FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contacts:
Bennah Serfaty, Senior Director of Communications, (212) 806-1607 or bennah.serfaty@amfar.org
Occasions PR & Marketing Ltd
Venus Lau, Associate Director, (852) 2523 7666 or venus@occhk.com
Flora To, Account Manager, (852) 2523 7666 or flora@occhk.com
Contact for Tickets/Table Information
Tiffany Pak Carney, Manager, (212) 806-1640 or amfarhongkong@amfar.org
amfAR TO LAUNCH INAUGURAL EVENT IN HONG KONG
Presented by HARRY WINSTON, MARC JACOBS & MGM CHINA HOLDINGS
GWYNETH PALTROW to Attend as Honorary Chair,
MICHELLE YEOH to be Recognized for her Commitment to the Fight Against AIDS,
PANSY HO is Event Chair
Delta Air Lines, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, and Moët Hennessy
Signature Sponsors
New York, NY, January xxx, 2015—amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, will hold its inaugural fundraising gala in Hong Kong on March 14, 2015 at Shaw Studios. Gwyneth Paltrow will serve as the evening’s Honorary Chair and Michelle Yeoh will receive special recognition during the event for her exceptional contributions to the global struggle against HIV/AIDS. Pansy Ho is graciously serving as the event’s Chair. Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell will attend and serve as Event Co-Chairs. Harry Winston, Marc Jacobs and MGM China Holdings will generously serve as the event’s presenting sponsors.
Event Co-Chairs of the amfAR Hong Kong also include Veronica Chou, Kenneth Cole, Serge Dumont, Vinay Dube, Larry Gagosian, Milutin Gatsby, Nayla Hayek, Emily Lam Ho, Jean-Marc Lacave, Cathy Lee, Xin Li, Wendi Murdoch, Michelle Ong, Dee Poon, David Tang, Claudine Ying, Andrew Yuen and Yvette Yung. The event’s Signature Sponsors are Delta Air Lines, Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, and Moët Hennessy. Microsoft is the Official Technology Partner.
Since amfAR’s first international benefit, held in 1993 during the Cannes International Film Festival and hosted by amfAR Founding International Chairman Dame Elizabeth Taylor, the Foundation’s international galas in Milan, New York, Cannes, India, Venice, Rome and São Paulo and beyond have become some of the most high-profile and eagerly anticipated charity events in the world and have helped raised millions for critical AIDS research programs. The events are known for their unpredictable nature with many of the celebrities in attendance participating in the live auctions or jumping onstage with impromptu performances.
amfAR Hong Kong will be a black-tie gala dinner featuring cocktails of MoëtHennessy champagnes and spirits, a live auction conducted by Simon de Pury, and special performances.
amfAR's annual events play a critically important role in raising funds for the Foundation’s research programs and provide an important platform for raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, a disease that affects more than 35 million people around the world today, and infects more than two million every year.Last year, amfAR launched the “Countdown to a Cure for AIDS,” a research initiative aimed at developing the scientific basis for a cure for HIV by 2020. The bold initiative will intensify amfAR’s cure-focused HIV research program with plans to strategically invest $100 million in cure research over the next five years. Harry Winston is a proud supporter of the Countdown to a Cure campaign.
amfAR has been very active in Asia for more than 20 years, and its TREAT Asia program has become a model of regional collaboration on HIV/AIDS since its founding 14 years ago. Since 1991, amfAR invested close to $50 million in our TREAT Asia network since its formation 15 years ago and have awarded more than $17 million in grants for HIV research, prevention and treatment education programs across the continent. While Hong Kong ranks as one of the world’s lowest in HIV prevalence, the number of new HIV infections has been increasing steadily every year among gay men, other men who have sex with men, and young people in Hong Kong. The alarming rise in HIV cases is worrying, and it shows that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is still a reality in Hong Kong, as it is in every other city around the world.
Delta Air Lines is the official airline of amfAR.
Harry Winston is the official jewelry and timepiece partner of amfAR.
Moët Hennessy is the official wine and spirits partner of amfAR.
Microsoft is the Official Technology Partner.
amfAR Hong Kong is produced by Andrew Boose/AAB Productions and Josh Wood/Josh Wood Productions.
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 close to $400 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,300 grants to research teams worldwide.
About Harry Winston, Inc.:
Founded in New York City, in 1932, The House of Harry Winston continues to set the standard for the ultimate in fine jewelry and high-end watch making. From the acquisition of some of the world’s most famous gemstones, including the Jonker, Hope and Winston Legacy Diamonds, to adorning Hollywood’s leading ladies on the red carpet, for over eight decades, Harry Winston has been a symbol of the best there is. Headquartered in New York, the company operates retail salons worldwide, in locations including: New York, Beverly Hills, London, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
About the Harry Winston Brilliant Futures Charitable Program:
Supporting local communities and giving hope to those in need is a longstanding House tradition that began with our founder, Mr. Harry Winston. From 1949-1953, Mr. Winston organized an exhibition known as “The Court of Jewels” – a magnificent traveling collection featuring his most impressive and historic gems – which toured key cities across America raising money for local charitable causes.
Today, we continue this legacy of giving through The Harry Winston Brilliant Futures™ Charitable Program. Within this program, the company is proud to support organizations in our local salon communities that strive to give young people access to a quality education and the skills necessary to be successful in life and enable healthy futures.
About Marc Jacobs International:
Marc Jacobs International was founded in 1984, by Marc Jacobs and Robert Duffy. With over 200 free standing stores across the globe, the brand now includes Women’s and Men’s RTW and accessories, a children’s line called Little Marc Jacobs, multiple award winning fragrances, the bookstore Bookmarc and most recently Marc Jacobs Beauty, which will launch in Asia later this year.
Jacobs and Duffy continue to run the company and are committed to giving back to the communities where they have stores and beyond. They have been involved with over 100 charities worldwide and the ongoing support of many of these charitable projects—as well as new collaborations--continues to be a top priority.
For More Information
Contact the Marc Jacobs Global Communications Office
212.343.0222
About MGM China Holdings Limited
MGM China is one of the leading integrated resort developers, owners and operators in the greater China region. We currently own and operate MGM MACAU, the premium and integrated entertainment resort located on the Macau Peninsula. MGM MACAU is a unique property located on a prime waterfront site in Macau with 582 rooms including the architecturally stunning 1,088m² Grande Praca of 25-meter high European-inspired facades and dramatic landscapes. MGM Cotai is scheduled to open in 2016 complete with a hotel and diversified entertainment complex of 1,500 hotel rooms.
Art is an integral part of MGM MACAU’s essence, informing every aspect from décor to personality. The MGM MACAU’s art programs at MGM Art Space serve as a metropolis where globally influential artworks are appreciated, interpreted and studied. As a major highlight, Sandro Botticelli’s enduring masterpiece, Venus, was featured in the inaugural exhibition of the MGM Art Space.
Through our sustainability vision, Creating a Better Tomorrow Today, there are many ways in which we give back to the community including volunteering events, sponsorship and donations. We seek to support the holistic needs of our local communities to make them a better place for all, helping the less fortunate and educate our youth are key focus areas of contribution.