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 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 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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Categories Charity Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

The Helen McCrory Studio Theatre

“Be yourself. Comparisons are odious. To thine own self be true.”

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | November 24, 2021

Photo: Debbi Clark – Sir HvH Arts Instagram

Damian Lewis, patron of Sir HvH Arts Foundation was in attendance for the official opening of The Helen McCrory Studio Theatre at Francis Holland School Regent’s Park (FHS). The grand opening of the Art, Drama and Music studios was held on Tuesday November 23, 2021 from 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm. The drama studio theatre is in honor of the late Sir HvH Arts Foundation patron Helen McCrory, who made an invaluable contribution to Drama at FHS.

Guests were given guided group tours of the new facilities where FHS students showcased the high caliber of work they produce during their art, drama and music lessons. In The Helen McCrory Studio Theatre, students performed costume rehearsals for the upcoming performance of Jane Eyre at the Steiner Theatre. Helen devoted much time and passion to HvH Arts, with Francis Holland School Regent’s Park being one of the foundation’s main sponsors over the years.

For more information about the foundation, visit Sir HvH Arts website here.

Categories Charity Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy Summertime

Damian Lewis Attends Summer Exhibition Festival for Sir HvH Arts Foundation

Lockdown Exodus and A Brave New World

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | April 13, 2021

Ambassador and now Patron Damian Lewis joined the Sir HvH Arts Foundation Summer Exhibition Festival production in London on Monday, August 30, 2021 for the ‘Lockdown Exodus’ exhibition that celebrated young people’s work in art, music and photography, and a performance by ‘A Brave New World’ visual arts theatre dance production by talented young artists. Throughout the day the project hosted taster workshops with their artists in residence in fashion deconstruction, tie-dye, screen printing, oils, acrylics on canvas, and photography. About a hundred community families gathered to see the musical performances, as well as art and photography produced by youth who had taken part in free sessions funded by donations and Camden Council. Up to 60 youngsters a day had been taking part in projects over the summer.

Ambassadors Sadie Frost and Michael Palin were also in attendance, who mentored young people for a film they made during lockdown called Isolation Stories. Students were also directed by the charity’s artists in residence, Selina Giles and Lily Alice Clark, and actor Peter Youngblood-Hills offered mentoring sessions.

The event was also held to remember former patron Helen McCrory. Debbi Clark, CEO and Founder of Sir HvH Arts Foundation has set up the “McCrory Award” in her honor, which will be dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children and young people who are gifted in their art, yet many do not have access to the resources or training to fulfill their potential. According to Hampstead Highgate Express, Debbi Clark stated Helen would always be a patron of the charity and was still with them “in spirit.”

View more photos in our Gallery here.
For more information about Sir HvH Arts Foundation and how you can donate, please visit their website here
Primary Source: Camden New Journal
Secondary Source: Hampstead Highgate Express

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Categories Charity Helen Narrator Personal and Family Life Philanthropy Tributes

Damian Lewis Narrates Helen McCrory’s Speech for Graduates

UCS Hampstead as Sir HvH Arts Foundation Patron

Source: UCS Hampstead | Twitter | June 30, 2021
Source: Sir HvH Arts | Instagram | June 30, 2021

On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, the University College School Hampstead’s graduation began proceedings by remembering Helen McCrory and her powerful message to pupils in 2018 with a narration of her speech by Damian today, speaking to the graduates remotely. UCS Hampstead supports Sir HvH Arts Foundation with their outreach, a foundation near and dear to Helen and now Damian is the Patron for Sir HvH Arts.  For more information about Helen’s UCS speech back in 2018, click here. In 2016, Damian and Helen attended an art exhibition showcasing UCS student’s artwork, chatting with them as well. Read more about that here.

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