Dear Friends & Guests,
The Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund works tirelessly to provide life-saving assistance, medical care, and food to malnourished and orphaned children around the world. Having known Audrey Hepburn personally during our childhood years, I wrote the short story “Audrey” to express my gratitude for her place in my family’s life and to help raise critical funds for this cause.
Recently, I reconnected with a piece of my family’s history in Nice, France. A dear Dutch friend had preserved a small, rare photograph of Audrey for me over the decades.
The Origin: Captured in 1946 by a Dutch photographer in Arnhem, Netherlands, this image likely shows Audrey around age 16 during her studies at the Arnhem Conservatory, where she took formal dancing lessons.
The Family Link: My friend had also met Audrey in Amsterdam in 1947, when Audrey moved there with her mother ("Aunt Ella," as I called her). Ella's sister, Geraldine, frequently helped my friend’s father care for her disabled younger sister, and Ella would often bring young Audrey along.
The Authentication: On the back of the original print is handwriting from my aunt, who had received the photograph directly from Audrey’s mother to hold for me. Because of its private journey, this photograph remains exceptionally rare and absent from standard Audrey Hepburn photographic biographies.
Restoration: The print suffered cracking over time, but it was lovingly restored by Kendal Brenneman (a dedicated member of the Audrey Hepburn Fan Club) and further refined through graphic restoration.
Having first met Audrey during World War II when she was just 13 years old, watching her grow from a young student in wartime Netherlands into an international style icon and global humanitarian was extraordinary.
My short story “Audrey” bridges these two distinct worlds—the quiet personal memories of youth and the enduring legacy of a beloved Hollywood legend.
All net proceeds from my short story directly support children in critical need. Please
Read the Story: Purchase the short story “Audrey” on Amazon Kindle for $0.99.
Audrey left behind a rare legacy of elegance, compassion, and generosity. With your help, that light will continue to shine on children who need it most.
Warm regards,
