amfAR Raises more than $2 MILLION at Eighth Annual Los Angeles Gala
Tom Hanks, James Corden, Diane Sawyer, Heidi Klum,Melanie Griffith, Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Sean Penn, Sophia Bush, Dermot Mulroney, Dita Von Teese, and amfAR Chairman of the Board Kenneth Cole, were among those who gathered at Ron Burkle’s Historic Green Acres Estate last night for the eighth annual amfAR Gala Los Angeles.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – OCTOBER 13: Bethenny Frankel attends the amfAR Gala Los Angeles 2017 at Ron Burkle’s Green Acres Estate on October 13, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/amfAR/Getty Images for amfAR)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – OCTOBER 13: TV personality Heidi Klum attends the amfAR Gala at Ron Burkle’s Green Acres Estate on October 13, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
The evening opened with a lively and humorous introduction by host James Corden, who announced a surprise performance by Chris Martin. Martin opened with an acoustic rendition of “Pretty Woman,” and later welcomed James Corden back on stage for a captivating duet of “Nothing Compares 2U.”
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 13: Honoree Julia Roberts and actor Dermot Mulroney attend the amfAR Gala Los Angeles 2017 at Ron Burkle's Green Acres Estate on October 13, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto Rodriguez/amfAR/Getty Images for amfAR) *** Local Caption *** Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney
In her acceptance speech, Roberts remarked that the fight against HIV/AIDS is at a “tipping point,” as deaths related to the disease have halved in the past ten years due to life saving treatments. She said that facts like these give her courage and, “if we don’t take our foot off the gas, by 2020, we could ensure that no children will be born with HIV anymore, becoming the first HIV free generation!” Julia concluded her words with a call to action, to “give, and give, and give to assist this valiant mission to find a cure for AIDS and bring peace to the lives of those who suffer.”
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – OCTOBER 13: Actor Tom Hanks (L) and journalist Diane Sawyer and attend the amfAR Gala Los Angeles 2017 (Photo by Kevin Mazur/amfAR/Getty Images for amfAR)
The night ended with a lively performance by eight-time GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum artist, Fergie, who had everyone out of their seats and dancing. Fergie performed “You Already Know,” from her new album Double Dutchess, as well as established hits such as “Glamorous” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” As she sang the last song of the evening, “I Gotta Feeling,” she invited guests to the stage and pledged a donation to amfAR in their honor. Roberts, Bethenny Frankel, and others joined Fergie on stage for a final bow.
he amfAR Gala Los Angeles has raised more than $13 million for amfAR’s life-saving research programs.
For more information, please visit http://amfar.org/LA2017/
About amfAR:
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested more than $480 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,300 grants to research teams worldwide.