Barack Obama’s Message to Magic Johnson for ETAF Honor – WWD

The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Basis’s fundraising gala raised a document variety of funds on Thursday evening at The Beverly Hills Lodge. (The group was unable to reveal the quantity by press time, when reached for the sum.)

The information was shared on stage by Christine Chiu, co-chair alongside Elizabeth Taylor’s goddaughter and ETAF ambassador Paris Jackson.

“I’m thrilled to announce that this yr’s ball is probably the most profitable gala hosted by The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Basis in its historical past,” mentioned Chiu, earlier than sharing a sequence of thank yous — together with to Earvin “Magic” Johnson and spouse Cookie.

The couple was honored for his or her work in HIV and AIDS consciousness. The NBA star introduced his HIV prognosis to the world in 1991, the identical yr Taylor established the muse. Barack Obama, MIA on the dinner, had a message for Johnson. The be aware was learn by Courtney B. Vance, the night’s cohost with spouse Angela Bassett.

“As a lot as I like Magic in the present day, it didn’t begin out that means,” the previous president wrote. “As a younger man, I keep in mind watching Magic beat the Philadelphia 76ers in sport six of the 1980 NBA finals. I used to be a 6ers fan on the time, and I wasn’t too thrilled watching a rookie finish my staff’s season. But it surely wasn’t lengthy earlier than Magic gained me over, like he did so many different folks, along with his mixture of unmistakable expertise and plain attraction. After which got here 1991. All these years later, it’s onerous to clarify to younger folks simply how massive a deal Magic’s announcement was. On the time, lots of people didn’t perceive HIV and AIDs. We didn’t know if Magic would survive, let alongside play basketball once more. However because the saying goes, adversity doesn’t construct character, it reveals it. And Magic’s pragmatic, optimistic method to his prognosis ended up altering the way in which the world noticed the illness.”

Johnson, alongside Cookie, informed the group: “God is so good. What a real blessing it’s to be right here tonight, to obtain an award from the lady who Cookie and I cherish and labored so onerous with to alter the face of the illness, to deliver consciousness, to lift cash, to take care of individuals who have been residing with HIV and AIDS, to supply housing for them, and final however not least, to cease discrimination in opposition to folks residing with HIV and AIDS.”

Turning to Cookie, he mentioned: “32 years in the past, no means I might have made it with out you.”

For her half, Cookie informed the viewers, “Elizabeth meant a lot to us. She was one of many first to face up for the illness. Regardless of the ridicule she obtained for it, she simply saved pledging forward and have a look at what it has finished.”

Whereas there was scientific progress treating and stopping HIV, Bassett mentioned, there’s nonetheless “stigma, discrimination, criminalization and profound inequities” confronted by these residing with the virus.   

“Over the greater than 27 million folks residing with HIV international, over 10 million nonetheless lack entry to lifesaving medication,” she added.

Bulgari returned as diamond sponsor for the fundraiser, now in its fourth yr, becoming a member of presenting sponsor and biopharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences. Attendees included Samuel L. Jackson, Dr. Gabriel Chiu, Jennifer Tilly, Wallis Annenberg, and Kathy and Richard Hilton. Friends bid on an public sale offered by Christie’s, with Jackson taking residence a portrait of Johnson by Herb Ritts for $20,000. The unique version, to be inscribed by Johnson, was printed when Ritts was alive and dated quantity two of 25.

A efficiency adopted by “Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight, bringing everybody to their toes. The Johnsons have been the primary on the dance ground, sluggish dancing to “The Greatest Factor That Ever Occurred.”

Knight pointed to the couple, as Johnson blew her a kiss.

“Oh, I like that for y’all,” she mentioned.