Last night, Donatella Versace received the 2024 Prophets of Philanthropy Award from The Galileo Foundation, recognizing her unwavering dedication to advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community and her continuous efforts in championing equality and human rights. Expressing her gratitude upon receiving the award from former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, OBE, Versace stated, “I am humbled to be made a Prophet of Philanthropy by The Galileo Foundation. This honor inspires me to persist in giving a voice to the LGBTQ+ community on a global scale. I proudly stand as an ally, and our support for one another has never been more crucial. It is our responsibility to strive towards creating a fairer and more equitable world.”
The awards ceremony took place during the second Faith and Philanthropy Summit held at the historic Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. This event follows the inaugural summit, which was hosted in the Vatican in 2022, under the guidance of Pope Francis himself. Alongside Donatella, other distinguished honorees included actress and activist Sharon Stone, Mary Robinson, who served as the first female President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the acclaimed West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, along with its founder, Maestro Daniel Barenboim.
The Galileo Foundation, established in 2017 by John McCaffrey, aims to support the initiatives of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences, with a special focus on addressing the critical issue of human trafficking. This gathering not only celebrated the significant contributions of its honorees but also underscored the importance of collective actions towards social justice and humanitarian efforts on a global scale.
Together, these advocates are forging a path toward greater understanding and support for marginalized communities, continuing to inspire and empower the fight for equality and human rights everywhere.
