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ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION ANNUAL ACADEMY
AWARDS® VIEWING PARTY SHATTERED RECORDS
RAISING OVER $10.8 MILLION TO END AIDS FOR ALL
Elton John, David Furnish and co-hosts Neil
Patrick Harris, David Burtka and Tiffany Haddish gathered
among other prominent guests in West Hollywood Park to show
support for the Elton John AIDS Foundation at their iconic
Oscar Party.
The 32nd annual Elton John AIDS Foundation
Academy Awards® Viewing Party co-hosted by Elton John, David
Furnish, Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka and Tiffany
Haddish raised a record-breaking $10,800,000 million
in support of the Foundation's lifesaving work to end the
AIDS epidemic. The star-studded gala took place on Sunday,
March 10 at West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles and featured
an unforgettable show-stopping performance of “Are You Ready
For Love” by R&B-Soul-Pop Trio Gabriels
and Elton John. The Foundation extends heartfelt
gratitude to the generous donors, sponsors, and supporters
whose unwavering commitment made this incredible achievement
in the Foundation’s history possible.
Presenting Sponsors of the event include A+E
Networks, Chopard, Gilead Sciences, Health Care Advocates
International, Robert and Dana Kraft, Bob and Tamar
Manoukian, and Cheryl and Haim Saban.
Special thank you to Iris and Michael Smith for
serving as the evening’s Co-Sponsors, our official airline
partner, American Airlines, our automotive partner, Cadillac,
our spirits partner, Tequila Don Julio, and the City
of West Hollywood for its continued collaboration.
Among the crowd of supporters, the Foundation
welcomed Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman, Donatella Versace,
Alicia Silverstone, Billy Eichner, Sharon Stone, Cara Jade
Myers, Christian Sariano, Brandi Carlile, Benson Boone, Tim
Allen, Dylan Arnold, Olivia Holt, LOONY, Heidi Klum,
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Ashlyn Harris, Patricia Arquette, Orville
Peck, Sophia Bush, Julianne
Hough, Zoe Lister-Jones, Daphne Guinness, Zooey
Deschanel, Lucien Laviscount, Charlotte Tilbury, MUNA,
Melanie Lynskey, Elizabeth Hurley, Joseph Lee, Alexis Bledel,
Toni Braxton, Colton Haynes, Eric McCormack, Olivia Welch,
Bailee Madison, Hunter Doohan, Avril Lavigne, HotWax,
Valerie Bertinelli, Ian Bohen, Smokey Robinson, and other
distinguished guests.
The high-energy live auction featured a
Yamaha piano fully bedazzled in crystals by Nyenyezi signed
by Elton John, which went for over $360,000 after he joined
auctioneer Lydia Fenet on stage and played an impromptu
rendition of “Tiny Dancer.” Two pinball machines adorned
with graphics representing the global superstar’s career
including a rocketship figurine and his legendary Dodgers
sequin jumpsuit by Jersey Jack Pinball sold for $200,000
each. A pair of Chopard earrings from the luxury brand’s
Maison’s “High Jewellery” collection featuring 24 carats of
brilliant-cut diamonds was sold for $500,000, and so
inspired by the high energy auction, the brand was compelled
to donate another pair totalling $1,000,000. Additional
high-selling lots included a Rolex watch from Elton John’s
personal collection engraved to commemorate the Farewell
Yellow Brick Road Tour, an exclusive meet-and-greet with
Elton John and David Furnish at the highly-anticipated
photography exhibition, “Fragile Beauty: Photographs from
the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection” at the
Victoria & Albert Museum, “Boreas Blaze” from the Auric
Fields painting series from internationally renowned Light
and Space artist Lita Albuquerque, exquisite pieces from
Elton John’s personal closet including two Gucci Bomber
Jackets, an early shoe illustration from legendary artist
Andy Warhol, and a blueprint drawing by AIDS activist Keith
Haring.
The evening concluded with an electric
performance by Gabriels, who performed a full set, including
“Love and Hate in a Different Time,” “Angels & Queens,” and
“Great Wind.” Guests were also treated to Gabriels and Elton
John himself closing with the hit, “Are You Ready For Love,”
reminiscent of their surprise Glastonbury performance.
The 2024 Academy Awards Viewing Party marks
the 32nd anniversary of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Since the inception of the party in 1992, the event has
supported the Elton John AIDS Foundation's efforts to raise
over $110 million for their life saving work towards their
mission of ending AIDS and the stigma associated with it
for everyone, everywhere.
"So far, this has been an extraordinary year
beyond my wildest dreams, including the honor of achieving
the EGOT, but it's tonight's gathering that is the ultimate
highlight," says Elton John, Founder of the Elton John AIDS
Foundation. "I’m so grateful to everyone who comes out each
year to have a lot of fun and do a whole lot of good
together. We’ve been loud and proud about showing compassion
and ending the dreadful stigma that follows HIV, and we
won’t stop until we achieve our mission.”
"Every year, our iconic Oscar Party just gets
bigger and better, a testament to the unwavering support of
our passionate supporters and extraordinary co-hosts Neil
Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Tiffany Haddish, and the
soulful Gabriels," says David Furnish, Chair of the Elton
John AIDS Foundation. “In such worrying times with the rise
of discriminatory laws against the LGBTQ+ community in the
US, it’s so important to stand up and raise awareness for
the people who need our support the most. The funds raised
tonight are helping us enhance access to vital health
resources such as HIV testing and medication, making a
tangible difference in countless lives. We couldn’t have
done it without such a great showing of support.”
"On Hollywood's most glamorous night, the
true stars were those who united to celebrate The Rocket
Fund and advance our global efforts to end HIV-related
stigma,” says Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS
Foundation. "This remarkable Oscar Party was made possible
by the unwavering generosity of our esteemed donors,
sponsors, and partners. Each ticket sold, every bid placed
on auction items, and every donation made propels us forward
in our mission of creating a more equitable world.”
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Follow the Elton John AIDS Foundation:
Facebook: @EltonJohnAIDSFoundation
Twitter: @ejaf
Instagram: @ejaf
TikTok: @eltonjohnaidsfoundation
About the Elton John AIDS Foundation:
The Elton John AIDS Foundation was
established in 1992 and is one of the leading independent
AIDS organisations in the world. The Foundation’s mission is
simple: an end to the AIDS epidemic. The Elton John AIDS
Foundation is committed to overcome the stigma,
discrimination and neglect that keeps us from ending AIDS.
With the mobilisation of our network of generous supporters
and partners, we fund local experts across four continents
to challenge discrimination, prevent infections and provide
treatment as well as influencing governments to end AIDS. www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org
About Gabriels:
Gabriels are a BRIT Award-nominated
R&B-soul-rock trio group, comprised of Compton-bred gospel
singer Jacob Lusk, UK-born producer and keyboardist Ryan
Hope, and LA-native producer, composer, and violinist Ari
Balouzian. The genre-defying group has crafted a collection
of rough cuts, signed a major label deal, and unveiled a
pair of critically acclaimed EPs in 2021 (Bloodline and Love
and Hate in a Different Time), producing standout tracks
“Blame” and the latter’s title track. Gabriels now share a
universal and undeniable story with the full arrival of
their debut album Angels & Queens, that masterfully
illuminates the nuances of the trio.
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