On Saturday, March 2nd, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, held its third annual gala inside James and Lisa Cohen’s home in Palm Beach, Florida. The event was hosted by actress Julianna Margulies.
The purpose of this evening was to inform and encourage attendees to donate in support of research to end AIDS, and in doing so, amfAR was able to raise $4.1 Million for HIV research.
The amfAR Gala co-chairs included Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, John and Amy Phelan, Howard and Michele Kessler, Barry Gibb, and amfAR Board Co-Chairs T. Ryan Greenawalt and Kevin McClatchy.
Actress and singer Amber Riley kicked off the evening with a performance that paid tribute to the legendary Dionne Warwick. amfAR’s CEO Kevin Robert Frost also presented Dionne Warwick with amfAR’s Award of Courage for her activism during the AIDS epidemic.
Following the heartfelt tribute to Dionne Warwick, a live auction commenced. Guests were able to bid on and purchase pieces from Federico de Francesco, Jonas Wood, Michael Kagan, and Macklowe Gallery in the name of HIV research.
Post-auction, filmmaker and celebrated fashion designer Tom Ford presented Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, founder of Dee Ocleppo and wife of Tommy Hilfiger, with amfAR’s Philanthropic Leadership Award. In her acceptance speech, Hilfiger noted that she recalled witnessing the AIDS epidemic first-hand during the 80s and 90s.
Concluding the evening, seventeen-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sting put on the show of a lifetime. Sting even brought out singer Shaggy, which was the perfect surprise for attendees.
Guests of the third annual amfAR Gala included Kris Jenner, Corey Gamble, Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer
Flavin Stallone, Keith Lieberthal, Leonard Lauder, Aerin Lauder, and many more.
With Florida having the fourth-highest rate of new HIV infections in the U.S., this gala was extremely important to Palm Beach. amfAR was able to educate attendees about the dangers of this disease, and in conclusion, raise over $4 Million to put an end to it.
