IIt’s known for its pomp, celebrity supporters and glamorous locations, but for the man behind the amfAR gala, a top-tier charity roadshow that rolled into London for the first time this weekend, the event is deeply personal.
amfAR – the American Foundation for AIDS Research – is a non-profit group that emerged in the 1980s to support research into HIV and AIDS.
“I am an HIV-positive man,” said Kyle Clifford, the foundation’s new CEO. “I am lucky to be alive thanks to organizations like amfAR.”
“I was diagnosed with AIDS, and no one in my life knew it until recently, including my family. But I decided when I took on this role that I would disclose my diagnosis so that people living with HIV would know that the person leading the organization was 100% committed. And I live this every day.”
AmfAR Galas are known as some of the most lavish parties on the international social calendar, bringing together celebrities and philanthropists to raise funds for biomedical research. Figures like Jeff Bezos and Leonardo DiCaprio are regulars at Cannes, while Richard Gere and Eva Longoria attended the Venice event.
Now, amfAR is bringing a slice of that magic to the UK after hosting its inaugural London gala at the luxurious Chancery Rosewood Hotel on Friday to coincide with the Frieze art fair and the BFI London Film Festival.
To mark this occasion, the artist Tracey Emin was honored with a special award.
“We believe that London is 100% capable of competing with Cannes and Venice,” Clifford said. “The interest we have received this week since we have been in town from different generations has been tremendous.
“It became clear very quickly that honoring Dame Tracey Emin was the most authentic way to express London’s DNA. Not only is she one of the most innovative contemporary artists, but she was also a voice for the voiceless, a supporter of… [the fight against] HIV and AIDS since the late 1980s.
Actress Julie Richardson hosted the London ceremony, with musical performances from Grace Jones and Jess Glynn. This year, amfAR raised $17m (£12.7m) at Cannes, $3.4m in Venice and $3.1m in Dallas.
Clifford said: “HIV remains a global health problem. At the moment, there are between 42 and 44 million people living with HIV in the world. More than 10 million of them do not have access to the medicines that could keep them alive. That is as much as the entire population of London.”
He said the organization has “big plans for growth” in the capital. “We want to make amfAR the biggest event at Frieze, and hopefully the biggest event in the city. We will have over 300 people in the room for the inaugural event.”
amfAR was founded in 1985 by actress Elizabeth Taylor and research scientist Mathilde Krim, among others. “They realized there was an opportunity during major arts events to bring everyone together for a good cause. I always say people come for the concert and stay for the cause,” Clifford said.
“We’re in Palm Beach around March. Then we go to Cannes, then Venice, then Dallas, and now we’re in London, and we’ll end the year in Vegas. We’ve raised nearly a billion dollars for our research programs and awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams around the world. I believe London can bring us closer to a cure.”