UNICEF to Honor Music Icon Quincy Jones at UNICEF Snowflake Ball, Presented by Baccarat, in New York City

UNICEF to Honor Music Icon Quincy Jones at UNICEF Snowflake Ball, Presented by Baccarat, in New York City

Additional Tributes and Honors to Town & Country's Editor in Chief Pamela Fiori, Intercontinental Hotels Group and the Company's Americas President Stevan Porter

Bryant Gumbel to Host, Tierney Sutton to Perform

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Quincy Jones, a man who has reached more musical milestones than virtually anyone in recent history, will receive UNICEF's Spirit of Compassion Award at the second annual UNICEF Snowflake Ball, presented by Baccarat, in New York City. Jones will receive the award for his role as a lifelong activist and philanthropist.

Jones has devoted much of the past 30 years to humanitarian causes. He believes that every child deserves an equal opportunity to grow to their full potential. To that end, he founded the Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation in 1991, which supports programs that meet the healthcare and educational needs of children, and works to bridge the gap between privilege and poverty for young people around the world. As producer and conductor of the historic "We Are The World" recording (the best-selling single of all time), Quincy Jones stands as one of the most successful and admired creative artist/executives in the entertainment industry. Jones has been awarded virtually every accolade imaginable: an Emmy, seven Oscar nominations, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, 27 Grammy Awards, N.A.R.A.S.' prestigious Trustee's Award and the Grammy Living Legend Award. He has received the most Grammy nominations of all time, with a total of 79. In 1990, France recognized Jones with its most distinguished title, the Legion d'Honneur, as well as the Ministry of Culture's Distinguished Arts and Letters Award. He has received honorary doctorates from Howard University, the Berklee College of music, Seattle University, Wesleyan University, Brandeis University, Loyola University, Clark Atlanta University, Claremont University's Graduate School, the University of Connecticut, Harvard University, the American Film Institute, Tuskegee University, New York University, University of Southern California, Columbia College, and University of Miami.

Town & Country's Editor In Chief, Pamela Fiori will receive the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award, which is named for UNICEF's legendary and highly esteemed Goodwill Ambassador. Fiori made publishing history in May 1993, when she became the first woman to be named editor in chief of Town & Country, America's oldest continuously published general-interest magazine. Through her leadership in media and commitment to children's causes, Fiori has brought critical issues facing children and women into the homes of her millions of readers. In March 2005, Fiori embarked on a field trip to Sri Lanka to witness UNICEF's relief efforts following the catastrophic tsunami last December. She will be honored for her devotion to improving the lives of children in the tsunami affected countries and throughout the world. Graff, the internationally renowned diamond house, has designed a one of a kind platinum and diamond Snowflake brooch featuring over 250 glistening white diamonds with a retail value of $25,000. The Graff Brooch was created in honor of the UNICEF Crystal Snowflake. It will be worn by Pamela Fiori and auctioned off at the event to benefit UNICEF.

UNICEF will present InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and its Americas President, Stevan Porter, with the Corporate Responsibility Award, which honors a company that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to philanthropic activity benefiting children. Stevan Porter, President, the Americas, is being recognized for his personal commitment to UNICEF and will accept the award on behalf of IHG. In 2001, IHG embraced UNICEF as the primary recipient of its global philanthropic efforts, further strengthening the company's commitment to children around the world. IHG and its employees actively support UNICEF through a number of activities and events, including corporate grants, employee giving, Priority Club(R) Rewards Room for Hope (R) program, which allows its 24 million members to contribute their points in support of UNICEF, and emergency relief efforts. The annual "Designs of Hope" fundraising events, presented by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, one of IHG's seven hotel brands, have raised over $1.8 million for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, primarily for UNICEF programs that support children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. In addition to the funds raised through the "Designs of Hope" events, IHG has contributed more than $1 million through a combination of corporate grants and tsunami-related fundraising activities, bringing the company's total contribution to UNICEF to nearly $3 million over five years. Mr. Porter is being recognized for his leadership in championing the UNICEF/IHG partnership.

UNICEF will celebrate the second annual Snowflake Ball, presented by Baccarat, to benefit the organization's efforts to ensure the health, education, equality and protection of every child. UNICEF supporter Bryant Gumbel will host the black tie fundraiser for the second year in a row. Jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton, who won JazzWeek's Vocalist of the Year Award earlier this year, will perform, as well as the KIPP Academy String and Rhythm Orchestra. Additionally, Marcus Samuelsson, UNICEF Ambassador and Chef and co-owner of Aquavit, will create the evening's menu with the Waldorf=Astoria's celebrated chef John Doherty. Chairing the Gala is nationally recognized interior designer Charlotte Moss.

During the event, there will be a live feed to the lighting of the new UNICEF Crystal Snowflake, designed by Ingo Maurer, with Baccarat crystals, on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue. The new UNICEF Crystal Snowflake is entirely designed, engineered and handcrafted by Ingo Maurer and team in Germany using 16,000 Baccarat crystal prisms. This magnificent creation, 40% larger than last year's Snowflake, is a three-dimensional structure, consisting of 12 double-sided branches. It is 23 feet in diameter, over 28 feet in height and weighs more than 3300 pounds.

The event will be held on November 28, 2005 at the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel at 6:30 p.m. Tickets and tables to the UNICEF Snowflake Ball may be purchased by calling 212.752.4770.

About UNICEF

Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children in 158 countries through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. For more information about UNICEF or to make a donation, please visit www.unicefusa.org or call 1-800-4UNICEF.

About Baccarat

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Source: UNICEF

CONTACT: Marissa Buckanoff of U.S. Fund for UNICEF, +1-212-922-2485,
mbuckanoff@unicefusa.org

Web site: http://www.unicefusa.org/

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