Annual Gala Dinner - The American-Scandinavian Foundation

G ALA DINNERS AND
OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS
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H.E. President Tarja Halonen
of Finland, third from left,
with Gala co-chairs Linda
Nordberg, Hilppa A.K. Roby,
and Jane Erkko.
At the ASF 2003 Gala: from left, Gala Corporate Chair Robert W. Willumstad, ASF President Edward P. Gallagher, Dr. Pentti Arajärvi, H.E.Tarja
Halonen, President of Finland; H.E. Jukka Valtasaari, Ambassador from Finland to the U.S., Hon. Jukka Leino, Consul General of Finland in New
York, and ASF then-Chairman of the Board Kristján T. Ragnarsson, M.D.
2003 Gala Dinner in the Presence of Her Excellency Tarja Halonen, President of Finland
October 14, 2003
President Halonen and her husband Dr. Pentti Arajärvi, were guests of honor at the ASF’s
Annual Gala Dinner held at the New York Grand Hyatt. Dr. Kristján T. Ragnarsson, M.D., then
Chairman of the Board of the ASF, introduced President Halonen, who spoke about Scandinavia’s
and America’s common interests, and remarked that Scandinavia House is an excellent
example of cooperation between people.
Serving as Gala Co-Chairs for the event attended by more than 475 guests were ASF
Trustees Jane Erkko, Linda Nordberg, and Hilppa Roby. Robert B. Willumstad, President and
Chief Operating Officer of Citigroup, served as Gala Corporate
Chair.
At the dinner, the ASF Cultural Award was presented
posthumously to Astrid Lindgren, the beloved
Swedish writer. Entertainment was provided
by internationally-acclaimed Finnish soprano
Soile Isokoski and celebrated Finnish tango
musician Eino Grön. Television journalist Lynn
Sherr was Master of Ceremonies.
GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY
GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY

2004 Gala Dinner in the presence of His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson,
President of Iceland, November 4, 2004
President Grímsson and his wife, Mrs. Dorrit Moussaieff, were guests of honor at the ASF
Annual Gala Dinner held at the The New York Grand Hyatt. The evening celebrated the long
history of the Republic of Iceland and its contributions to world culture.
Gala Co-Chairs were Magnús Gústafsson and Edda Kristjánsdóttir, Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson
and Anna Ólafsdóttir, and Dr. Kristján T. Ragnarsson and Hrafnhildur Águstsdóttir. Hon.
Charles A. Heimbold and Hon. Lyndon L. Olson, both former Ambassadors
from the United States to Sweden, served as American
Chairs.
President Grímsson presented Senator Hillary Rodham
Clinton with an award from the people of Iceland in appreciation of
her assistance in celebrating the 1,000 year anniversary of the travels
of Leif Eriksson.
Ambassadors Olson and Heimbold presented
the ASF Gold Medal to Dr. Peter Wallenberg for his
many accomplishments, including major support of
educational institutions in the United States through
the Wallenberg Foundation Fellowships in Environment and Sustainability. The
Reykjavík Opera Choir and the Threstir Male Choir entertained the 400 guests with a special
concert of Icelandic and American chorale favorites. Lynn Sherr was Master of Ceremonies.
At the 2004 Gala Dinner: from left; ASF Chairman Christian R. Sonne, Mrs. Dorrit Moussaieff, H.E. President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson,
U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, ASF President Edward P. Gallagher, Mrs. Hrafnhildur Ragnarsson, and Kristján T. Ragnarsson, M.D.
GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY
President Grímsson
presenting an award to
Senator Clinton from the
people of Iceland.
GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY
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Their Majesties King Harald V
and Queen Sonja of Norway
opened the exhibition Norge:
Contemporary Norwegian
Landscape Paintings from the
Collection of Her Majesty
Queen Sonja of Norway
at Scandinavia House on
February 28, 2005
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Norway Centennial Events
The American-Scandinavian Foundation recognized Norway’s 100 years as an independent
nation throughout 2005 with an extensive program of exhibitions, concerts, films, lectures,
symposia, and children’s activities. Statoil North America Inc. was the Principal Corporate
Sponsor of Norwegian Centennial Events at Scandinavia House.
Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway participated
in several events at Scandinavia House. On February 28, 2005,
Their Majesties opened the exhibition Norge: Contemporary Norwegian
Landscape Paintings from the Collection of Her Majesty Queen Sonja of
Norway in the Ginsberg, Gundersen, Stolt Nielsen and Hoegh Galleries
at Scandinavia House. On March 2, 2005, Her Majesty Queen Sonja
gave a talk entitled, “My Norway” focusing on the art and landscape of
the country, in a program co-sponsored with the Norwegian Consulate
General in New York and Innovation Norway.
TINA BUCKMAN
Norway Centennial Ball in the Presence of Their Majesties King Harald V and
Queen Sonja of Norway, March 1, 2005
The American-Scandinavian Foundation also marked 100 years of Norwegian independence
with its Norway Centennial Ball held on March 1, 2005 at the Pierre in New York in the presence
of Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
Their Majesties and more than 400 guests were welcomed by the Chairman and President
of the ASF, Christian R. Sonne and Edward P. Gallagher, as well as Gala Corporate Chair,
Gala co-chairs (and ASF Trustees) for the ASF Norway Centennial Ball: from left: Bård Bunaes, Inger Gundersen Ginsberg, Bente Svensen Frantz,
Hon. Robin Chandler Duke (former U.S. Ambassador to Norway), Robert B. Willumstad, and ASF President Edward P. Gallagher
GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY

