Franklin Fry, Joel Goodrich, Kevin Frost and Gregory Borroff
AmfAR supporter Joel Goodrich recently hosted a luncheon in Union Square to draw attention to amfAR’s eleventh annual San Francisco Gala, which will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel on November 6, 2009. The event will feature cocktails, both live and silent luxury auctions, a three-course dinner designed by a celebrity chef, and special entertainment.
Joel Goodrich
Joel’s guests got to meet Kevin Frost (the CEO of amfAR), Gregory Borroff (VP of Development), and Franklin Fry (the Director of Special Events.) It was interesting to learn that while so many charities have suffered this year, amfAR is still thriving. For instance, their event in Milan this month will be a super glamorous affair — Elizabeth Taylor contacted Janet Jackson just last month and asked her to appear at the gala!
And speaking of Miss Taylor, as a special surprise at the luncheon, photographer Thomas Gibbons presented a framed photo he had taken at the very first amfAR gala of Elizabeth Taylor (looking absolutely magnificent) with Dr. Mathilde Krim. As Tom is a decades-long friend of Elizabeth Taylor, and a supporter of amfAR who has known so many friends with AIDS over the years, it was a poignant personal touch.
Jorge Maumer and Rosalina Lydster
AmfAR CEO Kevin Frost, who had just arrived from a trip to Bangkok, spoke afterwards about the goals of the organization. He remarked on how powerful it was to him that Edward Kennedy was so full of hope up to the end of his life, because hope is such a vital part of the day-to-day functioning of people who are committed to finding a cure for AIDS.
“There’s been a lot of hopeful research in the last year and a half,” he noted. ”AmfAR believes we can cure AIDS, and do it in our lifetime.”
In fact, according to Mr. Frost, “The entire scientific community has agreed that one person has been cured by AIDS.”
Continued research on a cure will simply not be possible without more funding, which is what makes amfAR so important. The organization raises the largest amount of money for a cure for AIDS, even more than the NIH!
Sophie Azouaou, Mark Rhoades and Julie Candice
We asked a few of the lunch guests why they support amfAR. For Mark Rhoades it’s “that the money they raise goes to research, prevention and education. And they always throw a great party!”
Indeed, from what we’ve been hearing, the November 6 gala is going to be one of their best!
Stylist Karen Tamblyn admires the organization because it “celebrates life by bringing elegance, joie de vivre, and the A-list together to increase visibility and support for a cause that affects millions of lives across the globe.”
Derek Besenfelder
Event producer Derek Besenfelder said that “After attending amfAR’s gala last year, I am looking forward to hosting a table this year. Kevin Frost’s talk was inspiring and it reminded me that it is because of amfAR’s cutting edge research that we are one step closer in finding a cure for HIV/AIDS.”
And Sophie Azouaou, host of the philanthropy TV show “Touching Hearts” says “I support amfAR and know that by combining our efforts, we will find a cure, and make it an AIDS free world!”
Mark Rhoades and Karen Tamblyn
We hope to see you at the Four Seasons in November for this year’s gala, but if you can’t make it, please consider making a donation.
- Further Information: amfAR [amfar.org]
- Photos: Thomas Gibbons [via email at tjgibbons@gmail.com]
Tags: amfAR, Derek Besenfelder, Elizabeth Taylor, Franklin Fry, Gregory Borroff, Janet jackson, Joel Goodrich, Jorge Maumer, Karen Tamblyn, Kevin Frost, Rosalina Lydster, Thomas Gibbons
We’re delighted to see that the Alex Chases Salon, run by the renowned hairstylist Alex Chases, has recently moved into a larger space at Rosewood Sand Hill’s Sense spa.
Designer Cedric Charlier recently visited San Francisco from Paris, to present his Spring 2013 collection at Barneys.
With Sloan and Roger Barnett, Sabrina Buell and Yves Behar, Jean-Pierre Conte, and Alison and Mark Pincus, Gucci recently hosted a private cocktail party at the San Francisco store to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the loafer, and the new 1953 collection for men and women.
Catherine Kwong’s living room, inspired by Mick Jagger and Bianca Jagger, is one of the highlights of the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, taking place at 2800 Pacific Avenue.
Saks Fifth Avenue and San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary are presenting Zac Posen as this year’s guest designer at the 32nd San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary Fashion Show, benefiting San Francisco Ballet.
Michael S. Smith was recently honored at Hedge Gallery in San Francisco at a party hosted by Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty and Allison Speer. His design work for a Palladian Villa in Malibu is being put up for auction at Christie’s in New York. Nicolas Berggruen, Princess Tatiana Galitzine, Dede Wilsey, and Sabrina Buell were among the guests.
