Consul General Vladimir Božović, PhD, had the honor to attend the Casita Maria Fiesta

22. Oct 2025.
At the invitation of Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia and Mrs. Jacqueline Weld Drake, Chair of the Board of Directors of New York’s Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education, Consul General Vladimir Božović, PhD, had the honor to attend the Casita Maria Fiesta on Monday, October 20 — the traditional annual charity gala marking the 91st anniversary of this educational center, which for decades has inspired, empowered, and transformed the lives of children from the South Bronx and East Harlem for the better.

This elegant event, held at the iconic Plaza Hotel in New York City, brought together leading global figures from the worlds of business, politics, philanthropy, culture, and the arts, as well as members of the European aristocracy, united around a noble goal — raising funds for Casita Maria’s educational and artistic programs that serve children and youth from thousands of underprivileged families.

In addition to Mrs. Weld Drake, guests were welcomed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Casita Maria’s Executive Director Felix A. Urrutia Jr., who emphasized that the mission of the Center is to nurture the imagination of young people, helping them discover their inner strength and thus bring positive change to their communities.

During the evening, awards for philanthropy were presented to distinguished individuals. This year’s Casita Maria honorees were entrepreneur and philanthropist Kemi Lightbourne; Tina Vidal-Duarte, philanthropist and CEO of CDR Health Inc., a company providing emergency healthcare services; and Barbara Tober, art patron and longtime Editor-in-Chief of BRIDES Magazine at Condé Nast.

Consul General Vladimir Božović, PhD, had the honor of representing the Republic of Serbia at this prestigious event. During a delightful evening filled with music and dance, the Consul General met and conversed with numerous distinguished guests, using the opportunity to present Serbia’s rich culture, art, and economic potential. In doing so, he established many important contacts aimed at fostering future cooperation.