Robert B. Willumstad. The United States Ambassador to
Norway, the Honorable John Doyle Ong, delivered a message
from the President of the United States to Their
Majesties on the occasion of Norway’s Centennial. A
musical tribute to Norway was performed by renowned
Swedish pianist Per Tengstrand.
Co-Chairs of the Ball were ASF Trustees Bård
Bunaes, Hon. Robin Chandler Duke, Bente Svensen
Frantz, and Inger Gundersen Ginsberg. Luann Smith,
President of Statoil North America Inc. and Svein Aaser,
President and CEO of DnB NOR served as Norwegian
Corporate Chairs.
Other Special Events
Ingrid Bergman Dinner, May 3, 2004
A special Ingrid Bergman dinner was held in in conjunction
with the opening of the exhibition, Here’s Looking at You,
Kid: Selections from the Ingrid Bergman Collection, and the
related film series. The evening included a viewing of the
exhibition and the posthumous presentation of the ASF
Cultural Award to Ms. Bergman. In addition, there were reminiscences
about the actress by Liv Ullmann, Sidney Lumet
and other guests, and a special presentation of film clips of
Ingrid Bergman’s classic roles along with home movies of her
as a child. The evening was a benefit for the ASF and for
the Ingrid Bergman Archive at Wesleyan University.
2004 Annual Spring Luncheon, June 9, 2004
The Annual Spring Luncheon at Scandinavia House honored
three long-serving Advisory Trustees: Peder Bonde, Sigurdur
Helgason, and Martin E. Segal. Seats in Victor Borge Hall
were dedicated to each of the honorees in recognition of
his service to the ASF.
2005 Annual Spring Luncheon, May 24, 2005
The Annual Spring Luncheon at Scandinavia House honored
Executive Trustees Eugene V. Kokot and Lennard Rambusch.
Seats in Victor Borge Hall were dedicated to each of the honorees
in recognition of his service to the ASF.
TINA BUCKMAN
Liv Ullmann spoke of her great
admiration for Ingrid Bergman as
she presented the ASF Cultural
Award to Ms. Bergman’s family
on her behalf.
Ingrid Bergman’s four children at the 2003 Bergman Dinner: from left:
Ingrid Rossellini, Pia Lindström, Isabella Rossellini (with the
ASF Cultural Award presented posthumously to Ms. Bergman),
and Roberto Rossellini.
TINA BUCKMAN GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY
Their Majesties King
Harald V and Queen
Sonja of Norway at the
2005 ASF Norway
Centennal Ball.
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