New York City - At the Princess Grace Foundation-USA fundraiser all came full circle on Monday evening, May 4, both symbolically and generational, as celebrated talk-show host Dick Cavett moderated an in-depth conversation between Academy Award winning veteran actress Estelle Parsons and up-and-coming 2007 Princess Grace Acting Award recipient Toccara Cash at America's most venerated theatrical salon, The Players Club.

Jon Turk and Hon. John F. Lehman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Princess Grace Foundation.

This year's Manhattan fund raiser was entitled, "The Long And Winding Road: From Emerging To Established Artist." According to Princess Grace's son, Prince Albert II of Monaco, "The Foundation began with no other mission than the one set forth by my mother - to assist emerging artists in the three fields close to her heart: theater, dance and film."

Ms. Parsons extolled to me the importance of the foundation's work, "I think it is terribly important when you are starting out to get some affirmation that you are doing the right thing. It is such a difficult profession, you are rejected all the the time, all the time, all the time " She went on to say, "I am a great supporter of anything that helps people when they get started to get started." Coincidently, Parsons is presently starring on Broadway in "August: Osage County" whose Tony Award winning director, Anna Shapiro, is a past recipient of the Princess Grace Award. Parsons will begin a 44 week national tour of the production in July.

When I asked Ms. Cash what the 2007 award meant to her, she responded, "It meant the world to me and when I say that I don't mean it in a cliched way. Because had it not been for the Princess Grace Awards, I wouldn't have known for sure that I had the potential that I've always seen in me, but it let me know that other people see it too." Cash is about to have her New York City debut, starring in the Off-Off Broadway production of Joan Baker's "Bonfire Night."

In the "gentleman's club" founded by the likes of Edwin Booth, Mark Twain and William Tecumseh Sherman, the actresses eloquently, and often humorously, responded to Cavett's insightful questioning, giving the audience a rare glimpse of both the waking and wanning perspectives of two extremely gifted artists. Complimented by Cavett's own very witty interjections, Cash and Parsons elaborated on their personal artistic motivations, revelations, preparations and perspectives regarding their craft. Brilliantly irreverent and blatantly honest, Parsons' repartee with Cavett frequently brought the event's attendees, and Cavett himself, to side-splitting laughter. Charming and articulate, Cash held her own and was genuinely thrilled and humbled to be sharing the stage with the two show business veterans.

PGF-USA Executive Director Toby Boshak with event hosts Robert and Marie-Claire Gladstone.

When I asked Mr. Cavett why he was lending his support, the comic timing was purely Pavlovian, "The money was right. I was trying to make Estelle laugh with that, but she is politely ignoring it." In response, Parsons gave Cavett a nose to ear stare, as if trying to look inside his head. "Is she going to keep looking at me like that? When someone you are in awe of has their nose at your ear..." With Parsons, "Oh, stop it " Cavett responded in all seriousness, "Not many things are so obviously a good thing to do as this thing is. Well worthwhile - this is a splendid enterprise." Cavett's blog, "Talk Show," currently appears on the New York Times website.

Prior to entering the dining room converted theater for the Parsons/Cash/Cavett conversation, the event started with a standing room only cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception in the connected lounges of The Players that continued after the performance. Although it is indeed an active, membership-only social club (co-gender since 1989), The Players serves as an awe-inspiring shrine to the icons of American theatre and film. Founded in 1888 by actor Edwin Booth and friends, its walls and library are covered and filled with the art, literature and memorabilia that reflects the theatrical pedigree of its revered members, past and present.

This perfect venue was chosen by event underwriters Marie-Claire and Robert Gladstone of Madison Equities: Developers of 57 Irving Place, who were actually married at The Players. Marie-Claire lived in Monaco for 10 years and wanted to continue her work with PGF in the U.S. "Robert stole me away from Monaco and we were married here at The Players Club. We love this club and the Princess Grace Foundation, so we thought to combine the two together because they both have to do with theatre, actors and actresses, and it was the perfect time to do so." Gladstone stated, "It is a great organization [PGF-USA] for the city with many of the recipients being native New Yorkers, we think it is a great charity to hang our hat on, a charity we will be involved with for a very long time." Other sponsors of the event included Chelsea Modern, Manhattan Beer Distributors and Citadelle Gin.

SRO cocktail reception at The Players for the Princess Grace Foundation.

All charities, including PGF-USA, are feeling the effects of the troubled economy. According to Board Chairman, the Honorable John F. Lehman, "It is such a difficult economy and it really hits these artistic individuals hardest of all. We are working very hard not to reduce the number and size of these financial awards and not cut back on the effort made to publicize them, to see that these young kids get the recognition they deserve, which is even more valuable than the financial help. It has made a big difference in enriching our cultural life in this country." Along with the aforementioned Shapiro, PGF-USA award winners include, among others, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tony Kushner, "Sponge Bob" creator Stephen Hillenburg, American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Gillian Murphy, filmmaker Eric Simonson and film directors Eric Darnell and Greg Mottola.

Beyond the financial support and recognition that PDF-USA affords the 500 American recipients they have chosen over the past 27 years, the Princess Grace Awards creates a family of artists, as the foundation endeavors to keep the artists connected with each other. "We have seen a number of collaborations between our artists," explained Executive Director Toby E. Boschak. "They form these friendships, they respect each other as artists."

As American actress Grace Kelly lived the dream of becoming a Princess, so too does the charity founded in her name make dreams come true for young, emerging American artists. Artists longing to feel the crown of artistic self-realization and the coronation of artistic affirmation. The Princess Grace Foundation-USA does indeed make these dreams come true and, in turn, enriches the artistic kingdom for all of us.

To learn more about the Princess Grace Foundation-USA visit their website at www.pgfusa.com.