amfAR holds Inspiration Paris Gala for AIDS Research

BURBANK, CA, June 27, 2012

The evening of the 28th June 2012 promises another top level red carpet charity event with the staging of The Inspiration Paris Gala 2012 in France's capital city. The Inspiration Paris Gala is an annual event held by amfAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, to raise money for and awareness of the fight against AIDS.

Chief high profile sponsors for this prestigious event will be M.A.C.Cosmetics, Rebecca Wang Entertainment, Piaget, and Delta Airlines.

The Gala will be held on the 28th June 2012 during the Paris Men's Fashion Week, at the iconic Parisian restaurant and club Maxims, well-known for its celebrity clientele and art nouveau interior.

The internationally renowned designer Marc Jacobs will be taking Honorary Chair. Robert Duffy, President of Marc Jacobs, and Marc Jacobs International, will be recipients of the Piaget Award of Inspiration. Sofia Coppola will be a special guest.

amfAR launched the Inspiration Series in 2010 to celebrate all aspects of men's fashion and style, while raising funds for the Foundation's lifesaving AIDS research programmes. Annual events take place in New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Sao Paolo and have so far raised more than $3 million for AIDS research.

amfAR's international fundraising events are renowned for their ability both to attract the world's leading public figures and to garner global media coverage. The events attract A-list celebrities and lead players across society, and also the press attention that goes along with their star power. Over the past years, these events have consistently drawn a glittering guest list including:
Giorgio Armani, Bill Clinton, George Clooney, Sofia Coppola, Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, and Harvey Weinstein, to name just a few.

amfAR's signature Cinema Against AIDS series are among the most high-profile and consistently successful charitable events in the world, with galas routinely held in Cannes, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Milan, and Toronto. Since the first Cinema Against AIDS was held in Cannes in 1993, these amfAR benefits have played a pivotal role in focusing attention on the fight against AIDS and have generated more than $70 million in support for the Foundation's AIDS research programmes.

Most recently the amfAR 19th Cinema Against Aids event, which took place during the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, raised nearly $11 million, which broke all previous records. Celebrity guests attending included Kylie Minogue, Janet Jackson, Harvey Weinstein, Karl Lagerfeld, and amfAR chairman Kenneth Cole. For the first time in its 19 year history, the event included a fashion show featuring collections from Chanel, Valentino, Versace, Lanvin, and Balenciaga.

The Inspiration Paris Gala 2012 is being produced by Josh Wood Productions, an internationally renowned events production company, known for its dazzling fashion shows, concerts and charity events, Josh Wood Productions has a strong partnership with amfAR, working on a number of its events past and present, including the recent Inspiration New York Gala.

The Inspiration Paris Gala 2012 promises to be another unforgettable, dazzling and star-studded evening, providing entertainment of the highest in support for amfAR's continued mission against AIDS.

About amfAR

amfAR was formed in 1985 when the AIDS Medical Foundation and the National AIDS Research Foundation merged to become The american foundation for AIDS Research, under the Chairmenship of Dr Mathilde Krim and Dr Michael S. Gottlieb with Dame Elizabeth Taylor as the Founding National Chairman.It is one of the world's leading nonprofit organisations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy, and it's work has led to the establishment of three classes of anti-retroviral drugs, the use of antiretroviral therapy to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and the legalisation of syringe exchange programs that have drastically reduced the spread of HIV among injection drug users.Since it's formation amfAR has invested more than $340 million in it's programmes both domestic and global,and has awarded grants to more than 2.000 research teams world-wide.

About Rebecca Wang Entertainment

RWE is an independent company with an artistic focus. Its recent work has involved film production, and developing, producing and financing major theatrical motion pictures. The company's first project is the Hollywood feature film PASSION PLAY, starring Oscar nominees Mickey Rourke and Bill Murray, and Megan Fox. In addition to its initial venture into film, the company is a patron of artistic expression generally and is committed to encouraging and supporting creative spirit in all art forms.
The company was founded by Rebecca Wang in 2010. Rebecca, in her role as executive producer, is dedicated to nurturing innovative talent across the industry and providing a creative sanctuary where producers and directors are able to achieve their finest craft and vision.

Rebecca Wang Entertainment is proud to be one of the sponsors of the amfAR Paris Inspiration Gala 2012, being the first time that Rebecca Wang Entertainment and amfAR have collaborated. Rebecca Wang Entertainment supports a number of global AIDS charities, including the Elton John Aids Foundation and is a patron of the following British art galleries, the Royal Academy of Arts, the National Gallery, Serpentine Gallary and the Tate Modern home to some of the world's most impressive art collections which include works from Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, and Andy Warhol.

About M.A.C. Cosmetics

M.A.C. Cosmetics, the leading brand of professional cosmetic and part of the Estee Lauder Companies inc., has supported amfAR since 2001 and been a generous benefactor to their international research and prevention programs. In the past M.A.C 's celebrity spokespeople - including Dita von Teese, Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John, have been committed to regularly attending or performing at a full range of amfAR events.

About Piaget

Piaget, the exclusive Swiss watch and jewellery designer, has supported amfAR since 2010 and has been an integral part of events held in New York and Los Angeles. In 2011 the company partnered with amfAR to create the Piaget Award of Inspiration, which honours individuals for their inspiring style and commitment to the fight against AIDS. In 2012 Piaget has already presented Inspiration Awards to both Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

About Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines is the official partner of amfAR. The company generously donates travel vouchers for events and has donated travel packages as auction items. Delta Air Lines is the official airline of amfAR the staging of The Inspiration Paris Gala 2012 in Paris, and has designated amfAR as one of its SkyWish charities for 2012. Travellers with Delta can donate their Sky Miles to amfAR, or purchase the "Wheels Up" cocktail in flight, which has been specially created to benefit amfAR, with 100% of all cocktail purchase going direct to the charity.