Look To The Stars News: Elton John AIDS Foundation

Elton John AIDS Foundation Announces $3.2 Million In New Grants

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:05:00 +0000

Elton John and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) have announced over $3.2 million in new grants that will further its mission to assist the most marginalized populations vulnerable to HIV infection. These new awards brought EJAF’s final total grant-making commitments for calendar 2011 to a record $8,316,871, with disbursements totaling $7,006,871 last year.

  These grants represent EJAF’s continuing commitment to fund demographics and geographic regions that are seriously impacted by HIV/AIDS and under-served by traditional funders. Grant expenditures totaling $3,221,622 were awarded for 19 new and 29 renewal grants, including:

health services for Black women, one of the highest HIV-impacted populations in this country;

Attend Elton John's Oscar Viewing Party With Steven Tyler For Charity

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:30:00 +0000

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) is very pleased to announce that Steven Tyler, a generous Foundation supporter and an Event Chair for EJAF’s 20th annual Academy Awards Viewing Party, is working with EJAF to help make its 20th Oscar-night event especially successful.

Through an auction on Charitybuzz.org, Steven is inviting the highest bidder to be a guest at his table for the Party.

The winner of the auction will be a guest of Steven Tyler and Erin Brady, dining at their table for the February 26, 2012 event, which will be held at the newly redesigned West Hollywood Park in West Hollywood, CA. The Foundation’s 20th annual event will feature a cocktail reception, an incredible dinner prepared by celebrity chef Cat Cora and served during the Oscar telecast, an exciting live auction, and an after-show performance by Foster the People. Chopard, Neuro, and Wells Fargo are the Presenting Sponsors for the event, and American Airlines is the official airline partner for the Foundation.

Elton John To Host Annual Oscar Viewing Party For Charity

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) will celebrate its 20th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on February 26 at the newly re-designed West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish will host the gala event sponsored by Chopard, Neuro and Wells Fargo. This year celebrity chef Cat Cora will prepare a special menu to be served to guests seated to watch a live telecast of the 84th Academy Awards. Following dinner, Grammy nominated Foster the People will take the stage to perform.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party is the most highly visible and successful fund-raising event in Hollywood on Oscar night. Over the past 20 years, this annual event has raised millions of dollars thanks to the generosity of the Foundation’s supporters. The money raised is used to increase EJAF’s investments in its grant-making initiatives, which support HIV prevention and treatment programs, stigma reduction efforts, and direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially marginalized populations with special needs.

Foster The People To Play At Elton John's Oscar Viewing Party

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has announced that the 20th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish, will feature a special performance by the Grammy Nominated and Billboard chart-topping band, Foster the People.

Best known for their edgy smash single, “Pumped Up Kicks,” off their debut album “Torches” (Sony Music Entertainment), Foster the People is one of the hottest young indie bands in the country. The group will briefly take a break from their world tour just in time to perform at the EJAF Academy Awards Viewing Party to be held on February 26, 2012.

“We were thrilled when Sir Elton John asked us to play his Academy Awards party,” said Foster the People front-man Mark Foster. “His foundation has globally impacted the lives of millions of people suffering from HIV/AIDS and we’re honored to be involved in any way we can.”

Elton John To Publish Book About AIDS Epidemic

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Elton John is to publish a new book detailing his work overcoming the plague and the stigma of AIDS through his personal efforts and the creation of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised and donated nearly a quarter-billion dollars to fighting AIDS worldwide.

LOVE IS THE CURE will be the very personal story of Sir Elton’s life during the AIDS epidemic, including his agony at seeing friend after friend perish needlessly. Through his stories of close encounters with people like Ryan White, Freddie Mercury, and many others, he will convey the personal toll AIDS has taken on his life—and his infinite determination to stop its spread.

Sir Elton writes, “This is a disease that must be cured not by a miraculous vaccine, but by changing hearts and minds, and through a collective effort to break down social barriers and to build bridges of compassion. Why are we not doing more? This is a question I have thought deeply about, and wish to answer—and to help change—by writing this book.”

