Tag: celebrity

Elton John’s Smash Hits Tennis Raises Over $1 Million

On Monday, October 12, 2015, Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King hosted the star-studded 23rd annual Mylan World TeamTennis (WTT) Smash Hits tennis match at the most iconic hotel on the Las Vegas strip – Caesar’s Palace.

Prior to the match, Elton, Billie Jean, and all of the featured players attended a VIP donor reception and live auction, featuring a private hitting session with Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf and two signed Elton John piano benches, which raised nearly $500,000.

The match began with a celebrity doubles set, in which Elton teamed with longtime friend Martina Navratilova for an upset 3-2 victory over Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf. Then, tennis stars Andre Agassi, Tracy Austin, James Blake, Lindsay Davenport, Mardy Fish, Stefanie Graf, Martina Navratilova, and Andy Roddick divided into two teams – Team Elton and Team Billie Jean – and treated the sold-out crowd to a modified World TeamTennis match, including one set each of men’s doubles, women’s doubles, men’s singles, women’s singles, and mixed doubles.

This all-star player lineup, which includes five Hall of Fame members, represents more than 700 singles and doubles titles plus 100 Grand Slam Championships and six Olympic medals. Team Elton won the match 17-11, giving Team Elton a 12-11 edge in the all-time series.

Even though her team was on the losing end of the final score, King was thrilled with the Las Vegas debut of Mylan WTT Smash Hits. “We raised a lot of money for EJAF and for local HIV/AIDS organizations,” said King. “The players come for nothing every year, so they are amazing. The crowds were so packed tonight, we had to turn people away. I loved being here at Caesars Palace, but I have to live with being down to Elton now for a full year. He will be reminding me of it.”

Elton John AIDS Foundation Announces $4.4 Million In Grants

On October 21, the Elton John AIDS Foundation announced a new series of grants totaling $4.4 million to support organizations fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in critical and innovative ways.

The Foundation renewed 16 grants and funding nine new organizations to scale up programs that address societal trends driving the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This is one of EJAF’s largest grant cycles to date.

“For more than 20 years, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has been committed to confronting the HIV/AIDS epidemic where it exists,” said EJAF Founder Elton John. “Our newest round of grants supports exciting and innovative projects addressing transgender health, homeless LGBT youth, the continued criminalization of HIV-positive people, and the syringe services for people who inject drugs. We also remain focused on increasing access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care for all.”

Elton John AIDS Foundation Raises $3.3 Million At Enduring Vision Benefit Gala

On Monday, November 2, 2015, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) raised more than 3.3 million at its 14th annual An Enduring Vision benefit gala to support HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and awareness programs across the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean.

American Airlines, Robert K. Kraft, The Lauder Foundation- Leonard & Judy Lauder Fund, Mylan, Pablo and Nathalie Salame, Sands Bethlehem, and Wells Fargo served as the Presenting Sponsors of the benefit. The star-studded evening was held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

As part of the evening’s program, EJAF Founder Elton John and Chairman David Furnish presented Enduring Vision awards to three outstanding Foundation supporters – M. Michele Burns, Robert J. Coury, and Tracey Emin.

M. Michele Burns is an internationally recognized corporate and philanthropic leader, played an integral part in EJAF’s inception, and has served as an Executive Board Member from the very beginning. Robert J. Coury, Executive Chairman of Mylan, continues to be a visionary in leading the company into areas where it can make a difference, such as improving global health and helping to end the AIDS epidemic. Tracey Emin is one of the most renowned and respected living artists today and is also a fierce humanitarian and tireless advocate for human rights causes.

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper emceed the gala dinner for an eighth time. Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, spoke eloquently about the Foundation’s achievements and the role of philanthropy in ending the AIDS epidemic. KC and the Sunshine Band took the stage for a rollicking performance of disco classics. And guest auctioneer Alexander Gilkes of Paddle 8 conducted a live auction featuring such one-of-a-kind items as a neon work of art by honoree, Tracey Emin, a 1999 print of Elton John by photographer David LaChapelle, the opportunity to create bespoke champagne with HATT et SÖNER, a group of unique archival pigment prints by Joel Meyerowitz and fine jewelry by Lily Gabriella.

“I cannot begin to express how incredibly grateful I am to all of the amazing donors and friends who support and attend An Enduring Vision year after year,” said Elton. “Their generosity helps to make our lifesaving work possible and brings us closer to achieving our vision of a world without AIDS.”

