Nobility and Heritage

04/01/2025

In Memoriam - Death of Knight Grand Cross Prof. Marco Grassi on March 31, 2025

We honor the memory of a distinguished gentleman and chivalrous Knight Grand Cross Prof. Marco Grassi (OSSML) who died in Manhattan on Monday March 31, 2025 at the age of 91. He was an internationally prominent art conservator, teacher and dealer in European Old Master paintings, who was notable in Italian and American cultural circles. His paternal grandfather was one of Italy’s leading art dealers and collectors. The family gallery was continued by his father Arturo and uncle. His mother, Cornelia, was an American from Indianapolis. Both parents. his elder brother and he lived through the war in Italy. He came to the United States after the war and graduated from Princeton University. He was President Emeritus of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders and Chairman Emeritus of the Savoy History Lecture Series, which he established in 2003, personally selecting the choice of topics and lecturers. He and his wife Dame Grand Cross Cristina Grassi hosted many Savoy Orders events. He was also a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the prestigious Society of the Cincinnati.

Burial will be in Florence, Italy where he was born. He will be interred with his parents and grandparents at a date to be determined. A memorial service is planned for September in New York City.

02/13/2025

SAVOY FOUNDATION - Savoy Orders Pigott Scholarships 2025–2026 - Call for applications

The Savoy Foundation is pleased to present the Instruction Sheet and Application Form for the Savoy Orders Pigott Scholarships in two areas of discipline: Humanities & Fine Arts and International Studies. Three $2,500 scholarships, based on academic excellence and financial need, will be awarded for the 2025–2026 academic year. To qualify, prospective grantees must be full time undergraduate or graduate students and have a major in the Humanities & Fine Arts or International Studies. The scholarships are available to citizens and permanent residents of the United States.

For more information, please use below link for the Application and Instruction sheet.
https://www.savoyfoundation-usa.org/uploads/1/2/3/7/123738816/savoy_pigott_scholarship_application.updated.pdf

02/05/2025

SAVOY FOUNDATION - NOTTE DI SAVOIA LOS ANGELES GALA CHARITY EVENT - April 5, 2025, The Downtown Jonathan Club, Los Angeles California
For more information, please use link below:
https://www.savoyfoundation-usa.org/notte-di-savoia-invitation-20251.html

SAVOYFOUNDATION-USA.ORG

12/18/2024

AMERICAN FOUNDATION OF SAVOY ORDERS - The 27th Royal Savoy Ball, the annual winter charity gala hosted by the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, was celebrated on Saturday evening, December 7, 2024 in New York City. The benefit gala was under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Duke of Savoy and Prince of Piedmont and Venice. His cousin, His Royal Highness Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, who serves as the US Delegate of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders, was the Ball Chairman. The royal gala also celebrated the inaugural year of HRH Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoia as Duke of Savoy and Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy. The honoree of the Gala was Jacqueline Weld Drake, Chairperson of Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education. The Ball was part of a four-day weekend of events organized by the American Delegation of Savoy Orders and the American Foundation of Savoy Orders.

About 300 patrons, benefactors and guests gathered to support the Savoy Foundation's 27th annual white-tie dinner-dance. The event raised funds in support of the Savoy Foundation's philanthropic mission - Chivalry for Children's Causes - and the event's beneficiary - The Young Artists Apprenticeship Program of Casita Maria, which funds year-round arts apprenticeship program for high school students that focuses on exposing and preparing teens for careers in the arts, providing hands-on training in how to plan, lead, and facilitate arts activities and special events for children, youth, families and adults members of the community.

Prior to Saturday's evening Gala, a welcome reception on Friday evening, December 6, was held at the Lotos Club for guests attending the Royal Savoy Ball. At the ball on Saturday, gala attendees enjoyed a champagne reception, hors d'oeuvres and signature cocktails before the main program began with a royal fanfare. Alex Donner and His Orchestra provided top-tier dance music for the guests to enjoy.

11/03/2024

The 19th Savoy History Series , originally set for Tuesday, November 12, 2024, has been rescheduled to the spring of 2025. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We will inform you about the rescheduled date as soon as possible.

We look forward to seeing you at the 19th Savoy History Series in 2025.

07/11/2024

SAVOY FOUNDATION - New York, New York - On July 9, 2024, The American Foundation of Savoy Orders Presented Grants Totaling $75,000 to A Chance In Life and Cooley's Anemia.

