International platform
For the Fight Against HIV/AIDS
Prior to the Life Ball Opening Ceremony, LIFE+, the association behind Life Ball, is hosting a prestigious gala banquet at Vienna City Hall – the LIFE+ SOLIDARITY GALA. It is is an important centerpiece for Life Ball in raising awareness for the progress made, as well as provide an opportunity for politicians, heads of corporations and NGOs, celebrities, artists, and other VIPs to meet and discuss their work in the fight against AIDS on a more personal, in-depth level.
This year’s LIFE+ Solidarity Gala was held for the benefit of amfAR – The Foundation for AIDS Research and MTV Staying Alive Foundation. As hosts Alex Roedy and Hofit Golan were present at the gala evening.
Exclusive Gala Dinner
The LIFE+ SOLIDARITY GALA provides an opportunity for international exchange and to address progress made and discuss the remaining challenges in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The evening starts with a Moët & Chandon champagne reception followed by an exclusive gala dinner with live acts and sophisticated musical performances.
This year, the exquisite dinner was prepared by top chefs Karl and Rudi Obauer (Restaurant-Hotel Obauer), Hubert Wallner (Bistro Südsee and See Restaurant Saag) and Max Stiegel (Gut Purbach), together with Thomas Gailer, the managing director of Cateringkultur. For preparation of the dishes, solely regional products from Austria were used:
The starter was a 6-minute farmer’s egg with sturgeon crème and caviar from Walter Grüll, in a Falstaff Special Edition Life Ball. It was made by Karl and Rudi Obauer. Hubert Wallner created the main course, offering braised beef cheek or amaranth soufflé with textured mangold. Both were served with watercress oil, celery gravy and balsamico tapioca chip. The sweet finale of the gala dinner was the Valhrona chocolate tart designed by Max Stiegl. The individual courses were accompanied by exclusive Life Ball wines provided by WEIN&CO. Between the individual courses the international guests were entertained with a fashion show by Missoni and a live act by Cesár Sampson. The evening was led by Laura Whitmore.
This year’s highlight of the gala evening was once again the charity auction of exclusive artists’ works, limited special editions and exclusively compiled trips for the benefit of HIV/AIDS aid organisations, auctioned off personally by de PURY auctioneer Simon de PURY and by Dorotheum auctioneer Rafael Schwarz. The elegant ambience of the gala evening was rounded off by Swarovski’s inscented tables, with over 8,000 crystals circling above the heads of the seated guests, and Fiori’s extraordinary floral decorations.
Crystal of Hope Award 2019
The organization was born in 1992 as a result of the merger between Broadway Cares (BC) and Equity Fight AIDS (EFA). The aim of the organization is to give the needy access to life-saving medicines, as well as to provide full-fledged food, counseling and financial aid. Sponsorship is given to national and international programs that help people with serious health problems – not limited to HIV/AIDS. Food that heals. The right diet plays an important role in HIV/AIDS prevention because a healthy meal the right diet is in place. The organization, BC/EFA, has addressed this issue and supports the provision. This year, BC/EFA deserves the coveted Crystal of Hope donated by Swarovski.
Find more Information about the exclusive LIFE+ SOLIDARITY GALA in our Gala Folder.