Categories Awards Charity Gallery Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

Damian Lewis Hosted the Annual McCrory Award in Private Exhibit

The McCrory Award Campaign 2024

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | March 26, 2024

Damian hosted a private viewing of the “DoNotDisturb” art exhibit on March 26, 2024 at the Alon Zakaim Fine Arts gallery in London, showcasing exclusive photography pieces and black and white sketches of Helen McCrory and other celebrities to support the Sir Hubert von Herkomer Foundation and to honor The McCrory Award.

Funds raised from the charity event will sponsor three young HvH Arts Foundation artistic beneficiaries who will be bestowed The McCrory Award mentorship. The inaugural event launched back on June 15, 2022.

Debbi Clark, photographer and CEO/Founder of HvH Arts Foundation, and Sadie Frost also co-hosted the occasion, with a visit from the Mayor of Camden. The event was curated by stylist Marcella Martinelli. Others in attendance at tonight’s private exhibit were Damian and Helen’s children Manon and Gulliver.

Images of Helen, Damian, Cillian Murphy, Jude Law, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne, Billie Piper, James Purefoy, Andrew Scott, and many more were donated in support of the private viewing and some images were launched via the online catalogue to browse for purchase through donation and pledge to support the charity.

The pieces were donated by professional photographers Debbi Clark, Ray Burmiston, David Venni, Clive Arrowsmith, Ian Derry, Charlie Gray, Lorenzo Agius, Tony Vaccaro, John “Rankin” Waddell , Ram Shergill, Terry O’Neill, plus black and white sketches from artist Nina Mae Fowler.

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.  This includes, but not limited to, photography, film making, sculpting, cooking, music production and song writing, drama, poetry, dance, crochet, fine art/painting, graffiti street art and much more. View more images from the event in our Gallery here.

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Categories Awards Charity Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

Damian Lewis To Host Annual McCrory Award in Private Exhibit

The McCrory Award Campaign 2024

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | December 5, 2023

Damian is scheduled to host a private viewing of the “DoNotDisturb” art exhibit on March 26, 2024 at the Alon Zakaim Fine Arts gallery in London, showcasing exclusive photography pieces and black and white sketches of Helen McCrory to support the Sir Hubert von Herkomer Foundation and to honor The McCrory Award. Funds raised from the charity event will sponsor 3 young HvH Arts Foundation artistic beneficiaries who will be bestowed The McCrory Award mentorship. Sadie Frost will also co-host the occasion. More than likely there will be an online catalogue to browse for purchase through donation, typically via a prize draw and pledge to support the charity.  The inaugural event launched back on June 15, 2022.

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. Like last year, we anticipate featured photographs will be donated by additional celebrities, all who have posed for Helen’s friend Debbi Clark, photographer and CEO/Founder of HvH Arts Foundation. To explore more about Debbi Clark Photography click here and here.

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Categories Charity Gallery Helen Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

Damian Lewis Performed at HvH Arts Foundation Summer Exhibition

Summer Exhibition: Create Every Day

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | September 3, 2023

Patron Damian Lewis performed with students at the Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation (HvH Arts) summer exhibition “Create Every Day” on Saturday, September 2, 2023 in London, England. Other attendees were Ambassador Sadie Frost and CEO Debbi Clark. HvH Arts Foundation offers youth a gateway to the arts, providing inspiration and tools to develop lifelong artistic passions, and is home of The McCrory Award in honor of former patron Helen McCrory. The award is given annually to support gifted disadvantaged young people who do not have access to the resources, training and finances to support them in their chosen medium. Damian and his children Manon and Gulliver presented the HvH Arts Scholarship Awards at the event. Watch video here:

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Categories CBE Charity Events FeedNHS Gallery Helen Honors Personal and Family Life Philanthropy

Damian Lewis Receives CBE at Investiture Ceremony

FeedNHS: Sharing Honor With Helen

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | December 14, 2022

Damian was honored with Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to drama and charity on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at Windsor Castle, which was bestowed upon him by King Charles III. His daughter Manon and son Gulliver attended their father’s ceremony, as well as Helen’s parents Iain and Anne. And did you notice Damian wore his purple socks? 🙂

The recognition was previously announced during the Queen’s Birthday Honours in anticipation of her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 and published in the official public record of The Gazette. Damian has quietly carried out philanthropic work for several charities over many years, some of it with the late Helen McCrory. Beginning in 2020, he and Helen helped raise over £1.2 million for the FeedNHS campaign, a coalition charity helping feed NHS staff and frontline workers during the CoVid-19 pandemic, which allowed over 40,000 meals a day to be served to 100 hospitals.

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. In addition to CureEB, he is an Ambassador and Patron for a number of organizations, including youth charities Sir HvH Arts Foundation for The McCrory Award and The Prince’s Trust.

View more photos in our Gallery here.

An Investiture is the very special day when someone who has been awarded an honour receives their award in person from a Member of the Royal Family. The investee visits a Royal residence with members of their family to receive their insignia.

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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 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 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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