The Life Ball 2015 united celebrities and partners in the Austrian capital, Vienna, for one of Europe’s biggest fundraising events for HIV.
Organized by Gery Keszler, Chair of the nongovernmental organization AIDS LIFE, this year’s event featured Charlize Theron, representing the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, Sean Penn, on behalf of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Vera Brezhneva, Mary J. Blige, representing AmFAR, and fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, who hosted this year’s Life Ball fashion show. Conchita Wurst, winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, performed at the opening show in front of thousands of people.
The evening’s activities began with the AIDS Solidarity Gala, a fundraising dinner under the patronage of Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer and Editor of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani, and co-hosted by UNAIDS and AIDS LIFE at the Hofburg Palace.
A portion of proceeds from the gala will be used by UNAIDS to implement the first-ever regional HIV awareness campaign in eastern Europe and central Asia. The campaign will feature Ms Brezhneva, whose popularity and social media following will reach millions of people.
At the First Ladies Luncheon, hosted by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Fashion for Development, Ms Theron highlighted the needs of young women and girls in southern Africa. The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach project works to provide girls with the tools to protect themselves from becoming infected with HIV.
This year’s Life Ball Crystal of Hope was awarded to Sentebale, a nongovernmental organization working in southern Africa founded in 2006 by Prince Harry of Wales and Prince Seeiso of the Lesotho Royal Family. Its goal is to help children in Lesotho affected by the HIV epidemic and extreme poverty.
With more than 1500 volunteers and hundreds of commercial partners volunteering their time and support, each year the Life Ball generates millions of euros to support national HIV programmes in Austria and programmes around the world.
"For 23 years, the Life Ball has succeeded in making a clear statement for open-mindedness and tolerance and against exclusion.”
Heinz Fischer, Austrian Federal President
"Everyone should know their HIV status and have access to life-saving HIV treatment, no matter who they are, where they live or whom they love."
Vera Brezhneva, UNAIDS Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
"It is sad that in 2015, the issues of “social AIDS” and stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV are still a characteristic of our society. The Life Ball is a loud scream for inclusion and tolerance addressing these challenging issues. I wish that one day, there won't be any need for the Life Ball anymore."
Gery Keszler, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Life Ball and Chairman of AIDS LIFE
"UNAIDS is calling on all partners to unite in ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030."
Vinay P. Saldanha, UNAIDS Regional Director of Eastern Europe and Central Asia
