Magic Johnson, honoree President Bill Clinton and Dr. David Ho.
On
October 15, 2009, more than 350 business and community leaders joined
The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center (ADARC) to honor former President
Bill Clinton with the inaugural Irene Diamond Award at a gala dinner
in New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center. The Gala raised $1.15 million to
support ADARC's mission to defeat HIV/AIDS through scientific research.
Actress Lucy Liu hosted the evening, which included appearances by Dr.
David Ho, Wynton Marsalis, Magic Johnson, Dr. David Baltimore.
The Irene
Diamond Award is a tribute to ADARC's founder Irene Diamond, who died
six years ago at the age of 92. With her late husband Aaron, a real estate
developer, she created the foundation that bears her name. In 1991, at
a time when AIDS research was acutely underfunded, her determined idealism
led her to establish ADARC to pursue scientific solutions to the epidemic.
Mrs. Diamond's generosity was inspired by a sense of personal responsibility
for those affected, and her faith in the power of committed individuals
to be catalysts for public good.
Over a period of little more than a
decade the Fund along with the Aaron Diamond Foundation has distributed
more than $220 million, including $50 earmarked for AIDS.
From her own
fund, Mrs. Diamond made major gifts to Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New
York City Ballet, the Dance Theater of Harlem and the New York Public
Library. President Clinton recognized her philanthropy in 1999 with the
National Medal of Honor.
Dr. David Ho remembered Mrs. Diamond's courage,
compassion and intellectual curiosity, which compelled her to fight the
epidemic by establishing the first private laboratory dedicated to HIV/AIDS
resarch -- an investment that realized dramatic returns when a few years
later ADARC pioneered antiretroviral therapy.
Magic Johnson attested
to the impact of ADARC's breakthroughs on the lives of people affected
by HIV/AIDS. Mr. Johnson presented the Irene Diamond Award -- Rafael
Viñoly's striking design with a single red rose embedded in a
crystalline diamond -- to President Clinton, and recognized his tireless
efforts to bring life-saving antiretroviral therapy to millions.
President
Clinton emphasized the critical link between scientific advances pioneered
at ADARC and his own work lowering the cost of medications and providing
access to treatment in developing nations through the Clinton HIV/AIDS
Initiative.
Nobel Laureate David Baltimore, former chairman of ADARC's
Scientific Advisory Board, spoke of key ADARC breakthroughs that have
redefined our understanding of HIV and changed the course of clinical
care for patients. He introduced an original documentary video by Renata
Simone about Irene Diamond's role in establishing ADARC, and its history,
accomplishments and mission.
Guests included Gina and David Chu, Dr.
Marty Markowitz, Agnes Gund, Walter Wang, Jane Silver, Theresa and Frank
Hau, Michael Dell, Beatrice Hahn, Mark Goldberger, Susan Ho, Baroness
Monica von Zadora-Gerlof, Michel Witmer, Stephanie Sozomenu, Gordon Davis,
Jane Silver, Bob Lanier, Dr. Sandy Vasam, Fred Bowen, Sarah Schlesinger,
Joseph Kennedy, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Dr. Gerald and Gail Friedlander,
Richard Teh, Miranda Wong Tang, Dr. Paul Bienaisz, Patty Tong, Van Dalachandar,
Liz McGovern, Shau-wai Lam, Jean Young, Dr. Theodora Hatziioannou, Ron
Weiner, Dominic McHugh, Adam Silver, Alice Park, Daren Bagert, Dr. Paul
Bienaisz, Jane and Philip Weingold, Rowena Johnston, Eric Holoman, Miranda
Wong Tang, Gregory Boroff, Huang Ruo, John Canemaker, Steve Goff, Shau-wai
Lam and Van Dalachandar.
Dr. David Ho, Steve Goff, Beatrice Hahn, Lucy Liu, Dr. Paul Bienaisz, Dr. Theodora Hatziioannou.
Wynton Marsalis.
Rafael Viñoly, Alice Park, David Baltimore.
Gordon Davis, Jane Silver, Agnes Gund.
Baroness Monica von Zadora-Gerlof, Dominic McHugh, Lucia Hwong Gordon.
Richard Teh, Lori Milowitz and Billy Milowitz.
Walter Wang and Shau-wai Lam.
Gregory Boroff and Rowena Johnston.
Michel Witmer.
Dr. David Ho and Jean Young.
Jane Weingold and Philip Weingold.
Magic Johnson, Lucy Liu, Bob Lanier, Eric Holoman, Adam Silver, Dr. David Ho.
