Hollywood stars come out to shop in the name of love

Did you know that AIDS is the third leading cause of death for all women ages 25-44 in the United States? Did you know that an estimated 45,000 Los Angeles County residents are now known to be HIV-positive?

Now that you’re aware of these sobering statistics, you will understand the vital role of Project Angel Food. Over the last decade, this L.A.-based organization has provided over 2 million life-sustaining meals as well as nutritional counseling to 7,500 men, women, and children disabled by HIV/AIDS. Founded in 1989, Project Angel Food maintains that no person living with AIDS should also face hunger and loneliness. To make sure of this, they prepare and deliver free meals to clients’ homes throughout the vast expanse of Los Angeles County. With the help of many volunteers, Project Angel Food brings not only nutritious food but hope, caring, and companionship to over 1,200 people a day, everyday of the year.

The severe impact of AIDS on the design community led artists, designers, and Project Angel Food to join forces and create "Divine Design," one of the most spectacular AIDS benefits imaginable. The very first Divine Design event featured over 50 designer showrooms, a designer label discount store, and a fantasy auction where guests bid on having David Hockney paint their swimming pool! The evening brought in over $1.3 million and gave a tremendous boost to Project Angel Food’s efforts. With its huge success, the fund-raising gala went annual!

On November 30, 2000, Project Angel Food presented the eighth annual Divine Design gala hosted by Pacific Design Center (PDC) in West Hollywood. The charity event captured the attention of Hollywood’s most fashionable: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kristin Davis, Dylan & Shiva McDermott, Vivica A. Fox, Rachel Leigh Cook, Donna Summer, and lots of other celebrities made it a star-studded opening night! This year’s Divine Design honored several special guests for their humanitarianism and contribution to the arts: Jami Morse Heidegger, president of cosmetics company Kiehl’s Since 1851; The Beverly Center, L.A.’s landmark shopping center; and Darren Star, creator of popular TV series like Sex and the City and Beverly Hills, 90210. The gala commenced with preview shopping, dinner, live music, a fantasy live auction, and a tribute to each of the honorees.

A much-anticipated highlight of Divine Design is the four-day-long shopping extravaganza that follows the gala. Attendees had four days to peruse the 40,000 square-foot PDC marketplace for fashion, art, decorative accessories, and products for home and spa at super discounted prices by designers and manufacturers like Richard Tyler, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren BCBG Max Azria, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, GUESS?, XOXO, and Mattel, Inc. The "angels" of Divine Design definitely went to shopping heaven!

With all the items donated and major help from hundreds of volunteers, Divine Design raised $1.1 million to help in their ongoing mission. With one-third of Project Angel Food’s clients relying on the delivered meals as their primary source of food, it’s truly a mission of life…and love!