After Two years in the making, Be The Link will be complete. The culmination of this is a beautiful exhibition to unite diverse influential people without separatism. AIDS does not care whether you are black or white, straight or gay, the fact remains – HIV effects everyone.
The art on display will feature some of today’s most prominent figures in the world of talent including: world champion athletes, fashion designers, news/media figures, recording artists, actors, top CEOs and business moguls. The diversity of people who form the links highlights the uniqueness of this collaborative effort that shines light on advance treatment that can help reduce the risk of AIDS.
An exhibit of photographic images will be displayed in galleries – one in New York City and one in Los Angeles, symbolically linking both coasts. The New York opening event Media Sponsored by Zink Magazine will be a lavish red carpet affair in an historic architectural facility in Tribeca on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2012.
Limited edition shirts designed by Project Runway Finalist Christopher Palu and partner Stacy Longo will debut at the New York gala to raise funds for Until There’s A Cure. An opening gala will be held in Los Angeles on February 23, 2013 with location to be announced.
The event spotlights the Photography of Andy Tsagaris, Director and Visionary of the Event. Featuring some of today’s most prominent figures in the worlds of business, entertainment, sports, and politics including: Project Runway Season 10 Winner Dmitry Sholokhov; Charlotte Ronson, fashion designer; Phillip Bloch, Hollywood’s premier fashion stylist; Michael Bastian, fashion designer; James Mottern, screenwriter and filmmaker; Adam Sabbagh, entrepreneur, sportsman, media personality, and humanitarian; VH1’s Mob Wives Carla Facciolo; celebrity stylist and television star Carson Kressley; avant-garde fashion duo The Blonds; film producer Cindy Cowan, president of Cowan Entertainment; actor Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister; Kate Linder star of The Young and the Restless; reality star Jessica Romano of Jerseylicious; Julie Macklowe founder of luxury cosmetics company vbeauté; Randy Jones, multi-platinum recording artist and founding member of The Village People; actress Tara Reid; David Mixner, author, political strategist, civil rights activist, and public affairs advisor; Todd Thomas, fashion designer; and Sean Stone, director, producer and son of legendary producer Oliver Stone.
The Be The Link Campaign is partners with Until There’s A Cure, a national organization since 1993 dedicated to eradicating HIV/AIDS by raising awareness and funds to combat the pandemic. Until There’s A Cure is committed to: funding innovative programs which promote AIDS awareness and prevention education; providing financial support for care and services for those living with AIDS; and supporting and advocating for AIDS vaccine development which offers the best hope for reducing the spread of HIV.
Matt Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the drama film Good Will Hunting (1997) from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend and actor Ben Affleck. The pair won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay for their work. For his performance in the film, Damon received nominations for the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Satellite Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.
Damon has since starred in commercially successful films such as Saving Private Ryan (1998), the Ocean’s trilogy, and the first three films in the Bourne series, while also gaining critical acclaim for his performances in dramas such as Syriana (2005), The Good Shepherd (2006), and The Departed (2006). He garnered a Golden Globe nomination for portraying the title character in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Francois Pienaar in Invictus (2009).
He is one of the top-40 highest-grossing actors of all time. In 2007, Damon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was named Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine. Damon has been actively involved in charitable work, including the ONE Campaign, H2O Africa Foundation, and Water.org.
Paul “Paulie” Malignaggi is an Italian American professional boxer. He is a former IBF Light Welterweight Champion and the current WBA Welterweight Champion.
Malignaggi has done print clothing ads that have been featured in magazines such as Esquire magazine, Playboy magazine, and Frank 151 magazine. He also had a small role in the movie Undefeated featuring John Leguizamo, and had a feature documentary on his life leading into his fight with Miguel Cotto titled “Magic Man,” which later aired on Showtime.
Japanese video game company Nintendo used him as the model for their character Little Mac in the new sequel Punch-Out!! for the Wii, and also featured him in the commercials as well. Malignaggi is a featured fighter in EA Sports’ Fight Night Round 4 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Malignaggi is set to defend his WBA Welterweight title against undefeated two time world champion, former WBO Super Featherweight champion and current WBC Lightweight champion, Adrien Broner on June 22, 2013 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
