Sharon Stone, Deborah Harry, Grace Jones, Bebel
Gilberto help to Raise $1.3 Million for amfAR in Brazil
Mario
Testino and John Demsey Honored at 2nd Inspiration Gala São Paulo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
amfAR MEDIA CONTACTS:
Bennah Serfaty,
Sr. Director of Communications: 212-806-1607, bennah.serfaty@amfar.org
Natalie Marquis, Media Relations
Associate: 212-806-1694, natalie.marquis@amfar.org
NEW YORK, NY, April 27, 2012—Sharon Stone, Deborah
Harry, Grace Jones, and Bebel Gilberto joined a dazzling group of Brazil’s
elite to pay tribute to Mario Testino and John Demsey at amfAR’s 2nd
Inspiration Gala São Paulo, April 26. Ms. Stone, amfAR’s Global
Fundraising Chairman, chaired the event alongside Dinho Diniz, Felipe Diniz,
and amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole. The
evening raised $1.3 million for the Foundation’s life-saving AIDS research
programs.
Guests at the “Black Tie//Hot
Metal”-themed benefit, held at the home of Dinho Diniz, included Fernanda
Motta, Sabrina Sato, Isabeli Fontana, Izabel Goulart, Andrea Dellal, Fernanda
Tavares, Marcelle Bittar, Adriane Galisteu, and Alexandre Herchcovitch, among
many others.
The evening opened with an acoustic
bossa nova performance by one of Brazil’s most internationally renowned
musicians, Bebel Gilberto.
Sharon Stone took the stage to present
Mario Testino with the Piaget Award of Inspiration, in recognition of his
longstanding spirited advocacy for HIV/AIDS awareness. Mr. Testino has shown tremendous support for
various AIDS charities including amfAR, and has often donated works for
auction, which have raised millions of dollars for a number of international
causes.
Later in the evening, Deborah Harry
presented the amfAR Award of Courage to John Demsey, Group President of The
Estée Lauder Companies and Chairman of the M·A·C AIDS Fund. Ms. Harry praised his extraordinary vision
and leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Under Mr. Demsey’s direction, the
M·A·C AIDS Fund has raised more than $236 million to help improve the lives of
men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS globally, and in turn has funded numerous
amfAR initiatives.
Sharon Stone also led the night’s
auction, which she kicked off by selling an iconic Mario Testino photograph of
Amber Valetta in Rio de Janeiro for $100,000.
Ms. Stone also auctioned off a Louis Vuitton vanity case, part of an
exclusive limited-edition line of cases that she designed herself to benefit amfAR. The case sold for $95,000. During the auction, Dinho Diniz also
spontaneously made a $100,000 pledge to amfAR for his girlfriend Danielle
Amorim’s dress. In a highlight of the
auction, Ms. Stone put Deborah Harry on the auction block, and guests pledged a
collective $100,000 for the chance to hear the legendary Blondie singer
perform. Ms. Harry treated the crowd to
an impromptu a capella version of “Heart of Glass.”
Grace Jones closed out the evening with
a rousing performance of “La Vie en Rose” and “Pull Up to the Bumper,” which
had the entire crowd dancing.
Guests at the event enjoyed specially
crafted Grey Goose cocktails, a gala dinner, and Luxor champagne. Each year,
the Inspiration Galas revolve around a different design theme; this year, décor
and guests’ attire drew inspiration from the theme “Black Tie//Hot Metal.” The
Inspiration Gala was sponsored by Title Sponsor M·A·C Viva Glam, Iguatemi São
Paulo, Louis Vuitton, Piaget, Silvia Furmanovich, HP Indigo, and Laborprint.
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, and Los Angeles, raising more than $3 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,
Scissor 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 Men’s Style,” is an
international fashion gala fundraiser benefiting amfAR. For more
information please visit www.joshwoodproductions.com.
About M·A·C Cosmetics
M·A·C (Make-up Art Cosmetics), a leading
brand of professional cosmetics, was created in Toronto, Canada in 1984 and is
part of The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. The company’s popularity has grown
through a tradition of word-of-mouth endorsement from makeup artists, models,
photographers and journalists around the world. M·A·C is now sold in 79
countries/territories worldwide. Follow M·A·C on Twitter @MACcosmetics
(twitter.com/maccosmetics), become a M·A·C fan on Facebook
(facebook.com/maccosmetics), watch M·A·C videos on YouTube and find our M·A·C
Senior Artists at macartiststweets.com. For a M·A·C location visit
maccosmetics.com.
Delta Air Lines is the official airline of amfAR.