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NEW YORK - Last night, The Elizabeth
Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) hosted
its 3rd Annual New York Dinner at the
legendary Rainbow Room at Rockefeller
Center. EGOT-winning actress and
television personality Whoopi
Goldberg presented Academy Award,
Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress
Rosie Perez with The Elizabeth
Taylor Legacy Award, while comedian
and actor Jeff Ross presented
producer and longtime HIV/AIDS advocate
Gary Dell’Abate with The
Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS
Award. The evening, generously
supported by Presenting Sponsor
Gilead Sciences, Inc., was hosted by
renowned journalist Don Lemon and
featured a showstopping performance by
The Head and The Heart, with
guest performer, Marc Roberge.
“I didn’t get here alone. There are so
many wonderful fighters in the fight
that should be up here too, so I am very
humbled by this award,” said Perez. She
later continued, “I wanted to do
something. I was scared, I was hurt, I
was angry and it seemed like nobody
cared. The fear and anger turned into a
strong conviction in my heart and I
began to attend marches not really
knowing what I was doing, but at least I
could yell pretty loud and I had
Elizabeth Taylor as my beacon.”
“There’s no better heart than Rosie
Perez – there just isn’t. And I’ve seen
what she does for other people when
people aren’t looking,” said Goldberg.
“Her activism began in 1991 and she
became a fearless and outspoken advocate
for people living with HIV and AIDS.
She’s been on the front lines raising
awareness, fighting for funding and
demanding action.”
While on stage accepting his award,
Dell’Abate shared, “I lost my brother to
AIDS in 1991; he was just 34-years-old
and it was heartbreaking. I always start
any speech with that sentence because I
want people to know it’s personal – I’m
here for a reason.” He continued, “When
my brother died, I did not want to see
him forgotten; I did not want to see him
fade from my memory. The reason I do
this is because I just don’t ever want
to forget him.
The annual New York Dinner included an
intimate reception, seated dinner and
program, and a live performance.
Proceeds from the evening benefitted
LIFEBEAT, a program of The Elizabeth
Taylor AIDS Foundation, and continues
the work toward Elizabeth Taylor’s
vision of an AIDS-free world.
For more information please contact
info@etaf.org
ABOUT ETAF
Working tirelessly on the AIDS crisis
throughout the 1980s, Elizabeth Taylor
established The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS
Foundation (ETAF) in 1991 to carry out
her vision for an AIDS-free world. ETAF
works to provide the direct care needed
for people living with and affected by
HIV and AIDS. Emphasizing Elizabeth's
voice, commitment, and concentration on
hard-to-reach communities, ETAF's
domestic advocacy initiatives remain a
priority. Fighting for criminalization
reform for people living with HIV,
ETAF’s primary advocacy initiative.
ETAF's programs have also expanded to
ensure that HIV prevention education and
access to treatment are available
through domestic and international
initiatives. ETAF’s newest program
LIFEBEAT mobilizes the music and
entertainment industry to provide the
resources and support needed for at-risk
youth to take of their sexual health and
prevent HIV. On the ground at major
tours, special events and festivals, and
within broadcast, digital, social, and
print campaigns, LIFEBEAT engages
at-risk youth about safe sex, HIV
prevention, and the services that
support them regardless of status,
gender, or sexuality.
ABOUT GILEAD SCIENCES
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a
biopharmaceutical company that has
pursued and achieved breakthroughs in
medicine for more than three decades,
with the goal of creating a healthier
world for all people. The company is
committed to advancing innovative
medicines to prevent and treat
life-threatening diseases, including
HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19,
and cancer. Gilead operates in
more than 35 countries worldwide,
with headquarters in Foster City, Calif.
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