26 September 2003, Indianapolis, Indiana

13 Eyewitness News (NBC)

European royalty in town to raise money for kids

Julia Moffitt/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis, Sept. 26 - Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia and Montenegro greeted reporters Friday at a luncheon at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis.

The pair are in Indianapolis seeking financial help for Serbia, a country just barely larger than the entire state of Indiana.

Prince Alexander told the media, "The conditions in my country are not good and there's a lot of poverty, communist past, many sanctions and bombings."

Indianapolis Philanthropist Christel DeHaan is reaching out to help with a pilot Christel House program. It's helping 100 children, mostly from refugee camps in Serbia.

The prince calls it "an absolute dream that came true and I know the project is moving head nicely."

Many things in the European country are far behind those of other countries.

Crown Princess Katherine is the official coordinator for the health of Serbia. "The hospitals in our country have not had new equipment for many years. If new equipment does come, it could be the first new piece in 20 years."

And the prince and princess are hoping that with Hoosiers' help they will rebuild their troubled land.

The Crown Prince and Princess are the guest of honor at Friday night's Evening of Angels gala at the Scottish Rite. All of the money raised goes to help the children of the Christel House