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Message from the Grand Chancellor of the Savoy Orders, Cav. Gr. Cr. Johannes Niederhauser
As Grand Chancellor of the Savoy Orders I, too, am pleased to welcome you to the official website of the American Delegation. This important Delegation has taken a leadership role in this respect, and I am delighted to know that its members and the English speaking people around the world will now have access to so much important information about Savoy history, about our Orders, and about the philanthropic activities we have all worked hard to promote. I want to commend the enthusiasm and energy that have been displayed by the members of the American Delegation who have made this website possible. Without their tireless efforts none of this could have been achieved. I feel sure that as the site grows and develops it will serve to enhance our ability to reach an ever growing number of people, not only in America, but also in other parts of the world. Thank you for visiting this site. Johannes Niederhauser |
Message of the American Delegate, Cav. Gr. Cr. Avv. Carl J. Morelli
I am happy to introduce you to the official website of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders. It is my honor to serve as Delegate of H.R.H. Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy to represent the Dynastic Orders of the House of Savoy in the United States of America and Canada. The Delegate's duties are to administer the affairs of the Savoy Orders in North America, act as liaison with the Chancellery of the Savoy Orders in Geneva, Switzerland, and to cooperate with the charitable and humanitarian efforts of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated, an independent New York 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. I hope that through the abundance of information you will find in our website you will come to know more about the ancient principles, purposes and history of the Savoy Orders and their philanthropic mission in the modern world. I am grateful to Their Royal Highnesses for the enduring support and encouragement which they have given to me, and I am also thankful to the many members of the American Delegation who have given so generously of their time and talent to help create this website. We intend to keep its contents up to date, and to improve it at every opportunity. I hope that you will find it easy to navigate, and I would welcome your comments and suggestions for ways to improve and expand it. Thank you for visiting our site. Carl J. Morelli, American Delegate |
The American Delegation of Savoy Orders is part of the International Association of Dames and Knights of the Royal House of Savoy. The Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy are historically dedicated to works of charity. While deeply rooted in the past, the Savoy Orders are actively engaged in the challenges of modern society. Activities of the American Delegation include financial support of the fundraising charitable, humanitarian, cultural and education events of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated, a 501(c) 3 registered charity. The American Delegation also organizes and participates in social activities and events nationally and internationally throughout the year.
On a national level, each year the Savoy Orders sponsor a number of social activities, anniversary observances and religious services. Activities of the American Delegation include financial support of the fundraising charitable, humanitarian, cultural and educational events of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated. The Delegation also arranges for the Knights and Dames of the Savoy Orders to attend the celebration of Masses during the year: a commemorative Mass and dinner for St. Lazarus Day in February or March and an Investiture Ceremony and Mass in December in conjunction with the Savoy Foundation's annual winter reception and gala dinner dance, Ballo di Savoia. On an international level, the American Delegate, with members, candidates and friends of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders, attends the annual Capitolo Generale (Chapter General) of the Savoy Orders, usually held each year in Geneva, Switzerland or in Rome, Italy. Preceding the formal investiture ceremonies, the American Delegate welcomes the American members, candidates and their families and friends at a private welcome dinner at a local restaurant or private club. The next day, a formal installation ceremony is presided over by H.R.H. Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, the Grand Master, together with the Grand Chancellor of the Savoy Orders and members of the Royal Family. On this occasion, diplomas and insignia are presented to the new members and newly promoted members of the Savoy Orders. The same evening, a formal benefit gala dinner raises funds for the international charitable works of the Savoy Orders. The following day there is a solemn Mass and procession of Knights and Dames in their church robes, followed by a benefit luncheon. |
he American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Inc. (Savoy Foundation) hosted its 27th Annual Royal Savoy Ball on Saturday, December 7, 2024 in New York City under the patronage of H.R.H. Prince Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia, Duke of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont and Prince of Venice. H.R.H. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, who serves as the U.S. Delegate of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders and a Savoy Foundation board member, was the Ball Chairman of the event. The winter charity gala raised funds for the Foundation's mission – Chivalry for Children's Causes – and benefitted Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education's Young Artists Apprenticeship Program. The event's honoree was Jacqueline Weld Drake, Chairperson of Casita Maria. The white tie, winter charity gala was supported by prominent business, community and society leaders and members and friends of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy. The Ball was part of a four-day weekend of events organized by the American Delegation of Savoy Orders and the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, continuing the spirit and tradition of charitable giving and hospitaller care of the historic dynastic orders of knighthood and merit of the thousand-year Royal House of Savoy. More than 300 guests, some as far away as Japan, attended the elegant charity fundraiser at a private club in New York City.
