Elton John Aids Foundation Celebrates 20th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party Sponsored By Chopard, Neuro and Wells Fargo

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) will celebrate its 20th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on February 26, 2012 at the newly re-designed West Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.  Sir Elton John and David Furnish will host the gala event sponsored by Chopard, Neuro and Wells Fargo. This year celebrity chef Cat Cora will prepare a special menu to be served to guests seated to watch a live telecast of the 84th Academy Awards. Following dinner, Grammy nominated Foster the People will take the stage to perform. 

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The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party is the most highly visible and successful fund-raising event in Hollywood on Oscar night. Over the past 20 years, this annual event has raised millions of dollars thanks to the generosity of the Foundation's supporters.  The money raised is used to increase EJAF's investments in its grant-making initiatives, which support HIV prevention and treatment programs, stigma reduction efforts, and direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially marginalized populations with special needs.

This annual event has historically attracted the biggest names from the culinary community to prepare dinner for guests and this year is no exception.  Celebrity chef Cat Cora, supported by Los Angeles Crumble Catering, will prepare an exquisite 5-course meal for guests that will include sesame encrusted lamb meatballs with harissa yogurt, sauteed sea bass with lemon couscous and piquillo pepper saffron sauce, and chocolate budino with whipped cream and fresh berries.  Cat Cora made television history when she became the first and only female Iron Chef on The Food Network's "Iron Chef America," has authored three top-selling cookbooks, and opened three restaurants including Cat Cora's Kitchen, which opened in April 2012. 

Following dinner Grammy nominated Foster the People will perform for guests.  Best known for their hit single "Pumped Up Kicks" off their debut album Torches, this trio will have guests moving to their towering choruses, gut-leveling lyrics and rhythmic beats.

This year's event co-chairs are Bill & Tani Austin, Johnny & Edwina Barbis, Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen, Ellen DeGeneres & Portia De Rossi, John Demsey, Drs. Jeffrey & Nancy Gallups, Tim Hanlon & Anthony Klatt, David Geffen, Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka, Hugh Jackman & Deborah-Lee Furness, Diana Jenkins, Quincy Jones, Ryan Kwanten, Fred Latsko, Sandra Lee, Baz Luhrmann & Catherine Martin, Eric & Janet McCormack, Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne, Tyler Perry, Caroline Scheufele, Sharon Stone, Steve Tisch, Steven Tyler, Edward Walson and John Waters.

ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION - The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) was established as a nonprofit organization in the United States in 1992 and as a registered charity in the United Kingdom in 1993 by Sir Elton John. Together, both entities have raised more than $225 million for worthy programs in 55 countries around the globe since inception. Today, the Foundation is one of the world's leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS 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. The U.S. organization's current grant-making priorities target HIV prevention programs throughout the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean; HIV prevention and care services for highly marginalized and vulnerable populations; and HIV/AIDS prevention education and the promotion of sexual health for adolescents.  For more information, please visit www.ejaf.org.

CHOPARD – Founded in 1860, the House of Chopard is represented around the world through 1,600 points of sale and over 130 boutiques. Owned and headed by the Scheufele family since 1963, Chopard currently operates three production sites – Geneva and Fleurier in Switzerland, and Pforzheim in Germany – and employs 1,900 people worldwide. This Scheufele family is profoundly dedicated to core values of independence, innovation, creativity, quality, knowledge preservation and social commitment. A privileged partner of the cinema and closely involved with the world of classic car races, Chopard has built its reputation on iconic lines such as "Happy Diamonds" and "Mille Miglia." In the past twenty years, Chopard has further developed its expertise in Haute Horlogerie and Haute Joaillerie. Every year, around 75,000 jewelry creations and 75,000 watches emerge from the company's workshops, each crafted in-house by gifted artisans. Caroline Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard has supported the Elton John Aids Foundation for 12 years with a collection of watches benefiting the foundation as well as a partnership with the Annual EJAF Oscar Party and EJAF White Tie and Tiara Wall.  For more information, please visit: www.chopard.com

NEURO DRINKS - NEURO - Neuro delivers a system of drinks developed to upgrade your life. Each drink is formulated by leading experts in the areas of nutrition & food science, neurocognitive research, and clinical nutrition, to include a blend of essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids and proprietary dietary ingredients to enhance specific aspects of our lives: When we need to push the limit, NeuroPassion; When we're mentally foggy, NeuroSonic; When we're tossing and turning, NeuroSleep; When the clouds take over, NeuroSun; When our thirst can't be quenched, NeuroAqua; When we're stressed, NeuroBliss; When we sweat it all out, NeuroSport; When we slack on our diets, NeuroTrim.  Neuro is the convergence of true function and flavor that creates an operating system for life optimizing everything from brainpower to willpower. To satisfy your thirst for perfection, Neuro is available at premium retailers nationwide and in the United Kingdom. For more information please visit www.drinkneuro.com.

WELLS FARGO – Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. We want to help all of our customers succeed financially and create long-term economic growth and quality of life for everyone in our communities. In 2011, the Company invested $213 million in grants in 19,000 nonprofits, and team members contributed more than 1.3 million volunteer hours around the country.  For more information, please visit: www.wellsfargo.com/about/csr

AMERICAN AIRLINES – American Airlines, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection® carrier serve 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories with, on average, more than 3,300 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members and members-elect serve more than 900 destinations with more than 10,000 daily flights to 149 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: AMR).

American Airlines is the official sponsoring airline of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

SOURCE Elton John AIDS Foundation