Tony nominee Sheryl Lee Ralph is set to be honored by the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation at its annual fundraising gala, the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS. Ralph will be awarded alongside Oscar winner Charlize Theron at the September 15 event at West Hollywood Park in California.
Both Ralph and Theron created foundations on the fight to end the AIDS epidemic. Theron through her Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project and Ralph through the Diva Foundation.
Ralph launched the Diva Foundation in tribute to the many friends she lost during her days on Broadway. "As I stepped into the bright lights of Broadway as an original company member of Dreamgirls, AIDS made an entrance that would be devastating up and down Broadway blowing out the flame of life like candles on a birthday cake," shares Ralph. "As a young person, I was forever changed standing witness to such an ugly time in America. Seeing how marginalized people were left out of the AIDS conversation. And so in a commitment to raise awareness, I created the divinely inspired, victoriously aware Diva Foundation as a living memorial to the many friends I lost to the disease."
The event is sponsored by Gilead Sciences with support from American Airlines, and will feature a dinner, live performance, and a live auction in partnership with Christie's. Attendees will also get a chance to view exclusive items from the Elizabeth Taylor Archive.
For more information, visit ElizabethTaylorAIDSFoundation.org.
