Sir Roger Moore receives UNICEF's inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award

On Thursday 1st November 2012, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore was awarded the inaugural UNICEF UK Lifetime Achievement Award, after 20 years of dedicated service for the world’s most vulnerable children. The Award was presented to him by UNICEF UK’s recently appointed Vice-President, Marc Bolland at a private event held at The Club at The Ivy, where Sir Roger gave an emotional acceptance speech to supporters of UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation.

The first of its kind, the UNICEF UK Lifetime Achievement Award will hereafter be named The Roger Moore Lifetime Achievement Award, in celebration of Sir Roger’s tireless work, both as a generous fundraiser and global advocate of children’s rights.

Since being introduced to the organisation by friend and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Audrey Hepburn in the 1980s, Moore has visited numerous UNICEF projects to draw attention to the plight of children living extremely tough lives around the world.

Sir Roger said: “I am perhaps best known for my role as Bond, but my role as Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF is the one I am certainly most passionate about.

“One of the world’s most glamorous and compassionate ladies recruited me to UNICEF, Audrey Hepburn. Since then I’ve been moved by the incredible work the organisation does to save millions of children’s lives and transform their futures. It is beyond doubt that it’s the children and dedicated staff on the ground who deserve medals, but I am absolutely honoured and would like to thank UNICEF for this truly humbling award.”

UNICEF UK Executive Director, David Bull said: “UNICEF is extremely proud to have the unswerving and devoted support of Sir Roger Moore, who has moved mountains for us over the last 20 years. We want to thank him from the bottom of our hearts and hope that dedicating our Lifetime Achievement Award to his name will show our appreciation, as well as inspire other influential people to help create a world fit for children in the same way that he has.”

Recently, a charity auction of Bond memorabilia celebrating 50 years of the iconic films raised £723,600 for UNICEF’s work for children.

The Roger Moore Lifetime Achievement Award will be based on set criteria, applicable to those who have supported UNICEF for 15 years or more and who have made an extraordinary contribution to the work of UNICEF through their philanthropy, voluntary action, advocacy and contribution to country programmes.

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