Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson et al. to Lend Support for Upcoming AIDS Project Benefit, 6/25

AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) announced today that a range of celebrities -- including Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson, Kathy Griffin, La Toya Jackson, Olivia Newton-John, Andrea Bowen, Jackie Collins, Joan Collins, Seth Green, Robert Greenblatt, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Pauley Perrette, and many more - are lending their support to Art Project Los Angeles, a star-studded, charity art auction and gala benefiting APLA. Many, including Perrette, are expected to attend the event, walk the red carpet, and participate in the auction.

"We're fortunate to have the support of so many in the entertainment community for this one-of-a-kind evening," says APLA Executive Director Craig E. Thompson. "Their support and attendance will raise critical awareness - and funds -- for the fight to end AIDS in Los Angeles."

The stars are members of the event's Entertainment Host Committee, which is co-chaired by APLA Ambassador Council member Barry Krost and bestselling Hollywood author Jackie Collins. A complete list of Committee members is available at APLA's Web site.

The auction, created by Hamilton-Selway Fine Art Gallery, is expected to draw hundreds of fine-art aficionados who will outbid one another on a range of masterpieces, including works by artists Picasso, Andy Warhol, Julian Schnabel, Keith Haring, Robert Longo, David Hockney, and more.

The event venue is world-renowned auction house Bonhams & Butterfields -- one of the oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques.

Among the most exclusive items up for auction will be a range of guitars autographed by an all-star array of musicians -- including Alex Band (formerly of "The Calling"), Anjulie, Jennifer Lopez, and Orianthi. In the coming weeks, APLA will announce additional autographed instruments that will join the auction.

APLA's auction will also feature works from exciting local and emerging artists, produced in a range of genres -- including kinetic sculpture and graffiti art -- and with an assortment of media including Cibachrome, Plexiglas, oil, and spray paint. Other artists of note include Stephen Holland, Brad Howe, Burton Morris, and Robert Kuo.

The event's signature attraction -- a star-studded, red-carpet, VIP cocktail party and live charity auction -- takes place on Saturday, June 25, from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The event will launch on Friday evening with an artists' reception and continues Saturday morning with a silent charity auction, which is free and open to the public. Tickets to the Saturday evening affair are available at apla.org.

Event sponsors include Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Hard Rock Café, Bonhams and Butterfields, Clear Channel Los Angeles Radio, Hamilton-Selway Fine Art, ROKK Vodka, Metrosource Magazine, and Red Diamond.

ABOUT AIDS PROJECT LOS ANGELES (APLA)

AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), one of the largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States, provides bilingual direct services, prevention education and leadership on HIV/AIDS-related policy and legislation. With more than 25 years of service, APLA is a community-based, volunteer-supported organization with local, national and global reach. For more information, visit apla.org.

ABOUT BONHAMS & BUTTERFIELDS

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The Present Company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com.

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