His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa was presented by the United Nations with an award in light of worldwide Live to Love activities

On 19th September 2010, His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, founder of Live To Love, a new world-wide charity specializing in building the world’s most advanced eco-friendly schools and teaching young women leadership skills, received the United Nations' Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Award for those efforts.

His Holiness giving the United Nations' MDG Awards invocation

At a star-studded event headlined by American actress Christie Brinkley, Ghanian-American hip-hop artist, Blitz the Ambassador American saxophonist, Dave Koz and joined by heads of state and leading dignitaries gathered to honor governments and individuals making substantial contributions toward fulfilling the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa was feted for Live To Love’s efforts to “create compassion into action.”

His Holiness with Christie Brinkley

His Holiness with Christie Brinkley

The annual MDG Awards provide a platform to raise awareness about the critical work of the United Nations and honor and celebrate the exceptional work of select national governments and individuals contributing to the achievement of the MDGs around the world.

“I am deeply honored by this award,” His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa said. “I am always very happy and thrilled to see young people doing positive things together. Our Druk White Lotus School in the Himalayas – the most eco friendly school in Asia -- is an amazing example of this. The Live To Love programs that the United Nations has recognized give me great hope for tomorrow.”

On 10th October 2010, as a joint effort among Commonwealth Games, Live to Love and the Drukpa Lineage to promote Green Initiatives in the Himalayas, an attempt to break the Guinness World Records for most trees planted simultaneously will be taking place near Hemis Monastery. (View photos of the Tree Planting Kick-Off Ceremony that took place on 12th September 2010)

To view photos of the above event and His Holiness's recent trip to the United States, please visit the following links:

• His Holiness Honored at the United Nations Awards Ceremony (MDG)
• His Holiness visited the Young Women's Leadership Network school in Astoria, New York
• A Cocktail Reception hosted by Live to Love Foundation (USA) at The Asia Society (NY) to celebrate His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa's recent honor at the United Nations MDG Awards