Elton John Charity Candles Raise Money For AIDS Foundation

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:45:00 +0000

NEST Fragrances, the leading luxury home fragrance manufacturer, has announced the introduction of Sir Elton John’s Holiday to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation, one of the world’s leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS organizations supporting innovative HIV prevention programs. The Sir Elton John’s Holiday charitable candle and boxed votive set will debut at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and specialty stores nationwide beginning in October.

“Elton John loves candles…he is a true home fragrance aficionado,” said Laura Slatkin, founder and CEO of NEST Fragrances. “When I launched my first company with my husband in 1992, Elton quickly became a Slatkin & Co. devotee. One day, we closed our shop so Elton could investigate and enjoy our fragrances in privacy; ever since that day, we have become good friends. We later came up with the idea of combining Elton’s passion for candles and his dedication to helping those affected by AIDS, and we began a decade-long plus tradition of launching home fragrance collections to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation.”

Stars Come Out For Elton John's Celebrity Charity Winter Ball

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Elton John hosted another highly successful Grey Goose Winter Ball in the heart of Battersea Park in London on Saturday night.

This year’s Winter Ball – which once again benefitted the Elton John AIDS Foundation – featured the first ever elBulli experience on UK soil. elBulli has been ranked the world’s number one restaurant a record five times. Its chefs are pioneers in a new way of experiencing taste, stripping food back to a molecular level, isolating components and then rebuilding to their own design or vision.

Among the guests who were scheduled to attend included Sir Elton’s partner, David Furnish, along with Jonathan Saunders, Marc Quinn, Plan B, Graham Norton, Kelly Rowland, Joe Jonas, David Walliams, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michelle Dockery, Tali Lennox, Nicole Scherzinger, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Jaime Winstone, Giles Deacon, Dinos Chapman, Marcus Wareing, Johnny Vaughan, Lulu, Alfie Boe, Ozwald Boateng, Nick Candy and Holly Valance.

Anderson Cooper To Host Elton John's Enduring Vision For Charity

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:45:00 +0000

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) will present its 10th annual An Enduring Vision benefit event at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City next week.

The October 26 event will see Anderson Cooper return as host, and there will be a performance by Smokey Robinson.

This year’s Enduring Vision Awards will be presented to to EJAF benefactors Bob and Tamar Manoukian, EJAF Advisory Board member Greg Gorman, and corporate philanthropic leader John Demsey, Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies and Chairman of the M·A·C AIDS Fund.  

Art Auction To Benefit Elton John AIDS Foundation

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:39:00 +0000

Works by artists such as Tracey Emin, Jeff Koons and Keith Haring will go under the hammer for Elton John’s AIDS charity in November.

Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Day Sale will take place on 10 November 2011 in New York, with proceeds benefitting the initiatives of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The auction is part of a series of art-related events that will help mark the 20th year of the organization in 2012.

“All of us at EJAF are tremendously grateful to Sotheby’s and to all of the amazing artists who have so generously contributed truly special pieces to the charity lots for this auction,” said Sir Elton John. “I am inspired by their great generosity as we kick-off our fund-raising efforts for the 20th year of the Foundation’s work.”

George Michael To Honor Elizabeth Taylor At Charity Concert

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:00:00 +0000

George Michael is organizing a charity concert in London to raise money for the Elizabeth Taylor Memorial Fund, an initiative of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“I have seen how HIV can affect people lives, how it can destroy families and communities,” said George, who had to cancel an appearance at Alicia Keys’ charity Black Ball in London earlier this month due to illness. "The way that the Elton John AIDS Foundation gets help to the people around the world who need it most – often the most marginalized communities – really spurred me on to do something.

“I also really wanted to honor the inspiring efforts that Elizabeth Taylor made – especially in the early years of the epidemic – and to mark her passing this year I am delighted to announce that the Elton John AIDS Foundation will use all the proceeds from this show to create and manage a new fund in her memory – The Elizabeth Taylor Memorial Fund.”

