DVF Awards NYC / U.N. Building

Mar 19th 2010

DVF Awards NYC / U.N. Building

Where do i begin..this was such an inspirational evening on so many levels.. style, fashion, music, but most importantly humanism. The women who gave & received the awards that night had stories that are the stuff of legend.. google any of their names & u will find stories of courage, character, brave deeds, & noble qualities. Each one had a powerful story to tell or lesson learned to share. One that struck me the most was a story Diane shared. Her mother was imprisoned in one of Hitlers concentration camps for many years & was one of the few to survive. She weighed 45 pounds when they found her & her chances of survival were slim. Miraculously she was slowly nursed back to health, but told she would never bear children. Another miracle occurred when 9 months later Diane was born. She said of all the things her mother instilled in her the most important was this: “Fear is not an option.” and she would know… read on to hear about awards..

Diane Von Furstenburg x Warhol

Diane von Furstenberg is one of the premier names in American fashion.

The designer, known for her distinctive prints and her signature wrap dresses,has focused her efforts on women taking charge. This year she’s established the DVF Awards to honor outstanding women leaders.

The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation has supported the awards, which will go to four women whose leadership and commitment have transformed the lives of other women around the world.

This morning the designer told “Good Morning America” that she created the awards because her mission is to help women who give back.

“Women have always inspired me so much, my mother was an incredible inspiration. And the older I get, the more I am impressed by women. I have never met a woman who is not strong,” von Furstenberg said.

Von Furstenberg has long been involved in Vital Voices Global Partnership, a nongovernmental organization that trains emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the globe. Two of the recipients of the inaugural DVF Awards are from Vital Voices.

The third recipient will receive the People’s Voice award, which will honor an American woman for her extraordinary leadership in promoting women’s rights. The public will vote for the recipient from a pool of five nominees.

Presenter Meryl Streep,Honoree Ingrid Betancourt,Honoree Danielle Saint-Lot,Presenter Robin Roberts,Honoree Katherine Chon,Presenter Christiane Amanpour,Honoree Sadiqa Basiri Saleem & of course DVF.

Diane speaking , me soaking it all in haha..