Sir Elton John Will Receive Lifetime Achievement Award from The Rockefeller Foundation

Award will be presented at The Rockefeller Foundation's October 30^th event

NEW YORK, Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) is pleased to announce that Founder Sir Elton John will receive The Rockefeller Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award at The Rockefeller Foundation's "A Celebration of American Philanthropy" event in Washington, D.C., on October 30, 2013.

"At the Rockefeller Foundation, we are constantly searching for innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges.  As such, we are honored to recognize Sir Elton John for his unwavering commitment and contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS, and for the innovative work he has done not just targeting the disease, but also the stigma, discrimination, politics, and community-related concerns associated with it," said Dr. Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation.

The Rockefeller Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually to an outstanding individual who has implemented major innovative approaches to social or environmental problems.  Previous recipients of the award are President Bill Clinton and Ratan Tata.  In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Rockefeller Foundation will also distribute a grant to EJAF in support of its work.

Sir Elton John noted, "From the beginning, it has been my steadfast belief that we would not be able to treat or cure HIV/AIDS when people living with the disease or very vulnerable to it are shunned, hidden, or denied their human rights. It is an honor to receive this award from The Rockefeller Foundation, an organization that has been at the forefront of leveraging innovation, in all its forms, to promote the well-being of humanity around the world."

About EJAF
At the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) we believe that AIDS can be beaten.  We act on that belief by raising funds for effective programs and policies, and also by speaking out with honesty and compassion about the realities of people's lives.  Sir Elton John created EJAF over twenty years ago, first in the United States in 1992 and then in the United Kingdom in 1993.  Through hard work and with the help of our network of kind, amazing, creative, and generous friends and supporters, the two foundations together have raised more than $300 million over the past two decades to combat stigma, prevent infections, provide treatment and services, and motivate governments to end AIDS.  The U.S. foundation focuses its efforts on programs in the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean, while the U.K. foundation funds HIV-related work in Europe, Asia, and Africa.  Join us in speaking out, taking action, and contributing to our efforts to achieve a world without AIDS.  For more information, please visit www.ejaf.org.

About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation aims to achieve equitable growth by expanding opportunity for more people in more places worldwide, and to build resilience by helping them prepare for, withstand, and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses. Throughout its 100 year history, The Rockefeller Foundation has enhanced the impact of innovative thinkers and actors working to change the world by providing the resources, networks, convening power, and technologies to move them from idea to impact. In today's dynamic and interconnected world, The Rockefeller Foundation has a unique ability to address the emerging challenges facing humankind through innovation, intervention and influence in order to shape agendas and inform decision making. For more information, please visit http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org

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

SOURCE Elton John AIDS Foundation