Foster the People to Perform at 20th Annual Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) announced today that the 20th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party, hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish, will feature a special performance by the Grammy® Nominated and Billboard chart-topping band, Foster the People. This year's event will be sponsored by Chopard, Neuro Drinks and Wells Fargo.

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Best known for their edgy smash single, "Pumped Up Kicks," off their debut album "Torches" (Sony Music Entertainment), Foster the People is one of the hottest young indie bands in the country. The group will briefly take a break from their world tour just in time to perform at the EJAF Academy Awards Viewing Party to be held on February 26, 2012.

"We were thrilled when Sir Elton John asked us to play his Academy Awards party," said Foster the People front-man Mark Foster.  "His foundation has globally impacted the lives of millions of people suffering from HIV/AIDS and we're honored to be involved in any way we can."

"'Torches' by Foster the People is one of my favorite albums of 2011 and 'Pumped Up Kicks' was my favorite single," says Sir Elton John. "I'm so thrilled that they are playing at our 20th anniversary Oscar party and I'm so impressed that they want to give back so early in their career."

In the fall of 2009, Mark Foster joined forces with Cubbie Fink and Mark Pontius to form Foster the People. Shortly after releasing their first single "Pumped Up Kicks," the band received numerous accolades from high-profile print publications helping to send the track to the top of the charts. The song reached number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart, number three on the Rock Songs chart, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

The band is currently nominated for two GRAMMY Awards®: Best Pop/Duo Group Performance for their single "Pumped Up Kicks" and Best Alternative Album for "Torches."

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.

For more information, please visit: www.chopard.com 

NEURO DRINKS - 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 life is boring, 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 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.

SOURCE Elton John AIDS Foundation