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ROYAL SAVOY BALL 2024
2024 ROYAL SAVOY BALL HONOREE
JACQUELINE WELD DRAKE CHAIRPERSON, CASITA MARIA |
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AMERICAN DELEGATION OF SAVOY ORDERS - Summer Steak Cookout at White’s Point, Waterford, Connecticut
August 3, 2024 Co-Hosted by Grand Officer George C. White and Dame Commander Betsy White Members and guests of the American Delegation enjoyed a traditional, turn of the century, bona fide summer steak cookout at the historic landmark, beachside family home of Dame Commander Betsy and Grand Officer George White, overlooking Long Island Sound in Waterford, Connecticut on August 3, 2024. Some guests came by train, some by car and some by ferry from Orient Point, Long Island. The White’s had been hosting the annual summer event for the American Delegation of Savoy Orders, weather permitting, since 2010.
Henry Cooke White (1861-1952), the grandfather of Grand Officer George White, was the patriarch of an extremely artistic family, purchased undeveloped land on a coastal part of Waterford, Connecticut in 1891. When passing through the area he found a vantage point overlooking the water, he was overwhelmed by the panoramic view of Long Island Sound, writing in his memoirs, “…I was convinced that this was my Promised land.” Not long after, he built a summer cottage on what became known as White Point the following year. The Whites wintered with his parents in Hartford until they built a year-round home in Waterford in 1913, designed by Wilson Eyre, a Philadelphia architect, after he was inspired by Charles Lang Freer’s home in Detroit. The rustic Shingle style house was constructed of ashlar stone masonry with shingles above, which is sited perfectly on the rocky shoreline. Also on the site is a boat house and garage. Our host and grandson of Henry C. White did not follow in his grandfather’s footsteps as an artist, but rather excelled in the theater arts, establishing the Eugene O'Neill Theater. The summer social gathering was attended by more than 30 members and guests who travelled from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York City and Southampton, Long Island. |
SAVE THE DATE27th Ballo di Savoia (Royal Savoy Ball)The 27th Ballo di Savoia (Royal Savoy Ball), the annual winter charity gala, hosted by the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, will be celebrated on Saturday evening, December 7, 2024 in New York City.
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OFFICIAL PORTRAIT OF H.R.H. PRINCE EMANUELE FILIBERTO DI SAVOIA, GRANDMASTER OF THE DYNASTIC ORDERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF SAVOY
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SAVOY ORDERS - Highlights of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders' Memorial Mass for the Late Duke of Savoy and Grandmaster of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy, H.R.H. Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy - Wednesday, April 10, 2024On April 10, 2024, the Knights and Dames of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders of the Royal House of Savoy and their guests participated in a Memorial Mass in the Lady Chapel of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in New York City. The Mass commemorated the recent death, on February 3, 2024, of the Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy, H.R.H. Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, Duke of Savoy and Prince of Naples. H.R.H. Cav. Gr. Cr. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, the Delegate of the American Delegation, H.I.H. Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, together with Comm. Dott. John Gelati, Vice Delegate and Dama Gr. Cr. Vivian Cardia, Vice Delegate of Florida, led the American Delegation in the solemn services. The Delegation Chaplain. Comm. Rev. Michael Lankford-Stokes was the Principal Celebrant. Comm. Rev. Richard A. Mullins was a Concelebrant. The homily was given by Cav. Very Rev. Thomas D. Nicastro, V.F. The Mass was followed by the eighteenth annual St. Lazarus Benefit Dinner. More than 55 members and guests enjoyed the festive evening, which raised funds for the charitable initiatives of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders. Uff. Very Rev. Enrique Salvo, Rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, hosted the Mass and attended the subsequent charity dinner. Dr. Mary Rorro was the Instrumental Soloist providing viola accompaniment. |
