Categories Charity Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

Continuing Helen McCrory’s Legacy Through Charitable Work

What BGC Charity Day Means For The McCrory Award 

by Ellie Iorizzo | Evening Standard | September 30, 2022

Helen McCrory’s legacy is maintained through the charity she helped to establish before her death which benefits massively from the 9/11 trading day, the charity’s founder has said. Film and stage star Damian Lewis, 51, returned to the BGC Partners brokerage firm in Canary Wharf on Thursday to support the Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation (HvH Arts) – for which his late wife McCrory was patron. Lewis, who was also supporting the charity Cure EB, told the PA news agency:

“I love the idea of trading, I would be terrible at it in real life. These guys are honestly on the edge all the time … fingers hovering over buttons ready to make the trade but they are all brilliant. This day is obviously special after what happened on 9/11 and it’s a brilliant initiative. I am glad to come back. If I am in town I always do this day, I really enjoy it and I do it for HVH Arts, which is a brilliant little charity that Debbi runs and Cure EB, two very different things we’re trying to help out and very happy to be here. Helen was patron and I have taken over as patron because I wanted to continue to help.”

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Categories Charity Helen Philanthropy Poll Print Media

Vote for Damian Lewis as Celebrity Hero of 2022

Best of British

by James Murray | Daily Express | August 11, 2022

We invite you to vote for the Daily Express Celebrity Hero of 2022, one of the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons. From a shortlist of ten, you can select the famous person from the worlds of show businesses, sport and politics who you believe has demonstrated “Best of British” qualities in the last 12 months to either triumph over adversity or help others in a truly significant way. The top four and winner will be announced at a ceremony hosted by Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Rachel Burden and Falklands War hero Simon Weston on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Vote here now.

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Categories Charity Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy Print Media Tributes

Thousands Raised in Memory of ‘Inspiring’ Brother and His Aunt, Helen McCrory

Riding all the Way from London to Madrid  for Hugo and Helen

by Lily Ford | Evening Standard | July 21, 2022

An Army officer has raised thousands of pounds for charity by cycling 2,100 kilometres from London to Madrid in memory of his “inspiring” brother and his aunt, actress Helen McCrory. Tom Yaxley, 32, is the brother of Hugo Yaxley and nephew of Damian, as well as McCrory, who died from cancer in April 2021 aged 52.

Mr. Yaxley has embarked on the cycle across Europe for Ride4Hugo, a series of fundraising events organised by friends and family which have earned more than £115,000 for four charities. Through tough gruelling climbs, injury, pain, heat, traffic and SHEEP! Nothing stopped him.

Add to their Collection Pot here
View photos of the bike challenge in our Gallery here

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Categories Awards Charity Gallery Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

Damian Lewis Presented The McCrory Award in Private Exhibit

Inaugural Launch of Mentor Charity: The McCrory Award

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | June 15, 2022

Today, June 15, 2022, invitation-only attendees gathered for a private viewing of an art exhibit showcasing exclusive photography pieces of Helen McCrory to support the Sir Hubert von Herkomer Foundation and to honor The McCrory Award. The foundation – which Helen was the former Patron of and is now patroned by Damian – gives access to free art and media workshops for disadvantaged children “…so they can express their inner artist” and flourish. Other featured photographs that were donated by friends include Fay Ripley, Mark Strong, Eddie Redmayne, Helen Bonham Carter, Sienna Miller, Jude Law, Sadie Frost, Billie Piper, James Purefoy, Harriet Walter, Harry Treadaway, Stephen Mangan and Andrew Scott, all who posed for Debbi Clark, photographer and CEO/Founder of HvH Arts Foundation.

The McCrory Award was announced that evening, with Damian presenting the award to three young HvH Arts Foundation artistic beneficiaries. The foundation is dedicated to supporting children and young people who are gifted in their art, yet many do not have access to resources, training or support to fulfill their dream. The McCrory Award and charitable mentorship will make their dreams become a reality. Helen always believed every child should have equal opportunities and accessibility to the arts.

