Fashion 4 Development Honors Innovators and Changemakers during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly

F4D’s 14th Annual Official First Ladies Luncheon Honors Oscar de la Renta, Ted Turner and other international Agents of Change, Furthering its Commitment to the UN Sustainable Goals.

NEW YORK CITY – September 24, 2026 – Fashion 4 Development (F4D) celebrated its 14th Annual Official First Ladies Luncheon today at New York’s iconic Pierre hotel. Co-hosted by Evie Evangelou, F4D’s Founder and President, and Dame Amanda Schumacher, Founder and CEO of the Tree of Life Foundation International, Chair of the Red Cross Ball, and member of the Chairman’s Circle for the Red Cross, the luncheon honored the unprecedented collaboration between diplomacy and fashion.

“Reaching our 14th First Ladies Luncheon is a meaningful milestone and a powerful reminder that fashion is far more than what we wear,” Evangelou said. “It is a force for culture, opportunity, and global development. What began as an opportunity to bring people together and support the UN Goals has grown into an internationally recognized platform that celebrates shared accomplishments, strengthens connections, and inspires meaningful social change for humanity.”

Acknowledging this milestone, Schumacher remarked, “Tree of Life Foundation International is proud to partner with Fashion 4 Development and its visionary founder, Evie Evangelou, because we share a fundamental belief: meaningful change happens when leaders across cultures, industries, and communities come together with a common purpose. Together, we are creating a world where ideas become connections, connections become collaborations, and collaborations have the potential to create lasting impact for generations to come.”

Founded by Evie Evangelou, F4D was established to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in cooperation with the office of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and in support of “Every Woman, Every Child.” Evangelou introduced F4D’s global awareness campaign at the inaugural First Ladies Luncheon in 2011. She has served as interim Deputy Secretary General for the World Federation of the United Nations and used her expertise in cultural diplomacy, the arts, entertainment and international relations to launch F4D.

Celebrated within the framework of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), prominent guests across multiple sectors, from fashion, to diplomacy, philanthropy, visual and performing arts, culture and environmental activists from around the world, came together to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the efforts of the organization to promote positive strategies for sustainable development and positive social change. During the event, medals of honor exclusively designed for F4D by Toye, Kenning & Spencer, London who hold the Royal Warrant to the King of England were presented to Agents of Change who are addressing the UNSDG’s in support of food security, ending poverty, education equality, and those taking action for a healthier planet, preservation of culture, the empowerment of women and protection of children.

The afternoon unfolded with a VIP welcoming reception and opening remarks from Evie Evangelou, followed by the awards ceremony and a ballet performance by dancers from the Joffrey Ballet School on behalf of Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest global network of dance scholarship and education.

Adriano Alagna, a 12-year-old classical tenor and voice major in the Precollege Division of the Manhattan School of Music, who has appeared as a soloist at Carnegie Hall and on distinguished stages in Vienna, returned this year to perform “La donna è Mobile” composed by Giuseppe Verdi.

A defining moment of the luncheon was a special fashion presentation by Oscar de la Renta, one of the event’s distinguished tribute recipients whose enduring legacy at the intersection of fashion and philanthropy was celebrated throughout the occasion. The recognition was accepted by Alex Bolen, CEO of Oscar de la Renta.

“Oscar truly believed in the importance of fashion both in bringing people together and drawing out a sense of joy and individuality in the wearer of his designs,” said Bolen. “We are honored to celebrate his enduring legacy and grateful to Fashion 4 Development for providing a platform where creativity, community, and philanthropy can intersect in such a meaningful way.”

Espousing the legacy of Oscar de la Renta, Evangelou remarked, “Oscar de la Renta embodied the ethos of Fashion 4 Development throughout his career, creating designs for First Ladies and using fashion as a bridge to diplomacy. Honoring his legacy and his brand at this year’s luncheon feels especially meaningful as we continue to bring together leaders and changemakers committed to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future.”

The Humankind Award tribute was in honor of Ted Turner and the Turner Foundation, whose mission is to protect and restore the natural systems – air, land, and water; received by Vasser Seydel, director of the Turner Foundation and president of The Oxygen Project.

“Accepting this tribute on behalf of my grandpa, Ted Turner, is deeply meaningful to me and our family,” said Seydel. “I’m grateful to Fashion 4 Development for honoring his life and the Turner Foundation’s work, and I also want to congratulate Sally Ann Ranney on her well-deserved recognition today.”

