterans, especially those suffering with
PTSD and the catastrophic injuries of war, reconnect with
family and society through the transformative experience and
healing power of the performing arts at events sponsored by
STEP UP 4 VETS.
Honored for her dedication to
her fellow man, Dame Kennedy was invested in The Sacred
Military Constantinian Order of St George, Dame di
Merito con Placca (Dame of Merit with Star) by His
Eminence Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago
in 2008, and promoted to Dame di Gran Croce di Merito
(Dame Grand Cross of Merit) by His Eminence Theodore
Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington,
DC in 2011.
Dame Patricia Kennedy is one
of only six women in the world honored with the title of
Dame di Gran Croce di Merito (Dame Grand Cross of Merit)
and one of only two American women in the history of the
Order to receive this highest honor. (The first American
woman so honored was Lindy Boggs, former United
States Ambassador to the Holy See).
Born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised
in Southern California she
began modeling at the age of thirteen. While attending UCLA
she also studied acting mentored by legendary Actors Studio
founder Lee Strasberg. Her modeling career evolved
into acting in film and television with her first part, a
starring role with Robert De Niro in The Last Tycoon,
directed by Elia Kazan.
Patricia joined the Board of
Directors of the Foundation for the Joffrey Ballet in 1984
and became a powerful force in the dance world. Known as
the First Lady of the Joffrey Ballet, her dynamic
leadership raised international audience attendance and
millions of dollars for Joffrey Ballet productions including
The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet,
and guided them through a significant and turbulent period
of growth. She conceptualized and co-produced the
groundbreaking rock ballet Billboards, which
saved this great American treasure at a financially critical
point and paved the way for the Joffrey to become the
resident ballet of Chicago.
Billboards,
with music composed by rock icon Prince, was a
watershed event crossing cultural, ethnic, and generational
boundaries, and introducing countless young people to
ballet. It has been written in the press and widely
discussed if Billboards had never been
produced in 1993, there would not have been a receptive
audience for Riverdance in 1994,
produced by Irish dancer and choreographer Michael
Flatley.
In 1992,
she was honored with The Decade of Leadership Award
from the Joffrey Ballet. The Arpino Angel Award
followed in 1996 presented to her by previous recipient and
founder of the Classic Arts Showcase, philanthropist
Lloyd Rigler. In honor of her dedication to the
vision of founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald
Arpino, she was presented the Arpino Angel Award
a second time during the Joffrey Ballet 50th
Anniversary celebration in 2006.
As a Benefactor of the
Music Center of Los Angeles County, Patricia Kennedy
has been involved in The Blue Ribbon, an organization
that provides exposure to the performing arts for Los Angeles youth. The Los Angeles
Headquarters Association honored her with the
Cultural Award in 2004 for her support of the arts.
Helping men, women and
children in transition has been a hallmark of Patricia
Kennedy’s philanthropy. Recognizing her dedication and
commitment to the Joffrey Ballet and her artistic
vision to entice a larger and younger audience through the
rock ballet Billboards, Career Transition for Dancers
presented her with The Outstanding Contribution to
the World of Dance Award in 2004.
Continuing her passion for dance and dancers, Patricia
became involved with Career Transition for Dancers and
was instrumental in raising
millions of dollars for the
organization to assist injured dancers so they can return to
college and forge second act careers. She served as gala
chair in 2005, 2006 and
2007, including the landmark CTFD 20th
Anniversary Jubilee Gala in 2005.
An Ambassador for World Peace,
Patricia Kennedy designed the Peace One Earth Medallion in
2008 as a tribute to our soldiers from past and present
conflicts. The distinctive design of the medallion
expresses gratitude to the defenders of our freedoms, while
acknowledging the hope for a world at peace. The medallion
has been presented to many dignitaries, public figures, and
members of our military in honor of their efforts to improve
the lives of our veterans, and their commitment towards
world peace. The first recipient was Wayne Newton*
for his dedication to our troops and veterans through his
extraordinary work with the USO. Other notable recipients
include Gary Sinise* Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Hugh
O’Brian* , Stefanie Powers, Kate Linder, Ed Begley Jr., Mike
Vogel, Luc Robitaille, Rick Monday and Antonio
Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles. (names* are also
recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor)
Dame Kennedy believes our
veterans are our national pride and she founded STEP
UP 4 VETS to honor their service and help them
transition back to family life and society. STEP UP 4
VETS provides healing opportunities for our veterans
through public appreciation, cultural events and the
celebration with their families of iconic holidays missed
while serving in harm’s way protecting the rights and
freedoms of all Americans.
“Bandages can bind the wounds of our warriors, but
only joy can heal their hearts and minds,
”says Patricia Kennedy.
A Media Reception begins at 3:00 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton
New York, Battery Park. NECO will present the 27th Annual
Ellis Island Medal of Honor Ceremony on
Ellis Island
at 6:00 p.m. The Ceremony will be followed by a Gala Dinner
in the historic Great Hall. WPIX-11 Senior Correspondent
Marvin Scott
and renowned comedian/entertainer
Tom Dreesen
will be the Masters of Ceremony.
A complete list of 2013 medalists is
available at
www.NECO.org
Each year since 1986, NECO has honored our
nation's diverse past by sponsoring the Ellis Island Medals
of Honor. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor annually pays
tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise America's unique
cultural mosaic. The Medals are presented on
Ellis Island, in a dramatic ceremony, to
American citizens for their outstanding contributions to
their communities, their nation and the world.
According to NECO
Chairman Nasser J.
Kazeminy,
"NECO is about investing
in the power of caring, where people from all cultures and
walks of life stand together arm in arm to make a real
difference in our world through shared compassion and
philanthropy - not just for now, but to also inspire future
generations who will continue to preserve and build upon the
legacy that each of our cultures has contributed. With our
Medalists, we will see
America at its best. We will see
every color, every race from so many walks of life -
together - celebrating the magic that is America. Our Medalists' influence and
achievements truly inspire and touch the lives of people
everywhere."
The Ellis
Island Medal of Honor ranks among the nation's most
prestigious awards. The U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives have officially recognized the Ellis Island
Medals of Honor, and each year the recipients are listed in
the Congressional Record.
To learn more about Dame
Patricia Kennedy's activities
please visit:
Websites
www.stepup4vets.org
www.peaceoneearth.com
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/patricia.kennedy.50
www.facebook.com/StepUp4Vets
www.facebook.com/pages/Peace-One-Earth-medallion/123556204415774
YouTube
Entertainment Tonight – Peace
One Earth medallion presented to Wayne Newton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEDj14kuheo
Peace One Earth medallion presented to Antonio Villaraigosa,
Mayor of Los
Angeles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRZuUBpkH04
Peace One
Earth Medallion Video
http://youtu.be/a-Kop2m8ZKk
Investiture
Mass, Dame Kennedy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEDj14kuheo
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