The 26th Ballo di Savoia (Royal Savoy Ball), the annual winter charity gala hosted by the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, was celebrated on Saturday evening, December 9, 2023 in New York City. The benefit gala was under the patronage of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Victor Emmanuel and Princess Marina of Savoy. The Savoy Foundation welcomed back His Royal Highness Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Venice and Piedmont and his cousin His Royal Highness Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, who were guests of honor for this occasion. The royal gala also marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Elena of Montenegro, Queen of Italy. The Ball was part of a four-day weekend of events organized by the American Delegation of Savoy Orders and the American Foundation of Savoy Orders. More than 300 patrons, benefactors and guests gathered to support the Savoy Foundation's 26th annual white-tie dinner-dance. The event raised funds in support of the Savoy Foundation's philanthropic mission - Chivalry for Children's Causes - and the event's primary beneficiaries: The Cooley's Anemia Foundation which funds medical research fighting thalassemia, a rare genetic blood disorder that requires lifelong blood transfusion and daily drug treatment; and A Chance In Life Inc., formerly Boys and Girls Town, which provides resources for empowering, life affirming educational and health-related programs for youth in under-resourced communities on Staten Island's North Shore. Prior to Saturday's evening Gala, a welcome reception on Friday evening, December 8, was held at the Lotos Club for guests attending the Royal Savoy Ball. At the ball on Saturday, gala attendees enjoyed a champagne reception, hors d'oeuvres and signature cocktails before the main program began with a royal fanfare. Alex Donner and His Orchestra provided top-tier dance music for the guests to enjoy. |
Savoy Foundation's 26th Annual Royal Savoy Ball (Ballo di Savoia) raised funds for children's charities in New York City with the support of prominent business leaders and under the patronage of the Italian Royal family. H.R.H. Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy and H.R.H. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia were guests of honor. The charity event also commemorated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Elena of Montenegro, Queen of Italy. The winter charity gala benefited the Cooley's Anemia Foundation and A Chance In Life Inc.
Alex Donner & His Orchestra
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On October 15, 2023, the American Foundation of Savoy Orders presented a record grant of $300,000 to Caterina’s Club, a Southern California based charity aiding homeless children with meals and housing, from funds raised from the Foundation's 2023 "Notte di Savoia" Charity Gala in Los Angeles at the Jonathan Club on Saturday, April 29, 2023. The grant was presented during the annual charity fundraiser for Caterina’s Club on October 15, 2023 which honored H.R.H Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, who was recently elected as Chairman of the Board of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated. |
INVITATION TO THE 18TH ANNUAL SAVOY HISTORY SERIES PRESENTATION
An invitation to an extraordinary event sponsored by the American Foundation of Savoy Orders - the Eighteenth Annual Savoy History Series - with guest speaker, author, historian and Holy Shroud expert, Guy R. Powell, who will masterfully weave a myriad of true historical and scientific facts about the Shroud of Turin, Jesus’s burial cloth, into a fascinating presentation about this treasured relic that Christians and the Royal House of Savoy worked to keep safe over the last two millennia. His presentation, based on his recently published book - The Only Witness: A History of the Shroud of Turin - will appeal to the history enthusiast, a fan of ancient mysteries, or a seeker of spiritual growth and will captivate your imagination and leave you pondering the secrets at the heart of the Holy Shroud of Turin.
Mr. Powell will display an actual replica of the Holy Shroud for his presentation. You’ll be captivated by this intriguing account of the Shroud’s miraculous survival from harm and destruction, despite wars, crusades, floods, and fires. Follow its journey from Golgotha in Jerusalem to its final resting place in Turin, Italy, where it has been housed since 1578. Four hundred years later, in 1978, extensive scientific study began in order to prove or disprove its authenticity. Discover for yourself the mystery of the Shroud and determine if you think it is, indeed, the witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - The American Foundation of Savoy Orders is pleased to announce the following five Savoy Orders Pigott Scholarships recipients for the 2023 – 2024 academic year:
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Summer Steak Cookout at White’s Point, Waterford, Connecticut August 26, 2023 Co-Hosted by Grand Officer George C. White and Dame Betsy WhiteMembers and guests of the American Delegation enjoyed a traditional, turn of the century, bona fide summer steak cookout at the historic landmark, beachside family home of Dame Betsy and Grand Officer George White, overlooking Long Island Sound in Waterford, Connecticut on August 26, 2023. The White’s had been hosting the annual summer event for the American Delegation of Savoy Orders, weather permitting, since 2010.
