ELTON RAISES $6M AT AIDS GALA

Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s inaugural Elton John AIDS Foundation Midsummer Party raised €5.5m (over $6m) for the global effort to end AIDS. Wednesday’s gala was held in the south of France and Chris Martin, Joan Collins, Julian Lennon and Pete Townshend were among the guests.

Taking place in the photographer Johnny Pigozzi’s Villa Dorane in Cap d’Antibes on the Côte d’Azur, the evening featured a cocktail reception, a Provençal dinner and a live auction. Some of the highest winning bids included €700k for the first edition of the new Bentley, and a Yamaha piano and custom Gucci jacket worn by Taron Egerton in Rocketman sold together for over €1m.

Coldplay’s Martin performed and Elton joined him for “I’m Still Standing” and “Rocket Man.”

Money raised will support a new program from EJAF that aims to provide HIV self-test kits to 400k young men in Kenya and promises treatment for every HIV-positive test received.

Elton said: “It’s because of the consistent support and kindness of so many people in this room that we are able to commit the Elton John AIDS Foundation to real partnerships with world leaders that can a make a future without AIDS.”

We heard the foie gras was exquisite.