One year ago, onboard the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier, I joined 1,200 of New York's most charitable, social and fashionable communities for an evening of one-of-a-kind silent auctions, cocktails, and fashion for the inaugaral Jeffrey Fashion Cares (JFC) 2012 Benefit. Well, someone had to do it right?
Just around the corner, on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, JFC celebrates the 10th anniversary since the New York event was established, initially as an in-store event, by fashion pioneer and philanthropist, Jeffrey Kalinsky. Together with attendees, celebrities, models and of course his dedicated team of board members and volunteers have raised nearly $5 million dollars for its beneficaries; with 85-90 percent of that money donating to four of the most worthy non-profit organizations that improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.
As a direct result of JFC 2012, ACRIA (The AIDS Community Research Initiative of America) was specifically able to provide 400 low-income people with HIV access to the newest and best medicines while training staff at more than 60 hospitals, churches, and youth organizations to identify HIV at-risk clients and get them tested for treatment. JFC enabled the Point Foundation to set up the Larry King/JFC Scholarship Fund, sending two LGBTQ students to college in 2012. The Hetrick Martin Institute also continued to provide more than 2,000 LGBTQ youth and families with educational programs, free HIV testing, counseling, and health services. During 2012, Lambda Legal continued to fight and succeed in the motion of civil rights for LGBTQ people, litigating over 70 equality cases and responding to over 6,000 legal help desk calls throughout the year.
Back on Pier 86, this year's goal is to raise a record breaking $1 million dollars by the end of night. Hosting the evening is actress Emmy Rossum of Showtime's hit show Shameless with singer and LGBTQ activist Cyndi Lauper presenting the Jeffrey Fashion Cares' Community Leadership Award to Broadway legend Jerry Mitchell. The highlight of the evening for the A-list guests will be the all male model fashion show, starring number one ranked model, Sean O'Pry, with Simon Nessman, Parker Gregory, Andre Ziehe and the Stenmark Twins all wearing designs from Givenchy, Lanvin, Dries Van Noten and more.
The JFC 2013 Teaser film, directed by Andrew Weir and shot at the Mondrian Hotel with models.com, features a handful of the male models who will be strutting the runway for the cause on the night.
To join me on the night at Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2013, go to www.jeffreyfashioncares.org for more information.
You can check out my coverage of JFC 2012 here.