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BUSINESSWOMAN, FASHION DESIGNER AND ACTIVIST
TINA KNOWLES TO BE HONORED AT
THE ELIZABETH TAYLOR NIGHT OF COMPASSION
Mrs. Cookie Johnson Announced as 2025 ETAF
Champion
Presenting Sponsor Gilead Sciences, Inc.
The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) today
announced American businesswoman, fashion designer, art
collector, activist, and New York Times best-selling
author Tina Knowles will be honored with The
Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award at The Elizabeth
Taylor Night of Compassion on September 18, 2025 at The
Beverly Hills Hotel. Knowles will be recognized for her
ongoing support for people living with HIV and for her
long-standing allyship with the LGBTQ+ community. The
evening, hosted by Emmy award-winning host Melvin Robert,
will be generously supported by Presenting Sponsor Gilead
Sciences, Inc.
Entrepreneur, author and philanthropist Mrs. Cookie
Johnson will join the event as ETAF’s 2025 Champion,
standing up for people affected by HIV and AIDS during this
challenging time, just as Elizabeth Taylor did before. Mrs.
Johnson will join The Elizabeth Taylor Night of
Compassion to bring attention to the issues people
living with HIV continue to face today, especially as
federal budget cuts are dismantling HIV treatment and
prevention programs.
“This is a critical time for support to
people living with HIV, and we could not be more excited to
have Mrs. Cookie Johnson as our 2025 ETAF Champion. Having
known and joined Elizabeth Taylor in her work, Mrs. Johnson
is deeply committed to the prevention and treatment of
people at risk for and living with HIV. In addition, we are
thrilled to honor Ms. Tina Knowles with the Commitment to
End AIDS Award for her years of dedication and advocacy on
behalf of people living with HIV. Both of these
outstanding, selfless, and iconic women join in our
founder’s vision of an AIDS-free world,” said Catherine
Brown, Executive Director, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS
Foundation.
Knowles launched her professional journey as
a makeup artist, hairstylist, and owner of one of the
biggest hair salons in Houston, quickly becoming the
visionary fashion stylist for the iconic music group
Destiny’s Child. Her design expertise expanded to crafting
stunning looks for Beyoncé’s world tours, television
performances, movie roles, and red-carpet events. Alongside
her family, she co-founded The Knowles-Rowland Center for
Youth in Houston, Texas, and spearheaded the anti-hunger
initiative, Miss A Meal. Her commitment to supporting
communities has extended to substantial work aiding
hurricane victims and contributing to COVID-19 testing
initiatives. Knowles is the driving force behind the WACO
Theater Center in Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization
dedicated to uplifting and empowering artists across diverse
communities, and serving as a platform for creative
expression and cultural engagement.
The Elizabeth Taylor Night of Compassion will
include a reception and culinary experience, a live
performance, and an exclusive look at items from The
Elizabeth Taylor Archive.
For more information, please contact admin@etaf.org.
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ABOUT ETAF
Working tirelessly on the AIDS crisis
throughout the 1980s, Elizabeth Taylor established The
Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in 1991 to carry out
her vision for an AIDS-free world. ETAF works to provide the
direct care needed for people living with and affected by
HIV and AIDS. Emphasizing Elizabeth's voice, commitment, and
concentration on hard-to-reach communities, ETAF's domestic
advocacy initiatives remain a priority. Fighting for
criminalization reform for people living with HIV, ETAF’s
primary advocacy initiative, HIV Is Not A Crime works to
decrease discrimination. ETAF's programs have also expanded
to ensure that HIV prevention education and access to
treatment are available through domestic and international
initiatives. ETAF’s newest program LIFEBEAT mobilizes the
music and entertainment industry to provide the resources
and support needed for at-risk youth to take charge of their
sexual health and prevent HIV.
ABOUT GILEAD SCIENCES
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical
company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in
medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of
creating a healthier world for all people. The company is
committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and
treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral
hepatitis, COVID-19, and cancer. Gilead operates in more
than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster
City, Calif.
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