Visiting the Whites was like a little excursion into the past. The classic stone house, built in 1913 by his grandfather, the renowned American impressionist painter, Henry Cooke White, known for his paintings of the Connecticut landscape and shoreline, provided the backdrop for a quintessentially American experience. Transporting the guests in time to the Edwardian age when this area of Connecticut provided the imagery and timeless landscape of an idealized “old” America and attracted the largest, best-known Impressionist art colony in the nation, the aesthetic style furnishings and paintings of the period in the Whites’ home accentuated the “somewhere in time” experience. Mother Nature, which had been ominous during the week, miraculously provided the “plein air” dining with perfect summer weather - sunny, crystal-clear skies with unobstructed panoramic vistas of the calm grey-blue waters of Long Island Sound. The sumptuous seafood hors d’oeuvres, the plentiful summertime cocktails, deliciously cooked filet mignon and other culinary delights added to the “bon amie” spirit of the day. A cake decorated with the Savoy Royal flag was partitioned by the Delegate Joseph Sciame with Grand Officer George White’s vintage military officer’s sword for the guests’ enjoyment.
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Press Release:
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SAVOY FOUNDATION - CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION (CNEWA) RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION OF SAVOY ORDERS
Joseph Sciame, President of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, presented a check for $4,000 on June 27, 2023 to CNEWA's Chair, Timothy Cardinal Dolan of New York and CNEWA's President, Monsignor Peter I Vacccari at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Manhattan to help support CNEWA's humanitarian relief activities in Turkey/Syria and in Ukraine. While deeply rooted in the past, the Savoy Orders are actively engaged in the challenges of modern society," states Joseph Sciame, and the foundation in the United States, based in New York City, supports the humanitarian concerns of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy as well as promotes philanthropic causes of particular concern, from emergency relief to the welfare of children and underserved youth. |
Savoy Foundation Presents Grants Totaling $102,000 to
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commemorative mass for their late majesties king umberto ii and queen marie jose of italy and the 40th anniversary of the death of king umberto II of italy, March 18, 2023SAVOY (FRANCE) – Several hundred people gathered at the Royal Abbey of Hautecombe on March 18, 2023 for the annual celebration of the traditional Holy Mass in memory of Their Royal Majesties King Umberto II and Queen Maria José, which this year marked the 40th anniversary of King Umberto’s death. Members of the Italian Royal Family, Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy with the Grand Chancellor Dr. Johannes NIederhauser, Guards of Honor (Guardia d’Onore) at the Royal Tombs of the Pantheon, Gruppo Savoia with Dr. Avv. Santino Slongo and other monarchical organizations honored the memory of Their Late Majesties. The Italian Royal Family members included Their Royal Highnesses Prince Victor Emmanuel and Princess Marina of Savoy, Princess Maria Pia of Savoy, Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Princess Victoria of Savoy, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, Prince Michael of Yugoslavia, Prince Serge of Yugoslavia.
On 18 March 1983, His Royal Highness King Umberto II died, in exile, at the Cantonal Hospital of Geneva, fortified only by his Faith, without the consolation of returning to his Homeland. Unfortunately, his exile had lasted beyond the death of the Sovereign. This is one of the main reasons why the ceremony held in Hautecombe is deeply felt by members of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy. |
On March 1, 2023, the Knights and Dames of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders of the Royal House of Savoy and their guests participated in the seventeenth annual St. Lazarus Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in New York City. H.R.H. Cav. Gr. Cr. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, Honorary Delegate of the American Delegation, joined the American Delegation. The Mass commemorated the patron Saint of the Savoy Orders, the death of the late King of Italy, King Umberto II who died on March 18, 1983 and the 450th Anniversary of the Founding of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. The Mass was followed by a convivial dinner at Il Gattopardo Restaurant where more than 45 members and guests enjoyed the festive evening, which raised funds for the charitable initiatives of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders. The Very Rev. Enrique Salvo, Rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, hosted the Mass and attended the subsequent charity dinner. |
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AMERICAN DELEGATION REPORT: 2022 CHAPTER GENERAL
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