Goldie Hawn, Linda Evangelista Help Raise More than $600,000 for amfAR at Inaugural Inspiration Gala Rio

Event presented by M·A·C Viva Glam, features performances by Preta Gil and Ana Carolina

Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL, October 5, 2013— amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole, Linda Evangelista, Goldie Hawn, Lee Daniels, Cara Delevingne, Preta Gil, Ana Carolina, Fernanda Torres, Mariana Ximenes, Andrea Dellal, Alice Dellal, and Vik Muniz were among those who came out last night to support amfAR’s inaugural Inspiration Gala Rio. Ms. Evangelista hosted the black tie benefit, held in conjunction with the Festival do Rio, and more than $600,000 was raised for amfAR’s cutting-edge AIDS research programs.

Academy Award-winning actor Goldie Hawn served alongside Kenneth Cole as Honorary Chair of the gala. She delivered heartfelt remarks during the program, sharing memories of good friends she had lost to AIDS in the 80s, and encouraging the crowd to not give up until a cure for AIDS is available to all.

amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole introduced a clip of “The Battle of amfAR” at the event. The documentary, highlighting Dr. Mathilde Krim and Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s work founding amfAR and fighting the AIDS epidemic in the early years, was screened on October 3rd during the Festival do Rio. Mr. Cole also announced that a portion of the proceeds from the event would benefit Pela Vidda, a Rio de Janeiro-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Famed Brazilian actresses Fernanda Torres and Mariana Ximenes led a live auction of artwork and exclusive luxury items. A highlight of the auction was a package donated by Moët & Chandon, featuring tickets to the French Open semifinals and a stay at the Château de Saran, the estate of the Moët family in Epernay, France. Linda Evangelista agreed to autograph a gold-leaf Moët & Chandon Imperial Jeroboam to sweeten the package, and it sold for $30,000.

Brazilian singer and actress Preta Gil capped off the night with a special performance that had the crowd dancing at the Copacabana Palace late into the night. She was joined onstage by her special guest Ana Carolina, another of Brazil’s best-loved musicians.

Chairs of the event included Gilda Amada, Jackie de Botton, John Demsey, Dinho Diniz, Felipe Diniz, Mary Jane Marcasiano, Paula Bezerra de Mello, Lenny Niemeyer, Fatima Otero, Renato Rique, Ilda Santiago, Anna Maria Tornaghi, Carlos Tufvesson, and Paula Uchoa.

Sponsors for the Inspiration Gala included Presenting Sponsor M·A·C VIVA GLAM, Official Technology Partner Microsoft, Platinum Sponsor Shopping Leblon, Live Auction Sponsor Carla Amorim, Dinner Gift Sponsor Silvia Furmanovich, and Festival do Rio. Fasano, the event’s Hotel Partner, hosted amfAR’s celebrity guests at their luxurious property on Ipanema beach. Luxury beverages were provided by Moët & Chandon. Delta Air Lines is the Official Airline of amfAR.

The Inspiration event series was launched in 2010 by amfAR and Josh Wood Productions to celebrate all aspects of men’s style. Previous Inspiration events have taken place in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Toronto, and São Paulo, raising more than $10 million in total for AIDS research.

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 the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested more than $366 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide. www.amfar.org

About Josh Wood Productions

Josh Wood Productions has produced and promoted socially conscious events and concerts featuring artists such as Arcade Fire, Lady Gaga, Ricky Gervais, Norah Jones, Kylie Minogue, Lou Reed, Scissors Sisters, Michael Stipe, and the Pet Shop Boys. Their events have raised money and awareness for Downtown for Democracy, The Guggenheim Foundation, Empire State Pride Agenda, Friends of Hillary, Friends of the Highline, Hetrik Martin Institute, MoveOn, Obama for America, Oxfam, Rock the Vote, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Veterans for Peace. Josh Wood Productions’ latest project, “The Inspiration Gala Series: A Celebration of Style,” is an international fashion gala fundraiser benefiting amfAR. For more information please visit www.joshwoodproductions.com.

Goldie Hawn, Linda Evangelista Help Raise More than $600,000 for amfAR at Inaugural Inspiration Gala Rio

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