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Categories Broadcast Media Charity Football/Soccer Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy Video

Damian Lewis Pays Tribute To Late Wife Helen McCrory on Good Morning Britain

Helen’s Sweet Soccer Aid Gesture

by Rebecca Davison | Mail Online | June 9, 2022

'She's still with us': Damian Lewis paid tribute to his late wife Helen McCrory on Good Morning Britain on ThursdayActor Damian Lewis paid a moving tribute to his late wife Helen McCrory on Good Morning Britain on Thursday saying, “She’s with us.”

The star, who’s taking part in Sunday’s Soccer Aid, revealed how Helen was always his biggest supporter – and GMB hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shepherd shared their memories of the Peaky Blinders actor who passed away from cancer in April 2021 aged 52. Ben began by saying:

“The first time I met you and your lovely wife Helen away from work was at Soccer Aid many years ago in Manchester and you were there with the family and the kids. She was always such a vociferous supporter of you and everything you did. Kate and I were very honoured to be at her memorial service just a few weeks ago. I’d imagine you’ve been very moved by the outpouring of love and support that has been shown towards her since she sadly passed away.”

Damian replied, “Well, She was a fabulous human being and people from all walks of life have been in touch to say what an impact she had on their lives.”

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Categories Charity Gallery Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

Damian Lewis Completes 50km Bike Ride For Ride4Hugo

Riding To Raise Money in Memory of Hugo and Helen

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | June 5, 2022

Today Damian, family and friends participated in a ride campaign to raise money and awareness for four charities that played a big part in Hugo (nephew) and Helen’s lives. In 2021 Ride4Hugo raised over £97,000 and they are back for 2022 with three big challenges to continue raising money for Sir HvH Arts Foundation (The McCrory Award), Place2Be, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Please donate here to add to their collection pot! View more photos of the event in our gallery here.

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Categories Charity Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

Ride4Hugo Bike Challenge

Using 2 Wheels to Keep the Memory of Hugo Yaxley & Aunty Helen Alive

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | June 2, 2022

Hugo Yaxley is the nephew of Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory and the Ride4Hugo bicycle event was organized in memory of Hugo and Helen.  The Ride Campaign aims to raise money and awareness for four charities that played a big part in Hugo and Helen’s lives. In 2021 Ride4Hugo raised over £97,000 and they are back for 2022 with three big challenges to continue raising money for Sir HvH Arts Foundation, Place2Be, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Please donate here to add to their collection pot! Visit their Instagram story here.

Challenges:

On May 1, 2022, two of Hugo’s school friends, Harry Dayus and James Gilroy ran the Birmingham Half-Marathon.

Then on June 5, 2022 – the last day of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend – friends and family of Hugo and Helen will be doing a bike ride (48 or 101km) through the beauty Wiltshire countryside. According to HvH Arts Foundation Instagram account, Damian will be there in support of the event.

Finally, in July 2022, Hugo’s brother and Helen’s nephew, Tom, will be riding over 2,100km and climbing over 22,000m from The National Theatre in London to the Plaza Mayor in Madrid.

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Categories CBE Charity Helen Honors Philanthropy Print Media

Damian Lewis Made CBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours After Glittering Acting Career

Damian Shares CBE With Dear Helen McCrory

by Lily Waddell | Evening Standard | June 1, 2022

Damian Lewis has been made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) after an acting career that has spanned Second World War epics, terrorism thrillers and period dramas. The 51-year-old television, film and stage star has been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to both drama and charity.

Among his best known roles are Army Major Richard Winters in the HBO miniseries Band Of Brothers, Nicholas Brody in the Showtime series Homeland and Henry VIII in Wolf Hall. Lewis told the PA news agency:

“What a great honour to be awarded the CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to drama and for the charity work that I have carried out over the years and during the pandemic with my late wife, Helen McCrory. Thank you very much. She and I are both thrilled.”

He and his late wife Helen McCrory are co-founders of FeedNHS, an initiative working with restaurant Leon on the campaign of the same name in a bid to provide NHS workers with meals during the coronavirus crisis. He shares the CBE honour with Helen:

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Categories CBE Charity Helen Honors Philanthropy Print Media

Damian Lewis Honoured by Queen Elizabeth

CBE: Services to Both Drama and Charity

by Michael Holden | Reuters | May 31, 2022

LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) – Actor Damian Lewis, author Ian Rankin and former Northern Ireland first minister Arlene Foster were among more than 1,100 people recognised by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in her annual birthday honours. The list, which is issued to mark the 96-year-old monarch’s official birthday, honours recipients for their “outstanding” contributions; most awards recognise public service or community work.

