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Preview
Vienna: Life Ball 2010 – Three Cheers for Life! An editor's note: Every year, 300 Balls of all description take place during Vienna's glorious Ball season. The Ball Season or Fasching Season as it is also known, begins promptly the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month and ends with the Rudolfina Redoute Ball which is held annually at Hofburg Palace on the last Monday before Ash Wednesday. Indeed, all Balls in Vienna adhere to this long held tradition of seasonality. Except one . . . . The Life Ball, a celebration of life. On the occasion of the XVIII International AIDS Conference that is beginning one day after the big event in Vienna, this year’s Life Ball will be very special. On the 17 th of July Europe’s biggest AIDS charity event not only takes place in the Vienna City Hall and on City Hall Square, but also at the Burgtheater (the former Imperial Court Theatre) and the Parliament. The “concept of the three houses” unites three extraordinary events and important organizations; the amfAR gala in the Parliament, the Elton John AIDS Foundation at the Red Ribbon Cotillion in the Burgtheater, and the William J. Clinton Foundation at the traditional Life Ball in the Vienna City Hall. With the support of many different personalities these three events together set a clear signal for tolerance and solidarity.AIDS 2010 – Rights Here, Right Now Like the Life Ball, the International AIDS Conference is taking place for the 18th time. From the 18th to the 23rd of July the conference deals with current developments concerning the issue of HIV and AIDS. It is the most significant international meeting in this field and this year’s focus lies on Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The conference is a platform for discussion and the presentation of scientific, social, and political developments in the field of HIV/AIDS. On the occasion of AIDS 2010, organized by the International AIDS Society (IAS), about 25,000 scientists and non- scientists as well as 2,500 media representatives are expected in Vienna. Thus AIDS 2010 provides a platform for the mutual exchange of experiences and know-how in the field of HIV/ IDS prevention, treatment and care. Due to this internationally renowned event, this year’s Life Ball won’t take place in May as usual, but on the 17th of July as the prelude to AIDS 2010. Due to the enhanced attention that the topic of HIV/AIDS will gain through the conference, even more donations for projects in the fight against HIV and AIDS should be generated.
Life Ball Presents: amfAR Gala Vienna 2010 On July 17, the Parliament of Austria will open its doors for the inaugural American Federation For AIDs Research (amfAR) Gala Vienna. This high profile charity event, benefitting the essential HIV/AIDS research and prevention programs of amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, will be held under the patronage of Barbara Prammer, the first female president of the Austrian Parliament. On this momentous occasion, the amfAR Gala, Life Ball, and the XVII International AIDS Conference will converge in Vienna at the same time. Whoopi Goldberg, the American actress, comedian, talk show host, and political activist, will attend the gala as the guest of honor. Whoopi Goldberg to Represent amfAR in Vienna Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg has channeled her celebrity into bringing attention to countless important causes, including HIV/AIDS. At this year’s Life Ball, she follows Liza Minnelli, Sharon Stone, Kim Cattrall, and Eva Longoria as official spokesperson for amfAR. After the exclusive Gala dinner at the Parliament, Ms. Goldberg will participate in Life Ball’s festive opening ceremony at Vienna City Hall Square. The First amfAR Gala Vienna Throughout its 25-year history, amfAR has held some of the most successful and high-profile AIDS benefits worldwide. The Foundation’s benefits in Cannes, New York, Milan, Dallas, Toronto, Dubai, and beyond have brought together some of the biggest names in art, entertainment, and fashion, while raising millions to support vital AIDS research programs. amfAR Gala Vienna, the Foundation’s first fundraising event in the region, will feature a live auction of many luxurious, one-of-a-kind items. “We are profoundly grateful to the Austrian Parliament for allowing us to use this magnificent building for our first fundraising dinner in Vienna,” said amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost. “We applaud them, along with our generous partners at Life Ball, for supporting amfAR’s life-saving AIDS research programs.” Net proceeds from the amfAR Gala Vienna will go to TREAT Asia, a project that AIDS LIFE has supported since 2005. TREAT Asia is a network of clinics, hospitals, and research institutions working with civil society to ensure the safe and effective delivery of HIV/AIDS treatments throughout Asia and the Pacific. “We are very proud that the Austrian Parliament will open its doors for the amfAR Gala,” said Life Ball founder and chairman Gery Keszler. “Being a place of discussion, it gives a positive sign, also politically, for the participants of the XVIII International AIDS Conference, which will start the next day in Vienna. Life Ball seems ambivalent as it celebrates life to defeat death, but the myth of the goddess is also ambivalent: she symbolizes war and freedom.” Tickets for the amfAR Gala in Vienna 2010 VIP tickets for the amfAR Gala are available in 3 categories (EUR 1,700, EUR 2,000, and EUR 2,500). Included are the following amenities:
Inquiries as well as reservation will be gladly taken at curt.shertzer@lifeball.org.
