Saint Valentine’s Day Ball

The Paramour Ball: High Life, Parisian Style

What better place to hold the very first St Valentine’s Day ball than in Paris, the world capital city of love and of lovers?

On Thursday 14th February 2019, from early evening until the wee hours of the morning, the inner chambers of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris welcomed 1,800 A-list media celebrities, artists, performers, showcase acts, international DJs and famous, talented international stars. The whole Paris Jet Set, united and in full creative form, gathered together for an unforgettable charity event held for the LINK Endowment Fund and the organisation Vers Paris Sans SIDA (Towards Paris Without AIDS).

The Paramour Ball. Inspired by the annual Life Ball in the Austrian capital of Vienna, which, 26 years ago, was the first event of its type to raise money in the fight against AIDS, and has become one of the biggest charity events in the world. Open to anyone, the event takes place every year around May-June time, and is held to raise money for research into, and for organisations that fight against AIDS. It is organised by the association Life Plus, which was founded in 1992 and is hosted in the Town Hall of Vienna. Created in partnership with the city of Vienna, each year, the ball brings together around 40,000 Viennese partygoers, but also international stars and celebrities, keen to revel in such a fabulous celebration.

The Paramour Ball has quickly forged its place in the dynamic of charitable and festive Parisian parties; chic and offbeat, its huge successful début having ensured its slot on the social calendar for 2020. A ball to have fun and celebrate love in all its forms, the funds from which will contribute towards the fight against AIDS in Paris alongside the association “Towards Paris Without AIDS”.

All the major companies and patrons from the world of finance, luxury, fashion, design and beauty came together to rub shoulders with creators, personalities, and party animals for a unique, artistic and glamorous evening. The event, which has been backed by Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, who is fully committed to the cause, was held in the main ballrooms of the Town Hall of Paris, with kind permission from the Mayor herself.

The creative direction of the Paramour Ball was placed in the capable hands of choreographer to the stars Hakim Ghorab, who stages the most popular TV shows such as Dancing With The Stars, the NRJ Music Awards, The Voice, Les Enfoirés… A gifted dancer, Ghorab works with the biggest French and international artists Janet Jackson, Maria Carey, Pussy Cat Dolls and will be working with Kylie Minogue for her next two world tours.

The décor of the Paramour Ball was carried out by BUROBONUS, an agency that specialises in the creation and staging of prestigious events.

What is LINK?

The LINK endowment fund was created in 2010, on the initiative of Michel Simon, president of the Aides Association of Donald Potard, director of the Jean-Paul Gaultier fashion house. Both astounded by the success of the Vienna Life Ball in Austria, they met its founder Gery Keslerzs who immediately took on the task of the Paris event. Prior to this ball, many other charity events were hosted by LINK including a annual dinner Paris. This ball of exceptional dimension, in a majestic setting is the biggest event held by LINK in its search for funding from companies, foundations and major sponsors to complement the most relevant programs to stop new contaminations in the short term to HIV.

The LINK Fund is run by more than 50 men and women, entrepreneurs and business executives who have pooled their determination, time and resources to win the battle against AIDS. Facilitators and influencers, they share and widely mobilize their networks. LINK relies on the resources and know-how of its members to identify and fund the most relevant programs to defeat AIDS with an innovative, philanthropic and supportive approach. PARISMARAIS.COM is very happy to support this event located in the heart of this historic district of the Marais.

LINK’S VOCATION

LINK leverages large-scale philanthropic support, donations, legacies and donations to individuals, and partnerships with businesses because:

• Action programs need more financial means to boost their implementation and increase their effectiveness;
• Advocacy for the fight against AIDS must be developed among leaders, decision-makers, families, because everyone is concerned;
• LINK's donor-investor culture aims to measure the impact of its commitments as the end of the AIDS epidemic is within reach. We know today that it is possible to stop the AIDS epidemic in about ten years and eradicate it within a generation. This requires vigilance and constant mobilization. These financial resources must be invested in a very targeted way towards those particularly exposed to HIV.
• Since its creation, LINK has been able to invest more than €3 million in AIDS programs in France. The projects supported by LINK are part of the UNAIDS strategy: zero new infections in 2020, as well as that of the city of Paris "Towards Paris without AIDS".

Given the resounding success of this auspicious event, the organisers, along with the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, have decided to hold the event every year on St Valentine’s Day, so make a note in your diaries, 14 February 2020, and we’ll see you at the world’s 2nd Paramour Ball in Paris.

CREDITS: Many thanks to Eric Labbé and the Agency Maison Messages, Photos © Veronika Von Volkova, Robin Taylor, Vadim David, Pascal Fonquernie.