Elton John To Host Annual Celebrity Charity Ball Next Week

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Sir Elton John will once again host his annual White Tie and Tiara Ball at his home in the UK next week to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Thirty years ago this month, a mysterious new illness that seemed to attack the body’s immune system was first diagnosed in the United States. Buoyed by denial, stigma and lack of understanding, HIV spread across the world infecting 60 million people and taking the lives of 30million.

Janet Jackson To Host Celebrity Charity Life Ball

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Janet Jackson will host this year’s amfAR Life Ball in Vienna.

Life Ball is the world’s most extravagant HIV and AIDS benefit held annually in the beautiful historical city of Vienna, Austria. Life Ball combines the great Viennese Ball tradition with glamorous, outlandish performances and inspirational speeches. Life Ball has always provided an opportunity to speak out against ignorance and prejudice and celebrate diversity. Organized by AIDS LIFE, Life Ball has raised more than $20 million during the past 18 years for HIV/AIDS projects worldwide through partnerships with amfAR, the William J. Clinton Foundation, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and UNAIDS. Through the Life Ball, AIDS LIFE has been a major supporter of amfAR’s TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV/AIDS Initiative.

Since accepting a volunteer position with amfAR, Janet Jackson has travelled internationally on behalf of the foundation. At each of her numerous public appearances, she has worked tirelessly to heighten awareness of HIV/AIDS as a threat to social and economic stability and to underscore the urgent need for continued AIDS research.

Elton John Announces Annual Celebrity Charity Oscar Viewing Party

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:30:00 +0000

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) announced today that the 19th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish will take place on Sunday, February 27, at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

Sir Elton stated, “I am tremendously excited to announce that Best New Artist Grammy nominee Florence + The Machine has accepted my personal invitation to perform for guests attending this year’s gala event.”

Elton John To Host Celebrity Charity Ball In June

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:00:00 +0000

In July 1999, Sir Elton John and David Furnish opened the doors of their Old Windsor home for the first White Tie & Tiara Ball, and the tradition will continue in 2011 on June 23..

Set amongst 37 acres of rolling English countryside next to Windsor castle, the White Tie & Tiara Ball is a spectacular evening, raising money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Since then, it has become an annual event hosted by Elton and David and one of the premier fundraising events of the UK.

Sir Elton John Edits Newspaper For World AIDS Day

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Elton John has used the image of a rose to grace the cover of the December 1 issue of Britain’s The Independent to symbolize the fight against AIDS.

The singer is guest editor of the daily paper for World AIDS Day.

“This is a day of firsts for me,” he writes. "It’s the first time I’ve had the privilege of editing a newspaper… it’s the first time I’ve switched on a computer, and it’s definitely the first time I’ve been able to say ‘hold the front page’ and people listened.

Alan Carr To Host Elton John Charity Rooftop Party

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:00:00 +0000

British comedian Alan Carr is to host a special charity event to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation in London later this month.

Revival@The Roof Gardens will take place at 99 Kensington High Street on Sunday, November 28. The Chatty Man himself, Alan Carr, will host this much anticipated afternoon of fun and entertainment featuring a four-course lunch, Grey Goose cocktails on arrival, a charity auction, a fabulous goodie bag and some very special guests and entertainers including the fabulous Globe Girls and the very sexy Pearls & Pecs boys – all fundraising to fight against HIV/AIDS with Elton John’s charity.

Elton John To Edit Newspaper For Charity

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Elton John will step into slightly different shoes on World AIDS Day, December 1, when he guest-edits UK newspaper The Independent.

All proceeds from the paper that day will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“I was thrilled to be invited to guest edit The Independent,” said Sir Elton. “I’m really looking forward to spending a day in the editor’s chair, and I’m pleased to get the chance to put the subject of Aids at the top of the editorial agenda.”

