Special Events

Welcome Events

The Hospitality Committee hosts two Welcome Events a year, usually a Morning Coffee or Afternoon Tea, in the Fall and Spring, as a way to reach out to newly arrived UN Delegates and their spouses and introduce them to the activities of HCUND.

It is an opportunity for newly arrived families from different missions to meet each other as well as hear directly from HCUND volunteers about our mission, resources for newcomers to New York, how to register for our events, and information about upcoming programs.

During the past year we have been holding our Welcome Coffees on Zoom, but we look forward to hosting everyone in person when it is safe to do so.

Spring Luncheon

The annual Benefit Luncheon raises funds to support our English Language Program. HCUND provides English instruction for all levels at a modest fee with scholarships available, if needed. A lack of English was recognized very early by HCUND volunteers as a significant challenge for newly arrived delegate spouses. Our instructors have decades of experience working with our United Nations community.

The Luncheon provides a forum for distinguished speakers, often from the United Nations diplomatic community, who highlight important international topics and events.

For more information and to attend please see invitation.

Ambassadors’ Ball

The Ambassadors’ Ball is the HCUND’s elegant annual benefit and primary fundraiser inviting guests from the diplomatic and business communities for cocktails, fine dining, dancing, as well as a special Live Auction of luxurious items and world-wide exotic trips. 

Ambassadors from around the world attend and each year, 15-20 UN Ambassadors donate dinners hosted at their residences to our Silent Auction. These dinners are the most popular items in the Silent Auction and have been appreciated and enjoyed by both hosts and guests as a lovely way for the United Nations community and its New York City guests to meet and learn more about each other. 

You can visit our Online Silent Auction to bid on all the wonderful donations except these Ambassador Dinners. They are reserved for on the night bidding only.

Past venues have included the elegant & historic Metropolitan and Harvard Clubs. 

Online Silent Auction

https://e.givesmart.com/events/rms/ 

The Hospitality Committee wishes to express our deepest appreciation
and gratitude to the Estate of Kofi Annan and to Mrs. Nane Annan for their
generous donation of items in support of our 2022 Silent Auction.

 

Silent Auction offerings will be available for
viewing, bidding and purchase beginning
NOVEMBER 1, 2022 – 5 P.M.  TO  DECEMBER 10, 2022 – 11 P.M.

 

Registering online is the quickest, easiest way to place bids and purchase
items in the auction. Simply register by entering your name, contact
information and payment method. Registering online will also help us
provide you with a speedy check-in and check-out at the event. Bidding
volunteers will be in place on the night of the Ball to assist any guest
without a device or who needs assistance.

Past Honorees

Ms. Ashley Bernhard

Founder & CEO Haven Hill, LLC

Citizen of the World Award

Ms. Bisila Bokoko

Founder & CEO BBES

Citizen of the World Award

Ms. Henrietta Fore

Executive Director of UNICEF

Citizen of the World Award

Dr. Kevin M. Cahill

Humanitarian Award

Steven Tyler

Janie’s Fund

Humanitarian Award

H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General of the UN

Geraldine Kunstadter

Albert Kunstadter

Family Foundation

Humanitarian Award

Joseph Verner Reed

Honoree

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Mrs. Ban Soon-taek

Honorees

Ellen V. Futter

President of the Museum of Natural History

Ambassadors’ Award

Dr. John Sexton

President of NYU

Ambassadors’ Award

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Mrs. Ban Soon-taek

Honorees

Tony Bennett

Citizen of the World Award

Walter Cronkite

Citizen of the World Award

Mrs. Nelson A. Rockefeller

Citizen of the World Award

Nelson R. Mandela

Freedom Award

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar

Citizen of the World Award

R. E. (Ted) Turner

Citizen of the World Award

Elmer Holmes Bobst, Philanthropist

Humanitarian Award

 

Jacques Yves Cousteau

Humanitarian Award

 

Dr. Thomas S. Durant,

Physician, Teacher, American Refugee Committee

Humanitarian Award

 

Trudie Styler

Founder, Rainforest Foundation International

Humanitarian Award

 

Trygve Lie

First Secretary-General

Humanitarian Award, posthumous, accepted by Guri Lie Zeckendorf in memory of her father

 

HCUND Recent Benefactors