amfAR Raises $4.1 Million in Palm Beach

amfAR – the Foundation for AIDS Research, held its third annual Palm Beach gala honoring the legendary Dionne Warwick as a trailblazer in HIV/AIDS activism with a tribute by Amber Riley, and Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger with its Philanthropic Leadership Award presented by celebrated filmmaker and fashion designer Tom Ford. The event, hosted by Lisa & James Cohen, featured a special performance by 17x Grammy Award-winning artist Sting. The evening’s event chairs included Amy & John Phelan, Michele & Howard Kessler, and Barry Gibb.

amfAR Board Co-Chairs Kevin McClatchy and T. Ryan Greenawalt shared that six in 10 new HIV diagnoses in this country are in people below the age of 35 and that more than 50% of all new HIV cases occur in the South. Greenawalt also announced amfAR would make a donation to Compass Community Center, the oldest LGBTQ+ community center in south Florida, located in Palm Beach County.

After a tribute video, amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost made a heartfelt speech about how Ms. Warwick’s activism impacted the AIDS epidemic and presented the singer with amfAR’s Award of Courage. Touched by his kind words, Warwick recollected the moment when she, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Elton John collaborated on the iconic song, That’s What Friends Are For, and how upon hearing the playback, Elizabeth Taylor then asked if Warwick would “give” the song and its royalties to amfAR as she felt it would not only bring much-needed attention to the AIDS epidemic but help amfAR get off the ground in its early days. Not only did it become the AIDS anthem, but it was the number-one single in the United States in 1986, won multiple Grammys and has raised tens of millions in crucial funds for amfAR’s AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment, education, and advocacy programs to date.

In her acceptance speech, Dee Hilfiger noted her deep connection to the fight against AIDS through witnessing the epidemic firsthand in the 80s and 90s and expressed her hope that “we can maintain our humanity toward each other today.”

The evening continued with a live auction that included art work by Federico de Francesco, Jonas Wood, and Michael Kagan and concluded with emcee Julianna Margulies introducing Sting, who graced the stage with intimate and captivating performances of Roxanne, Every Breath You Take, Fields of Gold, and Englishman in New York –- with surprise guest, Shaggy.

Other notable guests included: Kris Jenner & Corey Gamble, Jennifer Flavin & Sylvester Stallone, Judy & Leonard Lauder, Aerin Lauder, Michael Lorber, Larry Milstein, Eleanore Acquavella & Morgan Dejoux, and Stefano Tonchi.