Master stylist Troy Anicete, designer Kenneth Cole and MC BD Wong. Troy dressed BD from head to toe in Kenneth Cole fashions, including his UP’s, which Kenneth Cole appreciated. Photo by Rink.

On Nov. 15, supporters of amfAR (the Foundation for AIDS Research) across the Bay Area gathered for the Foundation’s tenth annual San Francisco Fall Gala, raising nearly $400,000 for amfAR’s AIDS research programs. The event was presented by Wells Fargo and chaired by Stephen Brady, Julie Candice, Tim Hanlon, Lance Holman, Lisa Sardegna, and David Carillo. The Gala began with guests gathering for cocktails and a silent auction, followed by dinner prepared by Chef Mark Sullivan of Spruce.

Host B.D. Wong, Tony award-winning TV, film, and theater actor, welcomed 300 guests to the Four Seasons, saying, “AmfAR is on the threshold of extraordinarily important and monumental breakthroughs in this ongoing struggle to eradicate AIDS.” Wong pointed out he was dressed “head to toe in Kenneth Cole [famed fashion designer and amfAR chairman of the board], including my underwear.” 

Cole presented Awards of Courage, recognizing the recipients for their outstanding contributions to the global fight against AIDS. Dr. Mervyn Silverman (who has been on the amfAR board and has served as president since 1996, and serves on 25 other boards) and fashion icon Dita Von Teese (spokesperson for the acclaimed MAC AIDS Fund Viva Glam campaign) were recipients. Silverman was honored for his leadership in HIV prevention, among other accomplishments. “It was a blessing for me to be the director of health [from 1977-1985] in one of the most important times in medical history, the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” said Silverman. “To have the opportunity to work with some of the most selfless and courageous individuals to try to fashion an appropriate response to this pandemic was a profound experience for me, and continues to this day.” Von Teese was recognized for dedicating her charm, talent, and time to international HIV/AIDS fundraising and awareness efforts. With the support of Von Teese, MAC has raised more than $128 million to fight AIDS since 1997. She has spread her message throughout the world that safe sex is sexy. She said she was shocked to discover that young people between the ages of 19 and 25 are among the fastest growing population to be contracting HIV. She said that insisting on using condoms every time is “a form of sexual power and self respect.”

California State Assemblyman Mark Leno (who received the amfAR Award of Courage in 2004) was on hand to grant amfAR a special resolution from the State Assembly, which he presented to Cole. Leno called Wong “a hometown hero.” Leno noted that since 1985, over $275 million has been raised by amfAR to put forward over 2,000 research grants. He spoke of the two founders of amfAR as “an interesting collaboration between a kind of maverick Hollywood movie star [Elizabeth Taylor] with her passion on the West coast for finding a cure for AIDS and a formidable East coast scientific doctor [Dr. Mathilde Krim].”

Wong introduced Cole who spoke of a billboard he had put up in New York that stated: “A precedent we can all be proud of. Congratulations Barack Obama.” He said should the election results be a worst case scenario, he had also prepared a billboard to state: “Out with the old; in with the older.” He spoke of the recent miraculous case of an AIDS patient in Berlin who after a bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia was free of all traces of AIDS.

Cole said, “Amidst these daunting and overwhelming challenges, I’ve had the privilege of working with many real heroes and to witness miracles.” He said grimly that there are an estimated 40 million people living today with the virus, “most of whom will likely die of AIDS unless we find a cure.” He added, “We know a cure is within our grasp and will only come from innovative research, which is what amfAR does.”

Later in the evening, the black tie crowd danced to a rousing performance by multi-platinum recording artist Taylor Dayne.

San Francisco based auctioneer, Durwood Zedd, conducted the live auction, which included several unique items. Cole auctioned off a “Marriage Package,” offering first-class travel and accommodations to Connecticut, where same-sex couples from out of state can legally wed. During the bidding, two 18-karat gold Tiffany wedding bands and dinner in New York with B.D. Wong were spontaneously added to the package. Two couples jumped at the chance, thereby raising a total of $16,000. Dita Von Teese added to the auction’s momentum by offering up a private strip lesson for auction, which sold to two lucky bidders for $7,000 each. amfAR recognized American Airlines for its commitment to the fight against AIDS and its generous support of amfAR’s mission.

The Foundation for AIDS Research (at one time known as the American Foundation for AIDS Research, but is now international) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy.

CEO of amfAR Kevin Frost closed the program by speaking about recent breakthroughs in the field of AIDS research, as well as advancements that have renewed hopes that a cure for AIDS is within reach.