George Clooney, Madonna, and Other Celebs Raise Money for AIDS Research at Cannes

I get excited every year for the Cannes Film Festival — everyone always dresses to the nines (or else they dress in something hideous, which is just as much fun), and, of course, the news starts trickling out about what films are must-sees. However, this year several celebrities gave me a new reason to love Cannes — George Clooney, Madonna, Sharon Stone, Natalie Portman, Mary J. Blige, Milla Jovovich, Harvey Weinstein, Kenneth Cole, and others got together at Cannes to raise over $10 million for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

Sharon Stone, as amfAR’s global fundraising chairman, acted as conductor of the auction and started things off with a request for support in honor of her fiftieth birthday after starting with her own pledge of $100,000. She asked the room match her pledge, and over $2 million was raised in just 10 minutes. Additionally, Sharon auctioned off her own vintage Porche 911 Targa for $810,000.

Madonna did her part as well, auctioning off a a private performance of two songs for $560,000, as well as a diamond-encrusted alligator skin Chanel purse including her personal lip gloss, compact mirror, and blotting papers for $486,000.

But the item I’m most disappointed in missing is George Clooney’s — he auctioned off a kiss for $300,000. Next year, I’m totally going!

Photo courtesy of eonline.com