Elton John AIDS Foundation's 13th Annual An Enduring Vision

Charlie Hendon, Jay Jopling, Nathalie and Pablo Salame, and Governor Andrew Cuomo Honored

Sir Elton John performs solo set at piano

Event Raises $3.7 Million for the Foundation

News provided by

Oct 29, 2014, 01:54 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last night, Sir Elton John continued his humanitarian efforts to raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and awareness programs across the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean at the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF)'s 13^th annual benefit An Enduring Vision held at Cipriani Wall Street. American Airlines, Goldman Sachs Gives, Robert K. Kraft, and Wells Fargo served as the Presenting Sponsors of the benefit, and the star-studded evening raised over $3.7 million for the Foundation.

As part of the evening's program, EJAF Founder Sir Elton John and Chairman David Furnish presented Enduring Vision awards to five outstanding Foundation supporters. Governor Andrew Cuomo was honored for his extraordinary contributions to the fight against AIDS, especially his plan to end AIDS in New York State by 2020, and for his tremendous leadership in bringing marriage equality to New York. Atlanta real estate developer Charlie Hendon has been a devoted friend and generous supporter of EJAF's work for many years. Jay Jopling, proprietor of the prominent gallery White Cube and a loyal EJAF supporter and advocate, has assisted the Foundation on numerous occasions by securing significant pieces of art for live auctions and art projects, helping to raise millions of dollars over the years for EJAF's urgent mission. In addition to their extraordinary philanthropic support for the Foundation, Nathalie and Pablo Salame are also vocal champions of both EJAF's work and LGBT rights issues.

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper emceed the gala dinner for a seventh time. Elton John took the stage for an intimate solo performance at the piano. Also, guest auctioneer Alexander Gilkes of Paddle8 conducted a live auction featuring such one-of-a-kind items as a Damien Hirst painting, tickets and backstage passes to Elton John's upcoming New Year's Eve concert at Barclays Center, lunch with Anderson Cooper and Matt Lauer, lunch with Mike Myers, and a Robert Mapplethorpe photograph.

"Things are getting better," said Sir Elton in his remarks for the evening. "More people are getting treatment. The world is becoming a more tolerant, compassionate place. But we still have so much to do. What I've learned from fighting AIDS for the past 22 years is that often the people who need the most compassion are those who receive the least. That's why I created this foundation. We are willing to take on the unpopular issues, and we are willing to put serious amounts of money towards bold approaches that bring us closer to 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.

About EJAF: At the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) we believe that AIDS can be beaten. We act on that belief by raising funds for effective programs and policies, and also by speaking out with honesty and compassion about the realities of people's lives. Sir Elton John created EJAF over twenty years ago, first in the United States in 1992 and then in the United Kingdom in 1993. Through hard work and with the help of our network of kind, amazing, creative, and generous friends and supporters, the two foundations together have raised more than $300 million over the past two decades to combat stigma, prevent infections, provide treatment and services, and motivate governments to end AIDS. The U.S. foundation focuses its efforts on programs in the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean, while the U.K. foundation funds HIV-related work in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Join us in speaking out, taking action, and contributing to our efforts to achieve a world without AIDS. For more information, please visit www.ejaf.org.

American Airlines is the official airline of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

SOURCE Elton John AIDS Foundation