Stephanie March and Lily Aldridge Followill Honored at 2016 Awards Ceremony
World of Children was proud to honor two amazing child advocates at our 2016 Awards Ceremony. The Board of Governors Award and Advocacy Awards (each a non-monetary award) are given to individuals who have dedicated their personal and/or professional lives to serving the needs of vulnerable children. This year’s recipients have both used their celebrity as a platform to further the work of multiple organizations, including World of Children, who address the needs of children around the world.
2016 Board of Governors Honoree – Stephanie March
Stephanie March is an actor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder of the makeup salon Rouge NY that she founded with her longtime Law and Order SVU makeup artist, Rebecca Perkins. Stephanie is best known for her role as ADA Alex Cabot on TV’s hit series, Law & Order SVU and most recently starred on Adult Swim’s Neon Joe. She has appeared in 30 Rock, Happy Endings, Rescue Me, Grey’s Anatomy, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Treatment, Predisposed, and Innocence and has been seen onstage in the critically acclaimed revivals of Death of a Salesman, Talk Radio, and Boys’ Life.
Stephanie spends a significant amount of time traveling globally in her capacity as an activist for causes benefiting women, children, and education. She is on the advisory board of OneKid OneWorld, an organization very dear to her heart Through her work with OneKid OneWorld, Stephanie has traveled to Kenya and Latin America helping to provide a foundation for education in impoverished communities. Stephanie served on the board of directors of Safe Horizon, the nation’s leading victim assistance organization, for five years. She is currently the celebrity ambassador for the World of Children and is an active advocate for Planned Parenthood.
Her travels with World of Children have taken her to Ukraine, Nepal, Argentina, and Chile to see firsthand the work of Honorees treating pediatric burn patients; repairing cleft lips, congenital heart defects, and limb differences; and rescuing and rehabilitating children trafficked into slavery. Most recently, she wrote about her experiences in South America for Huffington Post.
She has been a spokesperson and advocate for World of Children since 2010 and graciously served as a Co-Host or Presenter at World of Children’s Awards Ceremony from 2010-2016. In November 2015, she rang the NASDAQ opening bell for World of Children with Co-Founder Harry Leibowitz and long-time supporter Alina Cho.
2016 Advocacy Honoree – Lily Aldridge Followill
Lily Aldridge Followill is an internationally renowned model and a tireless child advocate. A model from the age of 16, Lily became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2009 appearing in their commercials and celebrated Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show ever since. She has been featured in countless editorials including Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar and has graced the covers of Vogue, L’Officiel, Elle, Esquire, GQ, and Glamour, among many others. Lily has been selected for numerous print and television advertising campaigns, her most recent with powerhouses Carolina Herrera, and Michael Kors, and she was just named the new face of Bulgari.
Lily is dedicated to using her celebrity as a platform to positively impact the lives of others, especially vulnerable children. Particularly close to her heart is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, headquartered in her current home state of Tennessee. St. Jude’s is a leading children’s hospital pioneering research and treatments for kids with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Her advocacy for GOOD+ Foundation (formerly Baby Buggy) has helped raise awareness for the organization’s work providing low-income parents with essential tools – cribs, car seats, strollers, diapers – to maintain the health and safety of their children.
Additionally, Lily partnered with Vogue and Demarchelier for the official Born Free Africa campaign, working to end mother-to-child HIV Transmission and create the first AIDS-free generation. Lily’s philanthropy also includes fundraising for cancer research through the Victoria’s Secret Super Model Cycle. She uses her heartfelt voice to support No Kid Hungry, and SOS Children’s Villages providing a loving home for every child. World of Children is proud to recognize Lily with our 2016 Advocacy Award for her commitment to children worldwide.
Thank you Lily!