Tribute to Audrey Hepburn

She was the physical embodiment of innocent beauty, charming her way into our hearts and lives. She was living evidence that angels do reside on earth. Tonight, I post this blog in tribute of Audrey Hepburn and her life accomplishments. She was known for her starring roles in such movies as Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and My Fair Lady. However, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate Ms. Hepburn for a different starring role in which she played. Tonight I pay tribute to her character off the screen. Audrey Hepburn was a devoted humanitarian who dedicated the remainder of her life to helping needy children around the world.

She was appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1988 and traveled to Africa, Asia, and Latin America on behalf of starving children. She was relentless and saw to it that relief was given to those in need. After visiting the impoverished people of Somalia in 1992, Ms. Hepburn recounted her horrid tale, "I walked into a nightmare... It's so hard to talk about because it's unspeakable." Her journey had taken her to what she thought was hell. The worst drought in history and horrific civil war had utterly demolished the country and ravaged the population. One of the first sights she saw was hundreds of dead small children being piled onto a truck. It was clear by the expression on her face that she had to relive the scene every time she spoke of her travels. She would never forget that one small, starving boy she had met and then how she came back the very next day and he was gone.

Ms. Hepburn once said, "It just is so totally unacceptable to see small children die in front of your eyes. How are you supposed to get on a plane and go back to your regular life? It throws your whole world out of balance. There is a moral obligation that those who have should give to those who don't." I would like to remember Audrey Hepburn's devotion to the children of the world and her commitment to this moral cause. Her involvement was genuine and it gave her a real sense of fulfillment. Ms. Hepburn's devotion to humanitarian efforts is evidence of her drive to deliver a meaningful human message and we are reminded of this every time we watch her on film. She used her popularity as a means to inform that the suffering children of the world should never be forgotten.

I commend Ms. Hepburn for raising the consciousness of the world. She was a woman whose poise and grace showed through every performance. Her elegance, charm, and stunning beauty were projected not only on the screen, but through her actions as a humanitarian. Even as she was dying of cancer, she worked tirelessly to bring relief to suffering children around the world. Because of this, it is undoubtedly evident that Audrey Hepburn's beauty was not just physical, but immortal.