amfAR Dallas Boasts Megawatt Star Power with Honoree Charlize Theron and Performer Lauryn Hill

I don’t get black tie ready; I stay black tie ready.

That’s the advice I give for surviving Dallas’ dizzying fall social season. I also recommend saving one of your best looks for amfAR Dallas, which always attracts our glitteriest local philanthropists, lured by the prospect of rubbing elbows with bona fide Hollywood A-listers. (And making a difference, too, of course!)

A keystone event for amfAR and its efforts to improve global health, amfAR Dallas raises critical funds for lifesaving HIV research. The gala follows in the enormous footsteps of the internationally lauded TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art Gala that Cindy and Howard Rachofsky hosted for 25 years. The magnanimous event ended in 2024 after generating more than $66.5 million for groundbreaking medical research. Last year’s inaugural amfAR Dallas attracted Teri Hatcher, Nicole Kidman, and Taylor Sheridan, and it ended with a performance by the one and only Diana Ross.

Kathleen & Scott Kirby returned again as the evening’s hosts, welcoming guests to their sprawling grounds, with a tent erected to host the dinner. (The event design and production were executed to perfection by — who else? — Todd Fiscus of Todd Events.) Guests embraced their moment on the red carpet for a glamorous photo in front of the amfAR step and repeat that was emblazoned with Bvlgari’s logo. (It’s worth noting that Bvlgari, the evening’s signature sponsor, finally opened its new Highland Park Village jewel box this week!) DJ RomiQ set the festive tone for the evening before guests made their way into the tent, where singer Tori Kelly gave an opening performance.

Cassandra Moses of Art 2 Catering presented a gorgeous dinner, with guests supremely satisfied by the crispy fried chicken lollipop paired alongside a heaping scoop of decadent American sturgeon caviar. The Piper-Heidsieck champagne flowed in abundance, which serves as a foolproof foundation for spirited bidding.

This year’s amfAR Dallas honored Academy Award-winning actress and producer Charlize Theron with its Award of Inspiration for her humanitarian work. In addition to founding the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, which seeks to advance youth health and safety in Southern Africa, the South African-born actress serves as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Theron accepted the award in voluminous black and red trousers from Givenchy, paired with a fitted tank and a round silver belt buckle for the Texans.

John Stankey, who is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AT&T, received the Philanthropic Leadership Award for his commitment to expanding digital access and affordability across the globe to help close the digital divide. Notably, AT&T pledged $5 billion to help 25 million people get connected to high-speed internet access by 2023.

A central fundraising component of the evening, the live auction, which was charmingly conducted by Michael Macaulay, included:

• “Three Landscape Pots” by Jonas Wood (that Theron led a bidding war for!)
• A trip to The Eternal City with a five-night stay at Bulgari Hotel Roma, courtesy of Bvlgari
• An exclusive digital artwork commission from Polina Zakharova / Hard Feelings Studio
• A portrait of Theron by Zara Muse, which the actress agreed to sign for the lucky winner

The highlight of the evening, especially for young Gen Xers and elder Millennials who partook in the “miseducation” of 1998, was the magnetic performance by Miss Lauryn Hill. The wind machine worked hard, but Hill worked harder, getting the dignified crowd to show up and show OUT on the dance floor. Hill played many of her biggest hits from her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which won her five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year in 1999. I particularly love Hill’s cover of the Frankie Valli classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” Hill, in a dazzling beaded black cape, even sang “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” the biggest hit from her band, The Fugees.

amfAR Palm Beach is up next on February 20, 2027, followed by the perennially posh amfAR Gala Cannes on May 20, 2027.

amfAR Dallas, you’re just too good to be true. I can’t take my eyes off of yoU!

PC Seen: Kyle Clifford, Porshla and Jason Kidd, Gene and Jerry Jones, Charlotte Jones and Amir Rozwadowski, Meghan Looney, Mason McCleskey, Suzanne Droese, Miles Trapp-Danielson, Stephanie Seay, Annika Cail, Deidre Guillory, Ramiro Garcia and Pablo Arellano, Nipa Nobel, Danielle Vasinova, Ramona Singer, Cary Deuber, Sabrina Harrison, and Dana and Mike Arnold.