25 Years of Friends of Fondation de France in New York
On September 10, more than 130 guests were invited at Villa Albertine in New York to celebrate 25 Years of French-American philanthropy and the Légion d’Honneur ceremony of Victoria B. Bjorklund, Secretary of Friends of Fondation de France.
Since its creation, Friends of Fondation de France has enabled donors residing in the United States to support any French association or project of general interest within the US tax framework.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, a special event was organized at Villa Albertine , where Friends of Fondation de France has its offices. It brought together donors, representatives of global philanthropic institutions such as AFP and CAF America , leading New York organizations such as Robin Hood , and international NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières USA .
Consul General of France, Cédric Fouriscot, inaugurated the evening highlighting the importance of transatlantic bonds in shaping French-American philanthropy. He then praised the exemplary work of Victoria B. Bjorklund, founding board member and Secretary of Friends of Fondation de France, as she was presented with the insignia of Knight in the Order of the Légion of Honor.
Victoria Bjorklund receiving the insignia of Knight in the Order of the Legion of Honor.
Axelle Davezac, President of the board of Friends of Fondation de France and CEO of Fondation de France, also spoke of “the remarkable commitment of Victoria B. Bjorklund, who has helped build lasting bridges between France and the United States.”
Referring to the 300 projects already supported by Friends of Fondation de France in the areas of health, culture, education, solidarity, and emergencies, she also noted that "in a world undergoing upheaval and sudden change, philanthropy reminds us that the historic bond of friendship between France and the United States is also reflected in shared commitments and solidarity. For 25 years, Friends of Fondation de France has been making this transatlantic generosity possible."
During a panel moderated by Domitille Marchal-Lemoine, Executive Director of Friends of Fondation de France, several speakers, including Thomas Moore (American Friends of the Louvre ), Thierry Chaunu (Le Souvenir Français ), Jean-Christian Agid (Paris Brain Institute America , American Friends of Blérancourt ), and Ophélie Bourhis (Agence Française de Développement ) also highlighted the many dimensions of French-American generosity, from cultural heritage to scientific collaboration.
A round table discussion moderated by Domitille Marchal-Lemoine.
Iconic projects, such as the restoration of the Hermione, the replica of the frigate that carried Lafayette across the Atlantic to announce French support for the American Revolution, have served as reminders of this long tradition of partnership.
Finally, Mohamed Bouabdallah, Cultural Counselor of France in the United States and Director of Villa Albertine, discussed the role of cultural and educational exchange in sustaining deep ties between France and the United States, citing the Lafayette Scholarships , an inaugural program launching on July 4, 2026, to enable American students to study French in France.