Elton John's Annual Smash Hits Tennis For Charity

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Tennis legend Billie Jean King and music superstar Sir Elton John are teaming up for their annual charity event — the 18th annual WTT Smash Hits presented by GEICO on November 15, 2010 at the Bender Arena at American University in Washington, D.C.

This star studded event will raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local Washington, D.C. Area AIDS charities.

Elton John Hosts Celebrity Charity Winter Ball

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Elton John and David Furnish hosted a massive group of celebrities in London on October 30 for his annual charity Winter Ball.

Among those who attended were Stephen Fry, Elizabeth Hurley, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Erin O’Connor, Graham Norton and many others.

For one night only the site of the new American Embassy was transformed into a dazzling French boudoir. Guests sipped bespoke Grey Goose cocktails in surroundings designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, and were entertained by Sir Elton, who stepped in for the ill Lily Allen.

Elton John To Host Celebrity Charity Winter Ball

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Elton John will hold his annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Winter Ball on October 30 in London.

Last year’s unforgettable night of style and character featured a star studded collection of celebrity and social guests, including Elizabeth Hurley and her husband Arun Nayar, Sam Taylor-Wood, Tracey Emin, Kevin Spacey, The Saturdays and many others.

White Ties And Tiaras Dominate Elton John's Charity Ball

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Over 700 guests – including Peter André, David Walliams, Lara Stone, Lily Cole and Paloma Faith – attended Elton John’s annual White Tie and Tiara Charity Ball last week.

Held at Sir Elton’s home in Windsor, guests were treated to a performance by Lady Gaga, as well as an auction that included an Audi car hand-painted by Damien Hirst. The car raised £350,000, which contributed to the massive £5.6 million raised during the entire evening.

Money raised will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Other guests spotted at the event included Elizabeth Hurley and Shirley Bassey.

Simon Cowell Awarded For Charity Work

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Simon Cowell was honored with Variety – The Children’s Charity’s prestigious Humanitarian Award at the Variety World Conference at the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa on May 23.

Since 1938, Variety International’s Humanitarian Award has annually been awarded to a person who has shown incredible dedication in the support of humankind.

Variety International recognize Simon Cowell has utilized his position in the entertainment industry, in business and his international profile as a fundraising tool to support many charities and individuals around the world and has helped transform many lives of those in need.

Elton John And Annie Lennox Open Community Center In South Africa

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Elton John and Annie Lennox were in Cape Town for a special charity gala last week, but they also took the time to open a new community center in Vrygrond, about 30kms outside the city.

The Vrygrond Community Centre (VCC) is a joint venture between the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Annie Lennox’s SING Campaign, and the Vrygrond Community Development Trust. It will provide vital services for adults and children living locally, up to 13% of whom are already infected with HIV.

The VCC will be owned and run by the local community as a hub of support, treatment and care for people affected by HIV/AIDS. It will run skills training and job creation; vegetable gardening for the users of the centre; income generation and marketing support for women; provide a social worker with a team of community care workers to address social problems and gain access to social grants; and “Fit for Life, Fit for Work” life and work skills training and job placement programme for unemployed young people.

Elton John Awards Charity Grant In Africa

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Sir Elton John has granted a £984,000 award to mothers2mothers (m2m) to be used to help prevent hundreds of thousands of babies across Africa from contracting the HIV through mother-to child transmission and assist mothers in staying healthy to care for their children.

The award, a multi-year grant from the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), will enable m2m to work to develop effective programs to support clinical efforts preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, across sub-Saharan Africa and develop a gold standard for delivering and monitoring these programs.

Elton John And Annie Lennox To Attend Charity Gala In South Africa

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish, along with Annie Lennox, will be at a special charity gala and dinner in Cape Town next Tuesday, March 23.

One & Only Cape Town will raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and is supported by Lennox’s SING Campaign.

With the largest number of people living with HIV in the world, South Africa is the EJAF’s highest priority in its international funding.