The Burgtheater as a “Stage for Charity”: The Red Ribbon Cotillion In 2010 the Viennese Ring Street with its breathtaking edifices will more so become a “ring of life” corresponding to the quadrennial cycle of the Life Ball. Then this year apart from the Vienna City Hall and the previously mentioned Parliament, it offers yet another stylish setting to the event: The Viennese Burgtheater (former Imperial Court Theatre) for the first time will open its doors for the ball of balls – the Red Ribbon Cotillion. The event takes place parallel to the Life Ball and thus offers a pleasing alternative for those who would like to support the Life Ball but prefer a more traditional festivity to the glittering party in the city hall. David Furnish, partner of Elton John and trustee of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, will attend the Red Ribbon Cotillion as a guest of honor. Together with AIDS LIFE, the association organizing the Life Ball, partner T-Mobile, the co-organizer, are organizing this festive ball. As the representative of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Furnish also is the host of the extraordinary Red Ribbon Cotillion at the Burgtheater. “Life Ball has always been a symbol of diversity, honesty and joy for life. In other words, everything the AIDS epidemic threatens. Life Ball has done this with great passion and style and this year is no exception. The Elton John AIDS Foundation is delighted to be collaborating once again in a glamorous new event, The Red Ribbon Cotillion, this time to benefit our work in Ukraine. I’m looking forward to being there and excited because I know some fabulous surprises about the evening that I’m not able to share with you yet!” explains David Furnish. A committee of high-ranking personalities will take part in the Red Ribbon Cotillion as guests of honor in order to support the event with their presence as well as in the pre-sales of the boxes. For the Asociación Concordia Antisida (ACAS) her highness Princess Marie-Louise of Prussia will attend the Red Ribbon Cotillion. Her highness Dr. Gabriele Inaara Begum Aga Khan will take part as the representative of the German Aids Foundation and also the organization Fight Aids Moncao and the International AIDS Society (IAS) will be represented by prominent figures. A Night under the Sign of the Red Ribbon At 9:00 pm the Burgtheater opens its doors to the guests of the Red Ribbon Cotillion and offers a live broadcast for all those who are not attending the Life Ball opening ceremony on the City Hall Square at 10:00 pm. Finally, at half past midnight, the impressive ball opening starting with the traditional cotillion takes place in the Burgtheater. Tickets - Entry tickets at the price of EUR 150 are available at www.oeticket.com/redribboncotillion. Boxes for 6 persons are available at a price of EUR 6,000. Included in the price of the box in the Burgtheater is a fine selection of food & beverage for 6 persons. For guest of boxes, an exclusive VIP-area for the opening of Life Ball 2010 on City Hall Square is available. Inquires as well as box reservations will be gladly taken at curt.shertzer@lifeball.org.
Former President Bill Clinton, Fran Drescher and Dirk Bach at The Life Ball 2009 The Life Ball at the Vienna City Hall – Sow the Seeds of Solidarity! Along with the two new events in the Parliament and the Burgtheater, the traditional Life Ball again takes place in and in front of the Vienna City Hall – as usual with the support of one or more international designers. According to this year’s motto “Sow the Seeds of Solidarity” and the theme “earth”, the Life Ball wants to sow its seed in every place of the earth, where it is needed the most. In the framework with the cooperation with the William J. Clinton Foundation, AIDS LIFE has the possibility to – among others – support projects in Asia. As a representative and a guest of honor, the former US president and committed combatant in the fight against HIV / AIDS, Bill Clinton will attend the Life Ball. “Life Ball continues to be one of the most important events for raising awareness and support for the global fight against HIV / AIDS. Due in great part to the Life Ball’s success, the Clinton Health Access Initiative is able to help millions of people around the world benefit from pricing agreements and assist more than 20 governments in strengthening their national health systems. There is much more to be done, but every year, we get closer to slaying the dragon of AIDS once and for all,” says Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation. After the festive opening, the opulent Life Ball night starts inside the Vienna City Hall – open exclusively to 3,780 holders of Life Ball tickets Tickets • Life Ball Ticket – 2 Categories The regular Life Ball Ticket for EUR 150: This ticket category is intended for each ball guest who would like to attend in elegant and formal attire. The Life Ball Style Ticket for EUR 75: The Style Ticket is the right ticket for those, who would like to allow their creativity and desire for styling, free play; and as recognition for their efforts, the more favorable variant of a Style Ticket for EUR 75 in comparison to the regular ticket is offered. Whether your costume really meets the style criteria will be decided, once again this year, by the nonpartisan and incorrupt "Life Ball Style Police" stationed at the entrances to the Life Ball. For inspiration and further information, please visit www.stylebible.org. General ticket sales • In cooperation with the KRONE newspaper, Austria’s largest circulated daily newspaper, one can contact www.krone.at/lifeball for Life Ball Tickets at EUR 150 each, as well as Style Tickets for EUR 75 each until the supply of tickets is exhausted.
Table Reservations • VIP-Lounge in the main hall of Vienna’s City Hall for 12 persons at a price of EUR 14,400 each. Included in the price is an exclusive selection of assorted dishes as well as wine, beer, and nonalcoholic beverages. For the opening on City Hall Square there will be a separate VIP area (seating) at your disposal. Table seating is only in combination with an entry ticket. Included in the price are therefore 12 entry tickets (regular tickets each EUR 150). Tables in the gallery of the main hall of Vienna’s City Hall for 8 persons at a price of EUR 6,000 each. Included in the price is a selection of assorted dishes as well as wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. For the opening on City Hall Square there will be a separate area (standing room) at your disposal. Table seating is only in combination with an entry ticket. Included in the price are therefore 8 entry tickets (regular tickets each EUR 150). Inquiries as well as reservations will be gladly taken at curt.shertzer@lifeball.org. Further information on Life Ball 2010 is available by following this link . . . . /// |
