The Comité Tricolore is proud to create the VICTOR OBADIA HUMANITARIAN TROPHY in memory of our first President. For more than forty years, Victor Obadia worked tirelessly to introduce French culture, co-found numerous non-profit organizations to build relationships in the French and American communities, and raise funds for those in need in the Washington, DC area.
In order to carry on Victor’s legacy, the Comité Tricolore is proud to introduce the first Victor Obadia Humanitarian Trophy in recognition of our friend Victor who dedicated his life strengthening ties in the French-American community. This trophy will be presented to an outstanding individual to honor their achievements, benevolent actions and principles of generosity and compassion.
The Trophy
The Victor Obadia Humanitarian Trophy will be presented by the President of the Comité Tricolore to the selected laureate at an Award Ceremony at the French Embassy in Washington, DC, in October 2021. The laureate will also be recognized in an official announcement that will appear in the Comité Tricolore’s newsletter. In addition to recognizing this outstanding individual, the Comité Tricolore hopes this award will encourage others to serve their community.
Victor Obadia was the first importer of coffee, espresso machines and French fine goods in the DC area. The unique design of the trophy pays homage to Victor Obadia’s career and incorporates his initials: the shape of the cup is a V and the handle is an O. Sharing a cup of coffee is a symbol of communality. (Design: J-P Krukowicz; manufactured by LR-Paris)
We are pleased to announce that the Laureate of the Victor Obadia Humanitarian Trophy is
Mrs Anne-Stein-Schneider
Save the Date for the 2022 Award Ceremony and Cocktail at the French Embassy:
Monday, December 12, 2022 at 6PM
By invitation only. Please let us know if you wish to receive an invitation.
Anne Stein-Schneider
Anne Stein-Schneider was born and raised in France; she arrived in the United States in 1962. She has served the French community in Washington, DC with her whole heart and enthusiastically for the past 60 years. As the wife of Pastor Herbert Stein-Schneider, she helped their fellow compatriots and Francophiles members of the French Protestant Church until Herbert’s death in 1990. She then continued volunteering for the French Protestant Church, the Wednesday lunches, Le Cercle Français, The Club de l’Amitié France-Internationale, Vielles Maisons Françaises, Washington Accueil Association and has been part of the Board of the French Protestant Church for the past 20+ years.
Anne received in 2010 from France the decoration of “Chevalier de l’ordre national du Mérite” (Herbert also received the “Chevalier de l’ordre national du Mérite” in 1987).
Anne Stein-Schneider’s Biography "A life of Giving":
- Anne Stein-Schneider
We thank LR-Paris for donating the Trophy, Stephanie Obadia from Avid Core and Michel Laudier from Fairfax Realty for sponsoring the Ceremony
The Eligibility Requirements
The applicant must be:
• A French humanitarian living in the DC, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania region whose benevolent actions serve either his/her local community OR a humanitarian of any nationality supporting the French or French-American community
• A reliable, and discreet individual acting with humility
• An individual recognized by her/his peers for her/his generosity and ethics.
NB: Members of the Comité Tricolore or their immediate family are not eligible for nomination.
The Nomination Process
If you know of an individual who meets the following criteria, we invite you to submit an application by August 30, 2022.
The call for nominations is now open.
The application can be completed online (preferred): Application form 2022
or downloaded here (WORD document):
Completed forms should be submitted on line or sent via email to the President of the Comité at: president@comite-tricolore.org by August 30, 2022.
This PDF document includes the Trophy definition and and the application form:
The Evaluation Process
All applications will be evaluated by the Comité Tricolore’s Victor Obadia Trophy Subcommittee. This subcommittee will make a recommendation to all members of the Comité Tricolore who will vote to determine the year’s laureate of the Victor Obadia Trophy.
Please help us share this wonderful opportunity with friends and acquaintances who may know anyone who would meet our criteria. If you have any questions, please contact president@comite-tricolore.org.
The first Award Ceremony took place on Nov 2, 2021
Marie-Yasmine Auclert is the Victor Obadia Humanitarian Trophy laureate for 2021.
Marie, a French citizen, is rewarded for her voluntary work for three different organizations. She is co-leader of GRE (Groupe Reflexion Ecoute), a support group for French and francophone expats in the DC area and she is co-leader of the Washington Accueil Association’s Charity Club, which raises money for various causes and organizes food and clothes drives. She is a volunteer local representative for Mayan Hands, a nonprofit dedicated to providing economic and educational opportunities to Mayan women and girls in Guatemala.
Marie’s biography:
The 2021 Victor Obadia Humanitarian Trophy was awarded to Marie-Yasmine Auclert by the president of the Comité Tricolore at the French Embassy on November 2, 2021. Opening remarks by M. François Penguilly, Consul -General of France.
Click here to see the Photo-album of this event
VOHT Subcommittee members: Michel LAUDIER (Head), Eve CHAUCHARD, Etienne DAILLY, Stéphanie MACE-OBADIA, Yahne MIORINI
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