Le Prix
Charbonnier

Federation of Alliances Françaises USA’s most prestigious award, was created in 1991 to recognize M. Daniel Charbonnier of San Francisco, a past President of the Federation of AF USA, who exemplified all of the best qualities of this organization.

The purpose of the Prix Charbonnier, to be given from time to time as appropriate at the Federation’s Annual Meeting and Convention, is to recognize persons of national stature and reputation whose vocation or avocation has promoted French language and culture in a manner consistent with the goals and purpose of the Federation.

The recipient need not be a member of an Alliance Française. A committee established by the Board of Directors of the Federation nominates the candidate for the Prix Charbonnier. In its early years, from 1991-1995, the prize was called le Prix de la Fédération. Since 1995, it’s been called le Prix Charbonnier, in honor of Daniel Charbonnier.

2025 Prix Charbonnier Award Recipient:

To be announced on October 24, 2025 during the Prix Charbonnier luncheon
at the Miami Convention

Past Prix Charbonnier Recipients

2024 (Seattle)

Mark Pigott
Executive Chairman of PACCAR Inc.

2023 (Atlanta)

Carolyn Cook
Founder and first artistic director of Théâtre du Rêve

2022 (Detroit)

Alan Darr 
Senior Curator at the at the Detroit Institute of Arts

2021 (Online)

Martin Walker
Journalist and novelist

2020 (Online)

Leonard Slatkin
Conductor, composer and author

2019 (Los Angeles)

François Truffart & Anouchka van Riel
COLCOA French Film Festival

2018 (Kansas City)

Dr. Matthew Naylor
President & CEO National WWI Museum and Memorial

2017 (New Orleans)

Mitch Landrieu
Mayor of New Orleans

2016 (Minneapolis)

Hubert Joly
Chairman & CEO of Best Buy

2015 (San Francisco)

Jacques Pépin
Chef & Cookbook Author

2014 (Washington, D.C.)

Stephen Breyer
Associate Justice

2013 (Chicago)

Patricia Wells
Cookbook Author

2012 (Providence)

David McCullough
Author

2011 (Louisville)

Patrice Courtaban
Chief Operating Officer TV5MONDE USA

2010 (New Orleans)

Comte Gilbert de Pusy de La Fayette

2009 (Chicago)

Remi (Ratatouille) - Brad Bird, Pixar Pictures

2008 (Naples)

Louis Kyle
France Today & France-Amérique

2007 (Milwaukee)

Jane Robert
Past President Federation of Alliances Françaises

2006 (St. Louis)

Ambassador Jean-David Levitte
French Ambassador to the United States

2005 (San Francisco)

M. Howard Leach
American Ambassador to France (2001-2005)

2004 (Washington, D.C.)

M. Pierre Cardin
Groupe Pierre Cardin

2003 (Boston)

M. André Cointreau · Président Le Cordon Bleu

2003 (Boston)

Mme Hedwige Cointreau de Bouteville
President of Pierre Deux

2002 (Paris)

Mr. John H. F. Haskell, Jr.
President of French Institute/Alliance Française of New York

2001 (Albuquerque)

M. Jean-Louis Turlin
President of French Press · France Amérique

Mme Anne Prah-Perochon
Editor in Chief of French Press · France Today

Mme Marie Galanti
Directrice de la Publication · French Press · Journal Français

1999 (Washington, D.C.)

Mr. David M. Thoms
Past President of the Federation & French Community Philanthropist

1998 (Atlanta)

M. Pierre Howard
French Cultural Promotion

1996 (Miami)

Mr. Malcolm Wiseheart
French Cultural Philanthropist

1995

Mrs. Eleanor Reynolds Morse
Past President of the Federation
Founder, Salvador Dali Art Museum

1992 (Chicago)

Mr. John H. Bryan
President, Sara Lee Inc.

1992 (Chicago)

Mrs. Eleanor Wood-Prince
French Community Philanthropist

1991 (Washington, D.C.)

Mrs. Julia Child
International Chef & Cookbook Author