U.N. Honors the Late Audrey Hepburn     5/10/2002
By Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.

Security was tight. People were turned away in droves. Unless you had an invitation, you couldn’t get past the guards at the entrance to the U.N. Plaza. The crowd inside the ropes consisted of New York’s finest, and guards watched diligently as everyone stretched to see the celebrities gathering on the podium.

It was definitely a star-studded event designed with media in mind. There was Roger Moore looking dapper and distinguished. His resonant voice and innate dignity (not to mention his handsome face and English bearing) lent gravitas to the event. Harry Belafonte looked elegant and reserved; his remarks were carefully crafted and beautifully delivered. Vendela Thommessen, the model known only by her first name, looked gorgeous in a sequined dress. Mia Farrow, more beautiful in person than on screen, brought two of her adopted children. Robert Wagner brought his wife, Jill St. John. Ralph Lauren and Diane von Furstenberg arrived early and left before the ceremony began. Ann Curry, Judy Collins and Isabella Rossellini also came and left after the pictures were taken. United Nations Secretary General Kofe Annan and his wife, Nane, came through the crowd with their security detail. Robert Wolders, Audrey Hepburn’s “long-time companion,” who donated the sculpture, was there wiping his brow, but Ms. Hepburn’s son, Sean Ferrer, and family were down with the flu and were unable to make the trip to New York.

It was a New York event to the cultural max. The Young People’s Chorus of New York provided just the right human touch to make it an evening to remember. The audience responded with dramatic gasps as Harry Belafonte and Nane Annan unveiled the sculpture, “Spirit of Audrey,” a seven-foot bronze lyrical depiction of a slender woman holding a small child by the hand. Commissioned of renowned artist and sculptor John Kennedy, the sculpture will remain permanently at the UNICEF headquarters to honor the work of Ms. Hepburn, who died in 1993, on behalf of children through UNICEF. Mr. Wolders hoped that “all who see this statue will be inspired by Audrey’s efforts on behalf of children.”

Audrey Hepburn was an inspiration and she “selflessly performed the most humble of tasks to help impoverished children.” She held sick and needy children in her arms and expressed sincere concern and love. She gave children hope and brought attention to their needs. One of her memorable sayings is a paraphrase of a statement by David Ben-Gurion, “Anyone who doesn’t believe in miracles is not a realist.” She certainly wrought miracles in bringing children’s needs to the world's attention.

I would never want to diminish what Audrey Hepburn did. But as I looked around at the dozens of television cameras and even more press cameras — the VIP press list was three single-spaced pages long — I couldn’t help but wonder who would be commissioning a sculpture for the thousands of Salvation Army “lassies,” and Christian missionaries and laywomen, who have rescued children, nursed them, and poured out their lives in service to the “least of these” children.

Christian women have been at the forefront in service to children. They have worked in anonymity in hospitals, schools, orphanages, rescue missions, ghettos, kitchens and nurseries — anywhere children need help and care — year after year in dedicated and loving service. How sad that we give only token recognition to their life-long service. An event honoring them would draw little attention from Christian media and none from the A-list participants who flocked to the elegant, classy reception in the heart of mid-Manhattan to pay homage to five years of part-time work by a beautiful and charming movie star.

Mr. Belafonte passionately stated that “change must begin with children.” I would respectfully add with equal passion that we, as adults, must begin to change our values so that we recognize not just celebrity service, but also the contributions of those obscure people who labor in “the trenches” as well. The greatest miracle of all would be for the A-list media to begin to recognize all that Christians have contributed throughout the world in the name of Christ and for His kingdom.

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