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Press release
Chopard co-sponsored the 19th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish which included a live auction raising nearly $4 million for the fight against HIV/AIDS and an electrifying performance by Florence + the Machine.
The exclusive private gala, which took place on Sunday, February 27, at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles welcomed a stunning array of stars and luminaries including Sir Ben Kingsley, Heidi Klum & Seal, Jamie Foxx, Steven Tyler, Zac Levi, Sharon Stone, Matthew Morrison, Paul Rudd, Paz Vega, Claire Danes & Hugh Dancy, Ashley Tisdale, Baz Luhrmann, Emma Stone, Smokey Robinson, Quincey Jones, Chace Crawford, Hayden Panettierre, Kelly & Sharon Osbourne, Dave Annable, Cee Lo Green, Chris Colfer, Eric Stonestreet, Jane Lynch, Kim Kardasian, Nicole Richie & Joel Madden, John Waters, Miranda Cosgrove, Serena Williams, Joel McHale, Rashida Jones, Vanessa Hudgens, Taye Diggs, Rufus Wainwright, Natasha Henstridge and Tori Spelling, among many others.
Guests arrived at the Academy Awards Viewing Party for cocktails followed by a gala dinner and viewing of the 83rd Academy Awards® telecast. This year Chef Ludo Lefebvre, owner of the wildly popular touring restaurant LudoBites, supported by Los Angeles-based Crumble Catering, prepared an innovative menu with his classic French styling. The menu included seared beef tenderloin with charcoal oil, a crispy bacon and goat cheese soup, and an apple tart garnished with orange crème fraiche and caramel syrup.
The dinner was followed by a lively auction conducted by Jamie Nivens of Sotheby's. Just before the auction David Furnish gracefully thanked Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele for her continued generosity and support towards the Foundation.
Auction items included a limited edition Koala Watch from Chopard's Animal World Collection which sold for $55,000, a five-night stay in Sir Elton John and David Furnish's private Venice residence, which sold for $150,000; and a Taylor Swift concert package including tickets and a meet-and-greet with the Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, which sold for $50,0000; in-home cooking class with Chef Ludo Lefebvre, which sold for $20,000.
Following the auction, Florence + The Machine took the stage for an electrifying performance of several songs including her hit “The Dog Days are Over”. Elton John joined Florence Welch onstage to perform “Tiny Dancer” and “You Got the Love”.
About Chopard and the EJAF
When Chopard Co-President Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele first met Sir Elton John 12 years ago, he suggested she play an active role within the foundation. This encounter marked the start of a lasting friendship and a brilliant creative cooperation. The world-famous artist and the Scheufele family, owners of Chopard, united their talents in creating the Elton John watch collection, a line reflecting the singer's exceptional sense of style and from which a percentage of sales is donated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
In addition to this collection, Chopard supports the Foundation via the Academy Awards Viewing Party and is once again deeply honored to be joining forces with EJAF as official partner of the 19th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party.