This year’s honours come ahead of four days of national celebration, beginning on Thursday, to mark Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne. “This historic Platinum Jubilee is not only a celebration of the monarch but of the qualities she possesses,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. “The honours she confers this week reflect many of those qualities that have been invaluable from all different walks of life and to communities across the UK.”

Lewis, who won a Golden Globe for his role in TV drama “Homeland”, was made a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services both to drama and to charity for initiating a campaign with his late wife Helen McCrory to raise 1 million pounds to provide food for health service workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Categories CBE Charity Helen Honors Philanthropy Print Media

Damian Lewis Will Be Awarded a CBE

Honored: A Gong for FeedNHS

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | May 28, 2022

Damian is set to receive a gong in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this week for his NHS charity work, and will be honored with Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). He has quietly carried out philanthropic work for several charities over many years, some of it with Helen. Last year he and Helen helped raise £1.5 million to feed NSH staff during the CoVid-19 pandemic, which allowed 40,000 meals a day to be served to 100 hospitals.

The Sun quoted a friend stating, “This is richly deserved for all the work Damian has done for so many people with so much done with little or no public fanfare.”

The Royal recognition comes after Damian was awarded an OBE by The Duke of Cambridge Prince William at Buckingham Palace in 2014 for contributions to drama. He is an ambassador for a number of organizations, including youth charities Sir HvH Arts Foundation and The Prince’s Trust.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire award (MBE, OBE, CBE) is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organizations, and public service outside the Civil Service. The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022 will be printed in a special Gazette supplement in June 2022.

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Categories Gallery Helen Personal and Family Life

Celebration of Helen McCrory’s Life

Remembering Helen

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | May 20, 2022

According to a tweet by theatre critic Dom Cavendish, Damian hosted a memorial service at St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden (aka The Actors’ Church) in London on Friday, May 20, 2022, to celebrate Helen McCrory’s life and her formidable personality. There was laughter, tears and a standing ovation in Helen’s honor. Attendees included Helena Bonham Carter, Allie Esiri, Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne, Natascha McElhone, Bob Geldoff, Rory Kinnear, Mark Strong, Joe Cole, Finn Cole, Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawesdeath. Mark Strong led the tributes as the actor who had worked with Helen more than almost any other actor, appearing in seven different films, shows and plays together. Damian and Helen’s daughter Manon, 15, delivered a touching reading and son Gulliver, 14, played the guitar for guests at the ceremony.

You can see part of the event programme from Mr. Cavendish’s tweet below.  Bob Dylan’s To Be Alone with You was featured and a film titled In Her Own Words played. One cannot help remember that Helen chose To Be Alone with You as one of her favorite tunes during a recent segment of Desert Island Discs and she added that she had a blank check from Damian to run away with Bob Dylan. A close friend who attended the memorial service said, “It was just the most beautiful memorial. It was very touching. Speechless.”

View images of memorial service attendees in our Gallery here.

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Categories Awards Charity Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

Damian Lewis Will Present The McCrory Award in June

The McCrory Award Exhibit

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | March 20, 2022

Photo Cred: Debbi Clark

Debbi Clark, CEO and founder of Sir Hubert von Herkomer Arts Foundation, announced on Instagram Friday, March 18, 2022 that a photography exhibition in honor of former Patron Helen McCrory will be held at the opening of Alon Zakaim Fine Arts’ new gallery space on Cork St. in London on June 15, 2022, with donation proceeds going to HvH Arts Foundation.

The McCrory Award event will feature exclusive prints of Helen McCrory donated by eight photographers, as well as Clark’s own prints. A series of images of artists close to Helen have honored this event to allow Clark to take their portrait as well. In addition to Damian Lewis, Helen’s close friends such as, Jude Law, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sadie Frost, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Fay Ripley and Sienna Miller have agreed to sales of their image with 100% of proceeds donated to The McCrory Award, per Debbi Clark Photography’s Instagram post here.

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