amfAR and GBCHealth Honor Bill Gates at Washington, D.C., Benefit
Gates honored for visionary leadership on global health and HIV/AIDS; Event sponsored by M·A·C Viva Glam kicks off 19th International AIDS Conference
amfAR Media Contacts:
Bennah Serfaty, (212) 806-1607, bennah.serfaty@amfar.org
Natalie Marquis, (212) 806-1694, natalie.marquis@amfar.org
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 22, 2012—amfAR, The
Foundation for AIDS Research and GBCHealth honored Bill Gates at a benefit
event in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the 19th International AIDS
Conference, paying tribute to the spirit of global collaboration that has
underpinned the world’s progress in the fight against AIDS. The event, titled “Together to End AIDS,” was
held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and was attended by
Sharon Stone, Anderson Cooper, Jessye Norman, John Corbett, Tyson Beckford, Eve,
M˙A˙C AIDS Fund Chairman John Demsey, The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, UNAIDS
Executive Director Michel Sidibé, The Honorable Barbara Lee, The Honorable Ed
Markey, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, amfAR Chairman
Kenneth Cole, amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost, and GBCHealth CEO John Tedstrom,
among many others.
Gates, the co-chair of the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation and the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft,
received amfAR’s Award of Courage for his visionary leadership on global health
and HIV/AIDS. Previous recipients of the award include President Bill Clinton,
Dame Elizabeth Taylor, and Sir Elton John. Sharon Stone, amfAR’s Global
Fundraising Chairman, presented Mr. Gates with his award. Ms. Stone gave a
heartfelt and emotional tribute to Mr. Gates, remarking on the tremendous courage
he has shown in taking on such daunting public health crises. Upon receiving
his award, Mr. Gates thanked all the scientists, health workers, and people
living with AIDS who have fought so hard to bring an end to the epidemic. Mr. Gates spoke with much hope about the
potential to discover a cure and a vaccine, stating “Again and again,
innovation has solved problems that people thought were unsolvable.”
The event opened with a performance by world-renowned
opera singer Jessye Norman, who floored the crowd with her rendition of “You’ll
Never Walk Alone.” Featured speakers
included House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel
Sidibé, amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole, and GBCHealth CEO John Tedstrom.
The evening kicked off the first
International AIDS Conference to be held in the U.S. in more than two decades.
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed legislation that lifted the longstanding
ban on HIV-positive foreign visitors to the U.S., allowing the first conference
to take place on U.S. soil since 1990.
“Together to End AIDS” was generously
underwritten by Platinum Sponsor M·A·C Viva Glam. Mandarian Oriental Washington, D.C. was the
Hotel Sponsor. Delta Air Lines is the
Official Airline of amfAR.
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.
About GBCHealth
GBCHealth is a coalition of more than 200
member companies and organizations committed to investing their resources to
making a healthier world ... for their employees, for the communities in which
they work, and for the world at large. Through world-class convenings,
partnership creation, thought leadership and representation in key global
health settings, GBCHealth has established itself as the go-to organization for
companies interested in bringing their assets, skills and passion to the quest
for a healthier world.
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