For the first time in Italy amfAR, presided over by Sharon Stone, organised a big gala evening together with an auction on Friday 26th October 2007 at the Spazio Etoile in Rome to raise money for AIDS research. A number of film stars and celebrities from the world of fashion attended. Sofia Coppola, actresses Mira Sorvino, Asia Argento, Valeria Golino and her actor friend Riccardo Scamarcio, the princess and French actress Clotilde Courau as well as her husband Prince Emmanuel de Savoie among others accepted the invitation to this charity event.
After welcoming the VIPS on the Red Carpet the evening started at the Spazio Etoile with a cocktail party followed by a dinner and an auction before continuing at the Palazzo Fendi. As co-sponsor de GRISOGONO auctioned a pair of white gold earrings set with 178 11-carat amethysts, 68 3.95-carat pink sapphires, 120 9.35-carat orange sapphires and 44 0.50-carat white diamonds that went for the sum of 55’000 USD. Over a million dollars were collected during the “Cinema Against Aids” evening in Rome and will be invested in fighting AIDS. amfAR – American Foundation for Aids Research – has donated over 260 million dollars to research programmes against HIV since 1985.
By becoming co-sponsor of amfAR’s “Cinema Against Aids” event for the first time, de GRISOGONO once again affirms its commitment to fighting the AIDS virus. Fawaz Gruosi, chairman and founder of the House of Fine Jewellery and Watch making based in Geneva, has already on several occasions shown his involvement in this good cause, one that is very close to his heart. Faway Gruosi was guest of honour in the 6th “Enduring Vision” event organised by the Elton John Aids Foundation in New York on the 25th September of this year. He also took part in the “Dîner de la mode” (Fashion dinner) for Sidaction (initiative to fight AIDS) in January 2007. Finally Mr Gruosi was photographed alongside 74 other key figures for the book “Le Fil Rouge” published by Sidaction in November, the proceeds of which will be given to various AIDS prevention programmes and programmes to help sick people.
