- Title: AUSTRIA: International celebrities arrive in Vienna to attend the 2009 Life Ball
- Date: 17th May 2009
- Summary: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MAY 16, 2009) (REUTERS) (CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY) VIENNESE BUILDING HOSTING LIFE BALL PRESS CONFERENCE CELEBRITIES POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS BEFORE THE PRESS CONFERENCE SINGER KATY PERRY TAKING A SEAT NEXT TO ACTRESS PAMELA ANDERSON AT PRESS CONFERENCE PERRY AND ACTRESS EVA LONGORIA CHATTING BEFORE PRESS CONFERENCE PAMELA ANDERSON LISTENING DURING PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English), EVA LONGORIA SAYING "I am so honoured to be here for AmfAR and the Life Ball it's my first time to Vienna , I am extremely dedicated to advocacy for children's rights and when AmfAR called and asked me to be a part of this I jumped at the chance because I believe in bettering the lives if children and there is no reason why children should suffering from any disease, especially AIDS" LONGORIA, PERRY, ANDERSON CHATTING IN A BREAK BETWEEN QUESTIONS SOUNDBITE) (English), PAMELA ANDERSON SAYING "I am just here to have a good time. I am thrilled to be here of course, to be in the life ball, they've raised a lot of money I am so proud to be here. I was at the Opera Ball before, I cant imagine even being invited to that. Happy to be here!" PERRY, ANDERSON AND ACTRESS FRAN DRESCHER LISTEN TO QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (English), FRAN DRESCHER SAYING "There is a growing demographic of orphans due to mothers with AIDS. The woman is the caregiver to the child, the spouse and the elder in almost every home worldwide, at all costs we must keep her alive. I am very grateful to the Life Ball, as well as to AmfAR and the Clinton foundation for giving me this opportunity as a public diplomacy envoy to further recognise and bring awareness to women with aids and more specifically mothers with AIDS." ANDERSON RECEIVING FLOWERS FROM ORGANISERS (SOUNDBITE) (English), EVA LONGORIA SAYING "Oh my gosh I expect to raise a lot of money of course. I've always heard of this infamous Vienna ball, and when Kevin called and said let's you know, come on down I said absolutely I hear Vienna is so amazing and this Ball particularly is amazing, and the fact that it supports AmfAR was just you know, a double pleasure for me. And my husband is here so he'll be here tonight, it's a date night for us." LONGORIA RECEIVING FLOWERS FROM ORGANISERS LONGORIA, PERRY, DRESCHER, ANDERSON POSING WITH BOUQUETS OF FLOWERS
- Embargoed: 1st June 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Austria
- Country: Austria
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA79AOSCK2UM05ADX5N4NJZZSX6
- Story Text: The glitzy Life Ball, Europe's largest event for the fight against AIDS/HIV, started in 1993 as a tongue-in-cheek, gay alternative to the starchy, white-tie and waltz balls beloved by Vienna's old-school upper-class.
But the event soon became a worldwide hit and a highlight of the Viennese ball season, boasting daring, gaudy costumes, frivolous partying, and international celebrity guests passionate both about anti-AIDS campaigning and all-night partying.
This year the roster of high-profile guests included pop singer Katy Perry, actresses Eva Longoria Parker and Pamela Anderson and sitcom comedian Fran Drescher.
"I am so honoured to be here for AmfAR and the Life Ball it's my first time to Vienna , I am extremely dedicated to advocacy for children's rights and when AmfAR called and asked me to be a part of this I jumped at the chance because I believe in bettering the lives if children and there is no reason why children should suffering from any disease, especially AIDS,"
Longoria told reporters.
Last year, the Life Ball charity donated 1.1 million euros to Austrian and international aid and research projects, with beneficiaries including the Bill Clinton Foundation and amfAR, the Foundation for Aids Research.
"There is a growing demographic of orphans due to mothers with AIDS.
The woman is the caregiver to the child, the spouse and the elder in almost every home worldwide, at all costs we must keep her alive. I am very grateful to the Life Ball, as well as to AmfAR and the Clinton Foundation for giving me this opportunity as a public diplomacy envoy to further recognise and bring awareness to women with aids and more specifically mothers with AIDS,"
added actress Fran Drescher.
Come nightfall, some 4,000 guests are expected to attend the ball itself inside one of Vienna's architectural landmarks, the massive neo-Gothic Rathaus, or Town Hall, while thousands more will flock to the opening ceremony for the traditional fashion show of exotic, outrageous costumes and plenty of naked skin.
In stark contrast to Vienna's genteel, even fuddy-daddy image, the Life Ball is now embraced by the city as a marker of cool, and is believed to be the only gay party in the world to be hosted in a public building. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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