A Chance In Life, which serves at-risk children on Staten Island received $35,000 and Cooley's Anemia Foundation which supports research and aids children with the thalassemia genetic blood disorder also received a grant of $35,000. The funds were primarily raised at the 26th annual Ballo di Savoia (Royal Savoy Ball) benefit gala held on December 9, 2023, in New York City at a private club. Friends of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, a non-profit organization, generously supported the 26th annual white-tie fundraising benefit, which welcomed 300 guests, including members of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders and international business and philanthropic leaders. Honored guests were H.R.H. Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy and H.R.H. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia.

The Savoy Foundation awarded a $35,000 grant to A Chance In Life to support its first US-based program in New York City - A Chance in Life – The Village. The Village is a drop-in youth center that incorporates positive youth development into day-to-day activities.
Adrianna Stoiber, Director of Development of A Chance In Life accepted the grant from Savoy Foundation President Frank Desiderio Esq. and former President Joseph Sciame, the 2023 Ballo di Savoia Chair. With the donation, A Chance In Life will provide shelter, education and leadership development for at-risk youth on Staten Island's North Shore district, specifically for food pantries, chrome books, tutoring and school supplies.

The Savoy Foundation also awarded $35,000 to Cooley's Anemia Foundation (CAF) which fights thalassemia, a rare genetic blood disorder which affects children of Italian and Greek descent from around the Mediterranean region and requires lifelong blood transfusions and daily drug treatments. Craig Butler, National Executive Director accepted the grant. With the donation, the nonprofit will provide patient support, annual patient family conferences, assist families with an adopted child with thalassemia and patient transportation to annual checkups.

Also present at the grant presentation were Board Member H.R.H. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia and American Delegate of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders, John L. Gelati, Savoy Foundation Secretary and Vice Delegate and Larissa Van Duser, Executive Director of the Savoy Foundation.

02/21/2024

AMERICAN DELEGATION OF SAVOY ORDERS - 2024 ST. LAZARUS MASS & DINNER - In Memory of H.R.H. Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, Duke of Savoy and Late Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy

12/15/2023

The 26th Ballo di Savoia (Royal Savoy Ball), the annual winter charity gala hosted by the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, was celebrated on Saturday evening, December 9, 2023 in New York City. The benefit gala was under the patronage of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Victor Emmanuel and Princess Marina of Savoy. The Savoy Foundation welcomed back His Royal Highness Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Venice and Piedmont and his cousin His Royal Highness Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, who were guests of honor for this occasion. The royal gala also marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Elena of Montenegro, Queen of Italy. The Ball was part of a four-day weekend of events organized by the American Delegation of Savoy Orders and the American Foundation of Savoy Orders. More than 300 patrons, benefactors and guests gathered to support the Savoy Foundation's 26th annual white-tie dinner-dance. The event raised funds in support of the Savoy Foundation's philanthropic mission - Chivalry for Children's Causes - and the event's primary beneficiaries: The Cooley's Anemia Foundation which funds medical research fighting thalassemia, a rare genetic blood disorder that requires lifelong blood transfusion and daily drug treatment; and A Chance In Life Inc., formerly Boys and Girls Town, which provides resources for empowering, life affirming educational and health-related programs for youth in under-resourced communities on Staten Island's North Shore.
Prior to Saturday's evening Gala, a welcome reception on Friday evening, December 8, was held at the Lotos Club for guests attending the Royal Savoy Ball. At the ball on Saturday, gala attendees enjoyed a champagne reception, hors d'oeuvres and signature cocktails before the main program began with a royal fanfare. Alex Donner and His Orchestra provided top-tier dance music for the guests to enjoy.

11/02/2023

SAVOY HISTORY SERIES - Highlights of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders' eighteenth Savoy History Series with guest speaker, author, historian and Holy Shroud expert, Guy R. Powell, whose presentation was based on his recently published book - The Only Witness: A History of the Shroud of Turin- October 30, 2023, New York City. The presentation was followed by a reception and patrons dinner hosted by HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, board member of the Savoy Foundation.

11/02/2023

SAVOY HISTORY SERIES - Highlights of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders' eighteenth Savoy History Series with guest speaker, author, historian and Holy Shroud expert, Guy R. Powell, whose presentation was based on his recently published book - The Only Witness: A History of the Shroud of Turin- October 30, 2023, New York City. The presentation was preceded by introductory remarks by HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia who personally witnessed the dedication of the Shroud of Turin to the Holy See by the Royal House of Savoy upon the death of his grandfather, the last King of Italy, Umberto II. Rev. Enrique Salvo, Rector of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, read a special letter of greeting to the attendees from His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan.