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The '''Elton John AIDS Foundation''' (EJAF) is a [[nonprofit organization]], established by rock musician Sir [[Elton John]]{{spaced ndash}} in 1992 in the [[United States]] and 1993 in the [[United Kingdom]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/6350418/Robert-Key.html|title=Robert Key|date=October 16, 2009|access-date=November 9, 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>{{spaced ndash}} to support innovative [[HIV]] prevention, education programs, direct care and support services to people living with HIV.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation is a non-profit organization established by musician [[Elton John|Sir Elton John]] in 1992 to help fund frontline partners to prevent infections, fight stigma and provide treatment with love, compassion and dignity for the most vulnerable groups affected by [[HIV]] around the world.


It has raised over $450 million worldwide, saved 5 million lives and supported 2,956 projects to date.
The Foundation has raised more than $450 million worldwide, saved 5 million lives and supported 3000 projects to date<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Elton John AIDS Foundation Home Page|url=https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Elton John AIDS Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref> (September 2020).


The Elton John AIDS Foundation is in the top 10 philanthropic funders of HIV/AIDS grants worldwide, number one philanthropic funder in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and 2<sup>nd</sup> largest HIV philanthropic funder of LGBTQ populations globally.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Key facts & figures|url=https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/about-us/key-facts-figures/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Elton John AIDS Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref>
The Foundation’s mission is simple: to be a powerful force in the end to the AIDS epidemic.


==History<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our history|url=https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/about-us/our-history/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Elton John AIDS Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref>==
==Origin==
[[File:Ryan White.jpg|thumb|Ryan White in 1989]]
[[File:Ryan White.jpg|thumb|Ryan White in 1989]]
Elton John was inspired to start the organization after the passing of Indiana teenager, [[Ryan White]], who was infected with HIV by a blood transfusion and died in 1990.
John was inspired to start the organization after losing two friends to AIDS in the span of a year. One was [[Ryan White]], a young man who was infected with HIV by a blood transfusion and who died in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hab.hrsa.gov/about-ryan-white-hivaids-program/who-was-ryan-white|title=Who Was Ryan White? {{!}} HIV/AIDS Bureau|website=hab.hrsa.gov | access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref> White's personable and compassionate persona helped to reduce stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV,<ref name=":0">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/ryan-white-elton-john-greg-louganis-aids_n_3118750.html "Ryan White's Legacy: Elton John, Greg Louganis Reveal How Boy With AIDS Impacted Their Lives "]. ''[[Huffington Post]]''. Retrieved June 6, 2013.</ref> an effort that EJAF continues. John also lost his friend [[Freddie Mercury]], a fellow musician (the lead singer of the rock band [[Queen (band)|Queen]]), who died of AIDS-related bronchial pneumonia in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/freddie-mercury-9406228|title=Freddie Mercury|website=Biography|language=en-us|access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref> John paid tribute to both of them in concert–– he performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute: Concert for AIDS Awareness in 1992<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/the-largest-farewell-the-freddie-mercury-tribute-concert-25-years-ago/a-38487337|title=The largest farewell: The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 25 years ago |website=DW.COM | access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref> and dedicated his song "Skyline Pigeon" to Ryan White in at his funeral.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-elton-john-sings-skyline-pigeon-at-ryan-whites-funeral-201640/|title=Flashback: Elton John Sings at Ryan White's Funeral|last=Greene|first=Andy|date=October 1, 2015|work=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 9, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>


In 1999, the [[World Health Organization]] announced that AIDS was [[Africa]]’s number one killer, with 33 million HIV infections and 14 million AIDS-related deaths. It was during this time that the Foundation funded palliative care in Africa to support 800,000 people to die with dignity and help over 800,000 children orphaned by AIDS.
== Programs funded by EJAF ==
⚫
As a leader in the global AIDS community, the Elton John AIDS Foundation is committed to overcome the stigma, discrimination and neglect that keeps us from ending AIDS. As a grant-making organisation, the Elton John AIDS Foundation creates bespoke partnerships and announce opportunities for funding whilst carefully monitoring impact for all projects with current grantees.


In 2002, Elton John testified before [[United States Congress|U.S Congress]] pleading for more funds to fight the global AIDS epidemic, and in 2003, [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] created [[President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief|PEPFAR]], the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the biggest fund for health in history.
⚫
Initiatives funded by the Foundation include:


During the following years, the Foundation continued to fund HIV testing, treatment and care services for key populations most at risk.
⚫
* RADIAN: This ground-breaking partnership with Gilead Sciences aims to meaningfully address new HIV infections and deaths from AIDS related illnesses in EECA through focused action, investment and resourcing to improve the quality of prevention and care for people at risk of or living with HIV in the region.

⚫
* MENSTAR: Founded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Unitaid, The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Johnson & Johnson and Gilead Sciences, the Coalition will expand the diagnosis and treatment of HIV infections in men, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Elton John met with [[Emmanuel Macron|President Macron]] in 2019 and was awarded the [[Legion of Honour|Légion d'Honneur]] for his commitment to HIV/AIDS.
⚫
* UK SOCIAL IMPACT BOND: The Elton John AIDS Foundation, Lambeth Council, The National Lottery Community Fund, ViiV Healthcare, Comic Relief, and Big Issue have come together to implement the world’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB) focused on HIV treatment and care.

== Mission<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our mission|url=https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/about-us/our-mission/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Elton John AIDS Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref> ==
As a leader in the global AIDS community, the Elton John AIDS Foundation is committed to overcome the stigma, discrimination and neglect that keeps us from ending AIDS.

The Foundation’s purpose is to harness local expertise, mobilise networks of generous public and private supporters and partners, and maximise the platform and influence of our Founder Elton John to eliminate HIV as a problem for people vulnerable to HIV and for their communities.

# No more discrimination
# No more HIV infections
# No more AIDS deaths

== Programs funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation<ref>{{Cite web|title=What we fund|url=https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/what-we-do/what-we-fund/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Elton John AIDS Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref> ==
⚫
As a grant-making organisation, the Elton John AIDS Foundation creates bespoke partnerships and announce opportunities for funding whilst carefully monitoring impact for all projects with current grantees.

⚫
Example initiatives funded by the Foundation include:

⚫
* RADIAN: This ground-breaking partnership with [[Gilead Sciences]] aims to meaningfully address new HIV infections and deaths from AIDS related illnesses in EECA through focused action, investment and resourcing to improve the quality of prevention and care for people at risk of or living with HIV in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Radian|url=https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/what-we-do/what-we-fund/radian/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Elton John AIDS Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref>

⚫
* MENSTAR: Founded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, [[Unitaid]], [[The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria|The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]], the [[The Children's Investment Fund Foundation|Children’s Investment Fund Foundation]], [[Johnson & Johnson]] and [[Gilead Sciences]], the Coalition will expand the diagnosis and treatment of HIV infections in men, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Menstar|url=https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/what-we-do/what-we-fund/menstar/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Elton John AIDS Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref>

⚫
* UK HIV SOCIAL IMPACT BOND: The Elton John AIDS Foundation, [[Lambeth London Borough Council|Lambeth Council]], The National Lottery Community Fund, [[ViiV Healthcare]], [[Comic Relief]], and Big Issue Invest have come together to implement the world’s first [[Social impact bond|Social Impact Bond]] (SIB) focused on HIV testing and treatment in three of London’s most impacted boroughs: Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UK Social Impact Bond|url=https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/what-we-do/what-we-fund/uk-social-impact-bond/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Elton John AIDS Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref>


== Events ==
== Events ==
[[File:Academy Awards Viewing 2020.jpg|alt=|thumb|Elton John, David Furnish and Bernie Taupin attend the 28th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party sponsored by IMDb, Neuro Drinks and Walmart on February 09, 2020 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF)]]
[[File:2009_Oscar_party.jpg|thumb|Elton John and Christopher McDaniel at EJAF's 2009 Academy Awards Party]]


=== Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party ===
=== Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party ===
Every year, the foundation throws a viewing party for the Academy Awards. It is an invitation-only event that has grown to become one of the most desired invitations in the entertainment industry, as well as one of EJAF's most fruitful fundraising efforts. The tradition has been going since the foundation was created in 1992. For the first few years, the party was a dinner held at the Maple Drive restaurant in Beverly Hills.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-furnish-talks-year-s-elton-john-oscar-party-rocket-man-s-retirement-plans-1090102|title=David Furnish Talks This Year's Elton John Oscar Party and the Rocket Man's Retirement Plans|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=October 29, 2018|language=en}}</ref> The inaugural dinner was arranged by Patrick Lippet, another activist in Hollywood who was best known for his work with the [[Rock the Vote]] campaign. Lippet died from AIDS only three months after helping Elton John put together the first EJAF Oscar night party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/07/14/Rock-the-Votes-Patrick-Lippert-dies-of-AIDS/8477742622400/|title=Rock the Vote's Patrick Lippert dies of AIDS|work=UPI|access-date=October 29, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
Every year, the foundation hosts a viewing party for the [[Academy Awards]]. It is an invitation-only event that has grown to become one of the most desired invitations in the entertainment industry, as well as one of the Elton John AIDS Foundation's most fruitful fundraising efforts. For the first few years, the party was a dinner held at the Maple Drive restaurant in Beverly Hills. The inaugural dinner was arranged by Patrick Lippet, another activist in Hollywood who was best known for his work with the Rock the Vote campaign. Lippet died from AIDS only three months after helping Elton John put together the first Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar night party.


In 1998, the party moved to Spago, another upscale restaurant in Beverly Hills known for its celebrity clientele.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1998/feb/19/entertainment/ca-20534|title=Elton John's Party Is on the Move|last=CROWE|first=JERRY|date=February 19, 1998|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 29, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> It has moved multiple times since then with the West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles serving as the venue in 2018 and 2019.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-elton-john-oscar-party-aids-foundation-20180226-story.html|title=Elton John's 26th Oscars viewing party raises $5.9 million for his AIDS Foundation - Los Angeles Times|last=Lewis|first=Randy|website=latimes.com|access-date=October 29, 2018}}</ref>
In 1998, the party moved to Spago, another upscale restaurant in Beverly Hills known for its celebrity clientele. It has moved multiple times since then with the West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles serving as the venue in since 2018.


The event features dinner, a live broadcast of the Academy Awards Ceremony, and a post-broadcast after-party with live music. John tends to pick upcoming bands. The 2018 party featured the band [[Greta Van Fleet]] as the headliner.<ref name=":8" />
The event features dinner, a live broadcast of the Academy Awards Ceremony, and a post-broadcast after-party with live music.


This annual event has raised millions of dollars, thanks to the generosity of the Foundation’s supporters, which helps the Foundation support HIV treatment and care for the most marginalized communities.
Fundraising occurs before, during and after the event. Guests pay an entry fee in order to get in. Once inside, they are encouraged to pledge donations to EJAF in between the Oscars broadcast. Towards the end of the event, an auction is held, the proceeds of which also benefit EJAF. In 2018, the auction alone raised $725,000. The entire event raised 5.9 million dollars.<ref name=":8" />


=== ''An Enduring Vision'' Annual Gala ===
=== '''Midsummer Party''' ===
In July 2019, the Foundation held their first Midsummer Party event in the South of France to support HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, supporting services, and advocacy programs across the globe.
EJAF's other major fundraiser is an annual gala in New York that was started in 2001. The event is meant to honor longstanding partners, donors or supporters of EJAF with the foundation's Enduring Visions Award. The event is usually hosted by another celebrity and includes a reception, a dinner with the awards presentation, and a musical guest. The fundraising is achieved through the ticket fees and a live action similar to the one that takes place at the Academy Awards party.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=http://www.averagesocialite.com/2018/07/elton-john-aids-foundation-enduring.html|title=Elton John AIDS Foundation An Enduring Vision Benefit Gala, NYC|website=www.averagesocialite.com|access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref>


The star-studded evening was held at Johnny Pigozzi’s beautiful Villa Dorane at the end of [[Antibes|Cap d’Antibes]] and featured a cocktail reception and a sumptuous Provençal dinner with beautiful music provided by [[Stjepan Hauser]] of [[2Cellos]].
Recent award recipients include Patricia Hearst, Steve Tisch, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.<ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=https://wwd.com/eye/parties/elton-john-aids-foundation-gala-new-york-1202899407/|title=The Elton John AIDS Foundation Hosts Annual Enduring Vision Awards Gala|last=Tauer|first=Kristen|date=November 6, 2018|work=WWD|access-date=November 9, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://campbell-rey.com/case-study/elton-john-aids-foundation/|title=Elton John AIDS Foundation {{!}} Campbell-Rey|work=Campbell-Rey|access-date=November 9, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> The gala has been hosted by various celebrities, such as Gayle King and Anderson Cooper.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=http://newyork.ejaf.org/2012/09/an-enduring-vision-2012/|title=An Enduring Vision 2012 {{!}} Elton John AIDS Foundation|website=newyork.ejaf.org|language=en-US|access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref> Unlike the Academy Award Party, which usually features an upcoming or lesser known artist, the musical guests for the EJAF ''An Enduring Vision'' Gala are usually well-known artists from a variety of genres; previous performers for the event include Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":12" />
[[File:Nancy_Pelosi_and_Elizabeth_Taylor_Testifying_Before_the_House_Budget_Committee_on_HIV-AIDS_Funding_(5978837887)_(cropped).jpg|thumb|Elizabeth Taylor and Nancy Pelosi Testifying Before the House Budget Committee on HIV-AIDS Funding]]


==Leadership, Board Members and Patrons<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our team|url=https://www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org/about-us/our-team/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=Elton John AIDS Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref>==
== Partnership with ETAF ==
Until her death in 2011, actress and activist [[Elizabeth Taylor]] and Elton John were close friends. Taylor was a public AIDS activist since the 1980s and founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in 1991. Like EJAF, Taylor's foundation focused on fundraising for AIDS programs (especially focused on marginalized regions). She also engaged in plenty of individual advocacy; she testified before Congress multiple times to support AIDS-related legislation, including the Ryan White bill for AIDS funding in 1986. in The two celebrities supported each other's organizations often; Taylor spoke at various EJAF events, and John performed at many ETAF fundraisers, starting from the very first ETAF benefit concert in Madison Square Garden on October 11, 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org/timeline/|title=Timeline {{!}} The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation|website=elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org|language=en-US|access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref> The two foundations have also partnered throughout their history to provide bilaterally funded grants to projects that fall within both of their missions.


=== '''Anne Aslett, Chief Executive Officer''' ===
In 2016, EJAF partnered with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in an initiative to combat AIDS in the Southern United States. They offered grants of $330,000 (funded by both foundations) to five different initiatives in the American South, a region that contains about 44% of the country's HIV-positive population. The five initiatives funded by the combined effort were:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/donna-labermeier/legends-dedicated-to-erad_b_9468008.html|title=Legends Dedicated to Eradicating HIV/AIDS Join Forces|last=L|first=Donna|date=March 16, 2016|website=Huffington Post|language=en-US|access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref>
Anne Aslett is the global [[Chief executive officer|Chief Executive Officer]] of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Formerly, Anne served as Executive Director of the Foundation based in the UK. She has been with the Foundation for almost 20 years, having worked on the Foundation’s UK mission in Europe, Africa and Asia, directing all its programming across 23 countries, as International Development Director, overseeing the disbursement of over 60m grants.


=== '''David Furnish, Chairman''' ===
* Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC)
As CEO of Rocket Entertainment and chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, [[David Furnish]] is an entrepreneur with a global and strategic outlook occupying a unique intersection of philanthropy, film, music and theatre.
* Georgia Equality/Equality Foundation of Georgia
* JASMYN (non-profit for LGBTQ youth in Jacksonville)
* Racial Justice Action Center (Atlanta)
* Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO)


A tireless campaigner, David Furnish is a leading voice in the worldwide fight against HIV and AIDS. He has led the Elton John AIDS Foundation for over 20 years and travels across the globe to meet people at risk and living with HIV first-hand and community groups, doctors and activists to raise the attention of epidemic and builds partnerships with major companies to fund innovative programming and involve the mass public in support of the Foundation .
== Finances ==
With the exception of a three-year period during which the IRS had to pressure EJAF to get their tax forms (1996–1999), the foundation has been deemed generally transparent and financially trustworthy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=9850|title=Charity Navigator - Rating for Elton John AIDS Foundation|website=Charity Navigator | access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eltonjohnworld.com/index.php/archives/35-1999-06-june/55-ejaffiresbackafteraccounts|title=Elton John World News: EJAF fires back after accounts attack|website=www.eltonjohnworld.com|language=en-gb|access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref>


=== Honorary Lifetime President ===
⚫
==Patrons==

Patrons include:<ref>Staff (undated). [http://ejaf.com/about/our-patrons/ "Our Patrons"]. Elton John AIDS Foundation (UK). Retrieved August 23, 2012.</ref>
* [[Billie Jean King]]

=== Board Members ===

* Ajaz Ahmed
* Johnny Bergius
* Tracy Blackwell (Treasurer)
* Mark Dybul
* Eric Goosby
* Emma Kane
* [[Ilana Kloss]]
* Evgeny Lebedev
* Tom Moore
* Richard Reger (Company Secretary)
* Barron Segar

⚫
=== Patrons ===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Waheed Alli, Baron Alli]]
* [[Waheed Alli]]
* [[Boris Becker]]
* [[Gary Barlow]]
* [[David Beckham]]
* [[David Beckham]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Beckham/posts/today-is-worldaidsday-and-my-friend-elton-john-founded-elton-john-aids-foundatio/10156501844786571/|title=Today is World AIDS Day|publisher=Facebook|first=David|last=Beckham|date=1 December 2019|accessdate=14 June 2020}}</ref>
* [[Victoria Beckham]]
* [[Victoria Beckham]]
* [[Donatella Versace]]
* [[James Blunt]]
* [[Arpad Busson]]
* [[Jimmy Carr]]
* [[David Frost]]
* [[Louise Fennell]]
* [[Theo Fennell]]
* [[Elizabeth Hurley]]
* [[Ruth Kennedy]]
* [[Elizabeth Hurley]]
* [[Elizabeth Hurley]]
* [[Annie Lennox]]
* [[Annie Lennox]]
* [[Tamara Mellon]]
* [[George Michael]]
* [[Simon Rattle]]
* [[Simon Rattle]]
* [[Elizabeth Saltzman]]
* [[Grey Ruthven, 2nd Earl of Gowrie]]
* [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]
* [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]
* [[Trudie Styler]]
* [[Trudie Styler]]
* [[Neil Tennant]]
* [[Emma Thompson]]
* [[Emma Thompson]]
* [[Charlie Sheen]]
* [[Donatella Versace]]
⚫
* [[David Walliams]]{{div col end}}

⚫
{{div col end}}


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 16:30, 8 September 2020

Elton John AIDS Foundation
Founded1992; 32 years ago (1992)
United States
1993 (1993)
United Kingdom
FounderElton John
FocusHIV/AIDS
Location
Websiteeltonjohnaidsfoundation.org

The Elton John AIDS Foundation is a non-profit organization established by musician Sir Elton John in 1992 to help fund frontline partners to prevent infections, fight stigma and provide treatment with love, compassion and dignity for the most vulnerable groups affected by HIV around the world.

The Foundation has raised more than $450 million worldwide, saved 5 million lives and supported 3000 projects to date[1] (September 2020).

The Elton John AIDS Foundation is in the top 10 philanthropic funders of HIV/AIDS grants worldwide, number one philanthropic funder in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and 2nd largest HIV philanthropic funder of LGBTQ populations globally.[2]

History[3]

Ryan White in 1989

Elton John was inspired to start the organization after the passing of Indiana teenager, Ryan White, who was infected with HIV by a blood transfusion and died in 1990.

In 1999, the World Health Organization announced that AIDS was Africa’s number one killer, with 33 million HIV infections and 14 million AIDS-related deaths. It was during this time that the Foundation funded palliative care in Africa to support 800,000 people to die with dignity and help over 800,000 children orphaned by AIDS.

In 2002, Elton John testified before U.S Congress pleading for more funds to fight the global AIDS epidemic, and in 2003, President Bush created PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the biggest fund for health in history.

During the following years, the Foundation continued to fund HIV testing, treatment and care services for key populations most at risk.

Elton John met with President Macron in 2019 and was awarded the Légion d'Honneur for his commitment to HIV/AIDS.

Mission[4]

As a leader in the global AIDS community, the Elton John AIDS Foundation is committed to overcome the stigma, discrimination and neglect that keeps us from ending AIDS.

The Foundation’s purpose is to harness local expertise, mobilise networks of generous public and private supporters and partners, and maximise the platform and influence of our Founder Elton John to eliminate HIV as a problem for people vulnerable to HIV and for their communities.

  1. No more discrimination
  2. No more HIV infections
  3. No more AIDS deaths

Programs funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation[5]

As a grant-making organisation, the Elton John AIDS Foundation creates bespoke partnerships and announce opportunities for funding whilst carefully monitoring impact for all projects with current grantees.

Example initiatives funded by the Foundation include:

  • RADIAN: This ground-breaking partnership with Gilead Sciences aims to meaningfully address new HIV infections and deaths from AIDS related illnesses in EECA through focused action, investment and resourcing to improve the quality of prevention and care for people at risk of or living with HIV in the region.[6]
  • UK HIV SOCIAL IMPACT BOND: The Elton John AIDS Foundation, Lambeth Council, The National Lottery Community Fund, ViiV Healthcare, Comic Relief, and Big Issue Invest have come together to implement the world’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB) focused on HIV testing and treatment in three of London’s most impacted boroughs: Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark.[8]

Events

File:Academy Awards Viewing 2020.jpg
Elton John, David Furnish and Bernie Taupin attend the 28th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party sponsored by IMDb, Neuro Drinks and Walmart on February 09, 2020 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF)

Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party

Every year, the foundation hosts a viewing party for the Academy Awards. It is an invitation-only event that has grown to become one of the most desired invitations in the entertainment industry, as well as one of the Elton John AIDS Foundation's most fruitful fundraising efforts. For the first few years, the party was a dinner held at the Maple Drive restaurant in Beverly Hills. The inaugural dinner was arranged by Patrick Lippet, another activist in Hollywood who was best known for his work with the Rock the Vote campaign. Lippet died from AIDS only three months after helping Elton John put together the first Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar night party.

In 1998, the party moved to Spago, another upscale restaurant in Beverly Hills known for its celebrity clientele. It has moved multiple times since then with the West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles serving as the venue in since 2018.

The event features dinner, a live broadcast of the Academy Awards Ceremony, and a post-broadcast after-party with live music.

This annual event has raised millions of dollars, thanks to the generosity of the Foundation’s supporters, which helps the Foundation support HIV treatment and care for the most marginalized communities.

Midsummer Party

In July 2019, the Foundation held their first Midsummer Party event in the South of France to support HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, supporting services, and advocacy programs across the globe.

The star-studded evening was held at Johnny Pigozzi’s beautiful Villa Dorane at the end of Cap d’Antibes and featured a cocktail reception and a sumptuous Provençal dinner with beautiful music provided by Stjepan Hauser of 2Cellos.

Leadership, Board Members and Patrons[9]

Anne Aslett, Chief Executive Officer

Anne Aslett is the global Chief Executive Officer of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Formerly, Anne served as Executive Director of the Foundation based in the UK. She has been with the Foundation for almost 20 years, having worked on the Foundation’s UK mission in Europe, Africa and Asia, directing all its programming across 23 countries, as International Development Director, overseeing the disbursement of over 60m grants.

David Furnish, Chairman

As CEO of Rocket Entertainment and chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, David Furnish is an entrepreneur with a global and strategic outlook occupying a unique intersection of philanthropy, film, music and theatre.

A tireless campaigner, David Furnish is a leading voice in the worldwide fight against HIV and AIDS. He has led the Elton John AIDS Foundation for over 20 years and travels across the globe to meet people at risk and living with HIV first-hand and community groups, doctors and activists to raise the attention of epidemic and builds partnerships with major companies to fund innovative programming and involve the mass public in support of the Foundation .

Honorary Lifetime President

Board Members

  • Ajaz Ahmed
  • Johnny Bergius
  • Tracy Blackwell (Treasurer)
  • Mark Dybul
  • Eric Goosby
  • Emma Kane
  • Ilana Kloss
  • Evgeny Lebedev
  • Tom Moore
  • Richard Reger (Company Secretary)
  • Barron Segar

Patrons

References

  1. ^ "Elton John AIDS Foundation Home Page". Elton John AIDS Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "Key facts & figures". Elton John AIDS Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  3. ^ "Our history". Elton John AIDS Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "Our mission". Elton John AIDS Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "What we fund". Elton John AIDS Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Radian". Elton John AIDS Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "Menstar". Elton John AIDS Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "UK Social Impact Bond". Elton John AIDS Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  9. ^ "Our team". Elton John AIDS Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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