ACRIA held its 22nd annual signature winter fundraising event—the Holiday Dinner—at Cipriani 25 Broadway. The landmark event celebrated the organization’s new strategic partnership with Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and welcomed 400 high-profile friends, supporters, artists, designers, media, and philanthropists for cocktails and a seated dinner. A paddle raise was conducted by Sara Friedlander, Head of Post-War & Contemporary Art at Christie’s which raised over $375,000.00
The event honored fashion designer and ACRIA board member Jason Wu with the Alison Gertz Young Leadership Award, presented by actress Diane Kruger, and photographer Anne Collier and White Columns Director and artist Matthew Higgs with the Artists Ending AIDS Award, presented by Raf Simons and Peter McGough. Additionally, a special Founders Award was given to ACRIA co-founder and long-time board president Ross Bleckner in recognition of his 27 years of leadership and service to the organization, presented by Calvin Klein.
