Taylor Swift Honored by the Kennedy Family in NYC—and It's Not Awkward at All!

Singer gets humanitarian award from foundation founded by Conor Kennedy's dad, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at the Ripple of Hope Gala

By Natalie Finn Dec 04, 2012 5:05 AMTags
Taylor Swift Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

It's not every day you get a humanitarian award from your ex-boyfriend's dad.

Taylor Swift, gleaming in a gold Oscar de la Renta dress, was presented with the Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights at a gala Monday night in New York City.

While Taylor's ex, 18-year-old Conor Kennedy, was not in attendance, his father, the foundation's namesake, was there along with a number of other members of the Kennedy dynasty, including RFK Jr.'s sister Rory Kennedy and Ted Kennedy Jr.

Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria, Melanie Griffith and Antonio Sabato Jr. and RFK Jr.'s current flame, Cheryl Hines, were among the guests.

Taylor had good pal Dianna Agron by her side at the Mariott Marquis tonight. It probably would've been kinda swell to have a new man by her side, but new rumored love interest and great guy to go to the zoo withHarry Styles, was otherwise engaged at the One Direction concert at Madison Square Garden.

"Thank you Kerry for a great night benefitting @rfkcenter And thank you Taylor Swift," Baldwin tweeted after the gala, also referring to the center's president, Kerry Kennedy.

The Ripple of Hope Award goes to leaders in activism, business and entertainment who demonstrate a commitment to social change.

In addition to being honored, Taylor also provided entertainment, singing "Starlight," a song on her Red album about family matriarch Ethel Kennedy.