Oprah and Kidnapping Victim Jaycee Dugard Received Honors at DVF Awards

Photo credit: Linda Matlow/PIXINTL/WENN At the 3rd Annual Diane von Furstenberg Awards on Friday, March 9, Oprah Winfrey and kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard were two women who "displayed leadership, strength, and courage in their commitment to their causes". Oprah took the stage first to receive Lifetime Leadership award, followed by Jaycee who got the Inspiration award.

Oprah could not hide her excitement of meeting Jaycee who was abducted at the age of 11 and held for 18 years. "I wanted to have the opportunity to meet her and to tell her how much her story and her life meant to me," she said in her acceptance speech. "I said to Diane, 'I know Diane Sawyer should be the one to introduce her, but would you please let me do it'."

"Jaycee Dugard, I am so proud of you, your courage, your ability to press onward toward the future and toward a more victorious life for yourself and for using your courage your strength and your power to show the world that you care," Oprah continued before Jaycee went up the stage.

"My name is Jaycee Dugard, and I want to say that because for a long time I wasn't able to say my name and so it feels good," Jaycee said. "I am truly honored to be here tonight with these amazing women who have done and been through so much more than me." She got emotional when thanking her mother for the undying support and faith. "I have to say I felt her hope for many years and it gave me the strength to go on and live," she said.

Enlightening the crowd in New York of her JAYC Foundation, Jaycee closed her speech with "My hope is to be remembered for what I do, not to what happened to me."