Deepa Pakianathan and Phil Pemberton recently hosted a reception for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in anticipation of its upcoming Gala on April 20, 2013, which pays tribute to legendary opera baritone and Conservatory Advisory Board member Thomas Hampson.
Conservatory mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook directs and stars in a program featuring special performances by Hampson with Conservatory students, faculty and guest artists. Teresa Medearis and Barbara Walkowski co-chair the event, with catering by McCall’s Catering and Events and decor by Blueprint Studios.
Tickets for this very special occasion can be purchased at www.sfcm.edu
UCSF Partners in Care recently held its 2013 kick-off membership event at Reed & Greenough. Membership co-Chairs Schuyler Hudak and Libby Leffler hosted the launch party and kicked off the well-attended evening with brief remarks, followed by UCSF Partners in Care President Katie Budge, who spoke about the services that the auxiliary organization provides to the hospital.
UCSF Partners in Care works with UCSF hospital staff to fund programs that provide comfort and well-being to patients and their families while visiting the UCSF medical center.
Guests enjoyed spirited greyhounds nicknamed “Doctor’s Orders,” and a “Members Only” wine special while noshing on sweet treats from Kara’s Cupakes, and savory sliders and arancini from Cedar Hill Kitchen and Smokehouse.
Please visit www.ucsfpartnersincare.org for more information about this important organization.
Renowned European designer Ms. Madeline Pauw recently made an appearance at a delightful luncheon at Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco, where her Spring 2013 collection was presented.
The Pauw collection is designed by Madeleine Pauw, daughter of the original founders. Pauw is known for its luxurious fabrics and soft touches of femininity while integrating just a splash of masculine undertones, but always keeping the fit and style in mind for the female physique. The company has been in business for over 50 years, and originally was created in the Netherlands where it currently has 29 stores.
You can purchase pieces from Pauw at Saks Fifth Avenue at 384 Post Street, San Francisco, or online at Saks Fifth Avenue
ModeWalk recently unveiled its newest service for their clients, a first-of-its-kind, by-appointment showroom in San Francisco called Boudoir, located on the 7th Floor of 391 Sutter Street in Union Square.
Betty Lin, the chic Presidio Heights boutique, recently celebrated the launch of the new Maiyet collection with a party hosted by Alexis Traina, Alison Pincus, Nina Stanford, and Seth Miller.
The Mid Winter Gala for 2013 honored the exhibit, “Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis” with a chic winter wonderland that raised over $400k. Marissa Mayer, Jonathan Ive, Alison Pincus, Vanessa Getty, Dick Costolo, Stephan Jenkins, Connie Nielsen, Lori Levine, Evgenia Peretz, Jeremy Stoppelman, Trevor Traina, Allison Speer and Kathryn Lasater were among the 380 who attended.
Stephanie Phair, the managing director of Outnet.com, recently visited from London to host a luncheon previewing Oscar de la Renta’s new limited edition collection designed exclusively for The Outnet.
The Italian artist, Paolo Troilo, recently debuted his first U.S. exhibit at Coup d’Etat, the most exceptional designer space in San Francisco.
Sponsored by Testa Vineyards, the event brought together San Francisco tastemakers such as Jack Calhoun, Stephen Brady, Gary Friedman, Joy Bianchi, Anna Weinberg, Ken Fulk, and Jamie Finegold, among others.
The exhibit will run at Coup d’Etat until May 2013.
Visit Coup d’Etat at 111 Rhode Island, or online at coupdetatsf.com
The International Museum of Women (IMOW) hosted its annual Celebrating Change Benefit on March 6th, 2013, and the associated Vanguard Group hosted its Art Live Lounge benefit.
This year’s benefit featured IMOW’s second annual Innovator Award for Women in Technology, presented to Padmasree Warrior, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer of Cisco Systems.
The International Museum of Women is an innovative online museum that showcases art, stories and ideas to celebrate, inspire and advance the lives of women around the world. With the support of over 500 guests, IMOW raised over $200,000 to benefit its mission and exhibitions. Guests enjoyed a night of art and inspiration from the museum’s virtual collection, music, networking and dancing, while watching notable female artists create original artwork.
Learn more about the International Museum of Women at www.imow.org
Jay Jeffers recently designed three of the 23 penthouses of the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Lake Tahoe. The homes range from $1,250,000 to $4,500,000 in price.
Vaunte has selected five chic San Francisco women to feature on their site: Allison Speer, Sabrina Buell, Lauren Goodman, Jane Gruber, and Tienlyn Jacobson.