Through the impeccable credibility and reputation attained based on more than two decades of extensive work, EJAF has emerged as a significant leader in the field of AIDS. The Foundation advances public dialogue on critical and controversial issues related to the epidemic and challenges misguided policies and attitudes that block progress in HIV prevention. Proceeds from An Enduring Vision will help support these efforts, as well as EJAF’s grant-making initiatives across the U.S., the Caribbean, and the Americas.

John Varvatos To Be Honored By Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation

The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation will host its 18th Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction, honoring men’s fashion designer John Varvatos on Thursday, November 12th, 2015, at Cipriani Wall Street.

Known affectionately by New Yorkers as “The Waxman,” this yearly fête is considered to be among the top fundraising events in New York City, attended by more than 1,200 corporate executives, board members, and their guests. In recent years, “The Waxman” has raised millions of dollars to support the Foundation’s research efforts to produce a cure for cancer. Past celebrity performers have included Ziggy Marley, Train, Peter Frampton, Gregg Allman, Kid Rock, Steely Dan, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow and Counting Crows.

This year, the event will feature a special performance from legendary American singer-songwriter, John Fogerty. The evening will be hosted by Chris Wragge, co-anchor of CBS 2 News This Morning, as master of ceremony. The evening’s much-anticipated live and silent auctions will offer guests the opportunity to bid on an exciting selection of exclusive items.

Alliance for a Healthier Generation Announces 2015 Leaders Summit Program

At its upcoming 2015 Leaders Summit, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation will celebrate its 10-year anniversary and recognize schools, industry leaders, corporate partners and out-of-school time programs that continue to make strides for childhood health.



After his heart surgery in 2004, President Bill Clinton decided to do something to help children live healthier lives. In 2005, the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association partnered to address one of the most important issues facing the United States, childhood obesity, which can lead to grave health consequences. The result of that partnership, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, is celebrating 10 years of creating healthier environments for more than 20 million children across the country.



A record number 376 schools will receive National Healthy Schools Awards, including 10 Gold-level schools, the highest number ever in the Alliance’s history. The invitation-only festivities will be held October 2nd and 3rd at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center.



In celebration of the Alliance’s anniversary, the event will spotlight the decade of impact the organization has had on reducing childhood obesity. Featured speakers from the Clinton Foundation include Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair and Donna Shalala, President. They will be joined by American Heart Association leaders Nancy Brown, CEO, and Mark Creager, M.D., President.



Additional featured speakers confirmed to attend include:
• Joy Bauer, Nutrition/Health Expert, NBC’s TODAY Show
• Bonnie Bernstein, veteran Sports Journalist
• Jason Collins, Retired NBA Player
• Pam S. Dickson, Associate Vice President, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Helena Bottemiller Evich, Reporter, POLITICO
• Jillian Michaels, Health and Wellness Expert
• Caitlin Morris, North America Executive Director, Community Impact, Nike, Inc.
• Howell Wechsler, CEO, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
• Margo Wootan, ‎Director, Nutrition Policy at Center for Science in the Public Interest

The following organizations are providing support for the 2015 Leaders Summit: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NutriBullet, Sanofi, Kaiser Permanente, SPARK, a division of School Specialty, Inc., GoNoodle Inc., NIKE, Inc and Gopher Sport.



Elton John AIDS Foundations Joins Forces With US Presidents Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) are today launching a $10 million partnership that will provide grants to organisations working to meet the HIV-related needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people, with an initial focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

The new partnership, which will see EJAF and PEPFAR each invest $5 million to improve access to HIV services for LGBT people and help to create non-stigmatizing environments by working with community leaders, civil society, and service providers. By providing funding to grassroots organisations and targeting projects that support LGBT people within countries with a high HIV burden, the move marks an important step toward ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation’s founder, Sir Elton John, said “Our goal is to build a quick, nimble and easily accessible fund which can get funds to the most effective public health organisations doing some of the most important work among the most at risk groups. Today’s announcement marks the culmination of tireless work from both sides to best support those helping the communities around the world which are often the hardest to support through societal stigma and discrimination.”

“We will only achieve an AIDS-free generation and ensure that no one is left behind if all people have non-discriminatory access to HIV/AIDS services,” added U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Deborah L. Birx. “We are proud to partner with Sir Elton John and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Together, we are putting words into action and calling on other partners to join us in meeting the urgent HIV-related needs of LGBT people and stopping stigma in its tracks.”

The announcement was delivered at a celebration at the London residence of Matthew Barzun, the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Ambassador Barzun said: “Step by step, day by day, people are doing the hard work on the ground to pave the way for an AIDS-free generation, and we’re proud to stand with them. We need the passion of people and the power of government to come together to finally eradicate HIV.”