She continued, “My grandpa adamantly believed that our daily choices matter, from picking up trash on the street to the decisions we make at work and in our lives to create a better world. Fashion is one of the world’s most polluting industries, and with that comes both a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to be part of the solution. As individuals, fashion gives us an opportunity every day to make an active choice about the future we want to actively create. We can choose to support the people who make our clothes and the values and working conditions behind what we wear; choose materials that are healthy for our bodies, communities, and environment; and use our individual expression to inspire others. Every choice is an opportunity to live our values and shape the world we want to see.”

L to R: Yue Sai-Kan, Veronica Berti Bocelli, Evie Evangelou and Fern Mallis

HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States of America, the first woman to serve in the role of Ambassador in the country’s history was honored with the Women’s Empowerment Award.

Leila Cobo, Co-Chief Content Officer of Billboard and musician for music and entertainment was recognized for Preserving Latin Culture Through Music. Actor, singer and Grammy and Emmy award winner Anthony Ramos, known for his roles in Hamilton and In The Heights, presented the award.

“My longtime mission has been to highlight the achievements of Latin-centric artists and creatives, particularly in music, showcase their talents to the world and serve as a bridge between cultures,” said Cobo. “Getting this recognition from Fashion 4 Development, an organization whose core is global development and promoting cross-cultural understanding, makes me immensely proud, and reinforces what I have long known: Together we can make tangible change”.

UNG Leading Lady Honors Awards were presented to Sally Ann Ranney, President and Co-Founder of Global Choices, Arctic Angels, Chair of the Conservation Committee of the Explorers Club for Preservation of Environment and Veronica Berti Bocelli, Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation for Betterment of Humanity.

"To be honored alongside Ted Turner is something I never could have imagined. I thank F4D for recognizing the global importance of Global Choices' work to protect the Central Arctic Ocean, its precious sea ice, and world-unique species with a minimum 10-year moratorium on industrial and commercial exploitation. Ted was a huge supporter, stating in the early 2000s, when he and I first traveled to the Arctic, that it would be the "ground zero" of climate change,” said Ranney.

“For me, receiving this award is both deeply moving and a source of immense gratitude. I share it with the entire Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) team. Above all, I wish to acknowledge those who bring the ABF’s work to life every day, and especially the children, young people, families, and communities we have had the privilege of meeting over the years, often in contexts marked by significant cultural and socioeconomic challenges,” said Veronica Berti Bocelli.

She continues, “This work comes with a profound sense of responsibility. I believe its true purpose is to provide people with the tools and confidence to recognize their own worth, nurture their talents, and shape their own future. This lies at the heart of ABF’s mission, "Empowering people and communities,” and reflects our understanding of social innovation: creating the conditions in which individuals and communities can grow, thrive, and fulfill their potential. Education remains at the heart of this commitment and, as a woman and a mother, I feel particularly strongly about the legacy we leave to those who come after us. I receive this award with great joy, but also as an encouragement to continue our work and to strive, every day, to be worthy of the trust placed in us by the people we meet”.

The 14th Annual Official First Ladies Luncheon was attended by First Ladies, Royals, Ministers and Ambassadors from Poland, Monaco, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Angola, Estonia, Thailand, Fiji, Malta, Iceland, Portugal, Ireland, Zambia, Georgia, India, Czech Republic and Saudi Arabia, Comoros, South Sudan, Vietnam and many more.

Representatives from Washington DC including the State Department, Library of Congress and International Foreign Policy Advisors were also in attendance.

At the end of the program, Fashion 4 Development and The Arab Fashion Council announced a landmark partnership to establish the Fashion Icon Awards in New York as an annual event, bringing together prominent public figures, celebrities, diplomats, First Ladies and leaders from across fashion, entertainment, culture and international affairs. The partnership builds upon a longstanding relationship between the two organizations.

Through the new partnership, the Arab Fashion Council and Fashion 4 Development will establish the Fashion Icon Awards in New York as a distinguished annual gathering at the intersection of fashion, entertainment, culture, diplomacy and global impact.

About Fashion 4 Development

Fashion 4 Development (F4D) is a private sector global platform founded by Evie Evangelou in January 2011 in cooperation with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and “Every Woman, Every Child”. F4D builds upon the core leadership principles of the 4E's: Educate, Empower, Enhance and Enrich, and activates partnerships that promote the Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Industries, advance economic and social development activities, preserve culture and empower women. In 2015 F4D committed to support the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and place a significant focus on sustainable lifestyle practices for a healthier world. Fashion 4 Development’s tagline - “Giving Back is the New Luxury” – and its message to promote positive social change are being received with open arms in regions around the world.

L to R: Leila Cobo, Yacoby (Jacob Abrian) and Evie Evangelou

L to R: Leila Cobo, Yacoby (Jacob Abrian) and Evie Evangelou