Society Stars:Elton John's 16th Annual AID Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party

Songstress, Mary J Blige


Host and music extraordinaire,Elton John

TV personality Terri Seymour with her boyfriend and music producer/Idol judge, Simon Cowell


Actress, Jurnee Smollet


Model Mogul, Heidi Klum with her husband and singer, Seal.


Mogul, Russell Simmons with girlfriend and model, Porschia Coleman
(Photos: Getty Images)

The 80th Annual Oscar Academy Awardss were held last night and in tradition, Elton Johnand his partner David Furnish hosted his 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at the Pacific Design Center. Black stars shone brightly last night in an effort to support Elton John in his endeavors to combat and raise awareness about the fatal disease HIV/AIDS, as well as the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for programs that provide services to people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS.

The philanthropic gala began with a cocktail reception, then a formal dinner and viewing of the Oscars Awards.

Society Stars: NBLCA Gala

Debra Fraser-Howze (2nd left) with honorees (l-r) Douglas A. Michels, Bill Duke, Rory Kennedy, Hedeia Broadbent, Robert Mosbacher


Reginald Van Lee, NBLCA founding president & CEO Debra Fraser-Howze

(Photos:Eurweb.com)



Dinner Chair Reginald Van Lee of Booz Allen Hamilton looked debonair as ever as he hosted the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS 2007 Choose Life Awards gala. The significant event marked the 20th anniversary of this esteemed organization. Around 300 guests attended the event and helped to raise an impressive $300,000.

Powerhouse songstress, Jennifer Holliday performed. Honorees were Susan Taylor of Essence magazine; Rory Kennedy of Moxie Firecracker Films; Robert Mosbacher, Jr. of OPIC; OraSure Technologies; and Gilead Sciences. Vice Chairs Debra L. Lee (BET) and Pamela Joyner (Avid Partners) were joined by other Honorary Chairs Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III and Dennis DeLeon.

The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) was founded in November 1987 and is the oldest and largest not-for-profit organization of its kind in the United States. NBLCA’s mission is to inform, coordinate and organize the volunteer efforts of the indigenous Black leadership, including clergy, elected officials, medical practitioners, business professionals, social policy experts, and the media to meet the challenge of fighting HIV/AIDS in their local communities. NBLCA conducts policy, research and advocacy on HIV and AIDS to ensure effective participation of our leadership in all policy and resource allocation decisions at the national, state and local levels of communities of African descent nationwide.

Since its inception, NBLCA has served thousands of organizations and institutions through community development, technical assistance, and formulation of public policy; helped to raise over $2 billion in new federal funding for HIV/AIDS and public health-related direct service organizations serving communities of African descent; created the first programs for the Black clergy to develop strategies to address the complexity of problems caused by HIV and AIDS.

Rihanna and Other Celebs Support "Fashion Against Aids"

(Photos:Photographers: John Scarisbrick & Daniel Jackson - H&M / Collage: nitro:licious)

H&M and Designers Against AIDS (DAA) are joining forces in the battle against AIDS and are launching a collection for guys and girls together with Rihanna, Timbaland and other well-known designers, musicians and artists. The aim is to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, which affects many young people all over the world. The collection “Fashion Against AIDS” will be available in H&M’s Divided departments from February 2008.

The artists taking part in “Fashion Against AIDS” are Rihanna, Chicks on Speed, Good Charlotte, Henrik Vibskov, Jade Jagger, Katharine Hamnett, My Chemical Romance, Rufus Wainwright, Scissor Sisters, The Cardigans, Tiga, Timbaland and Ziggy Marley.

"Supporting the Fashion Against AIDS campaign was a great way to encourage my fans to join me in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I love that H&M is providing a fashionable and easy way for young people all over the world to get involved in this worthy cause, “says Rihanna.

Twelve million young people in the 15-24 age group are now infected with the virus. The initiative for this collaborative venture was taken by Designers Against AIDS (DAA), a non-profit organisation that seeks to mould public opinion through collaboration with fashion designers, musicians and other artists. Twenty-five percent of proceeds will go towards the cause.