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Natalie Pray: St. George’s Society Belle of the English Ball

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Natalie-Pray-English-Ball-FIBy Anne W. Semmes
Sentinel Features Reporter

Greenwich’s Natalie Pray is well known in town for her support of the English Speaking Union and its Greenwich branch, but she is also a stalwart supporter of the St. George’s Society, a British-founded nonprofit. “Coming from Australia as a Commonwealth country,” she noted, “this charity has special appeal.”

Each year, the St. George’s Society holds its annual “English Ball”—this year on April 27 at the Mandarin Oriental in Manhattan. “It’s white tie and medals and long gowns and very Downton Abbey,” said Pray, who has chaired the ball for seven previous years.

Pray was there wearing her medal—the 2013 Order of Saint George—awarded for her  having raised over $3 million for the Society’s Capital Campaign she chaired from 2007-2010.

Pray is also the first and only female to have served as president of the Society (2005-2006) since its founding in 1770. Pray has been a Society member since 1994.

“The Society was founded by Englishmen in New York to help their countrymen in need,” said Pray. “It grew to become an established charitable organization.”

She added, “Helping the Society fulfill its mission is meaningful for me, as it assists the elderly in need and provides scholarships to students of British and Commonwealth origin, helping them to complete studies and launch their careers.”

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