Richardson, Goldberg, Etc. Part of 1/31 amfAR Benefit

Theatre veteran Natasha Richardson/> and Dreamgirls film star Beyonce Knowles/> will be among the stars taking part in a benefit for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.

The benefit, which will feature Richardson, Knowles, Woody Allen/>, Richard Gere/> and R&B star Eve as presenters, will take place at Cipriani (110 E. 42nd Street) on January 31st.  It will include a black-tie dinner, as well as the awards presentation.

Film, comedy and theatre star Whoopi Goldberg/> (the films Ghost and The Color Purple, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom on Broadway) will be among the honorees, as will MTV vice chairman Bill Roedy and M.A.C. AIDS Fund chairman John Demsey.  Goldberg, Demsey, and Roedy will each receive amfAR's Award of Courage for outstanding leadership and distinguished service in furtherance of the Foundation's mission and for playing a vital role in increasing AIDS awareness and accelerating the pace of HIV/AIDS research.

The evening will also include tributes to film star Sharon Stone/>, who is amfAR's chairman of the Campaign for AIDS Research, and Dr. Mathilde Krim, who co-founded amfAR in 1985 with Elizabeth Taylor/>.

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested nearly $250 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.

Visit www.amfar.org for more information.

Photo - Natasha Richardson