I hope this post finds y'all having a fabulous day! Cactus & Ivy is so honored to have been included in the lavish gift bags presented by Gifted Presence to Celebrities and VIP Guests at the 2008 Adventa WTT Smash Hits Tennis Charity Event. The event raised more than $400,000 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund!
Established in 1992 by Sir Elton John, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations supporting innovative HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and direct care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Since its founding, EJAF has raised over $150 million to support urgently needed programs across the US and in 55 countries around the globe.
The Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund is a collaborative funding partnership between The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National AIDS Fund, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, Fashion Cares and individual donors. Since its inception over a decade ago, the AIDS Fund has awarded more than $11 million in grants to help care of people living with HIV/AIDS and to fight the spread of the disease.
The gift bags were given to Elton John, Billie Jean King, Andy Roddick, Anna Kournikova, Martina Navratilova, Jesse Levine, Melanie Oudin, Donald Young and others. Each recipient autographed one gift bag which was included in the silent auction. More than $171,000 of the event's total was raised in a live auction with top items including two Wimbledon packages with Billie Jean King's personal Center Court seats which sold for $21,000 each, Sir Elton John's autographed piano bench and a Super Bowl package. Andy Roddick wrapped up the auction with a winning $17,000 bid for artwork created by Martina Navratilova with Slovak artis Juraj Kralik. The pieces are created when Navratilova hits paint-soaked tennis balls onto a blank canvas.
That's the excitement in my neck of the woods. Again, I am so honored to have Cactus & Ivy included in such a wonderful charity event!
A final note. This opportunity became available to me through HARO (Help A Reporter Out) and I would like to thank Peter Shankman for all the awesome opportunities found in my inbox!!
Thanks for stopping by y'all!!
Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator-Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy
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