Project Runway Finalist Mondo Guerra to Honor Elizabeth Taylor, 9/24

Mondo Guerra, well-known fashion designer/participant from the Lifetime cable television hit Project Runway, will be walking the red carpet at this year's Red Ball II - Hollywood Royalty, the signature fundraising event for AIDS Services Foundation Orange County.

"We're thrilled Mondo will be at Red Ball and has agreed to be a part of our special Elizabeth Taylor tribute," says Ken Jillson an ASF founding board member who is helping produce the fund raiser. "He will honor Ms. Taylor's sense of fashion during the evening's program," said Jillson.

The event takes place Saturday, September 24, at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach.

Guerra finished in second place at the conclusion of the eighth season of Project Runway, now in its ninth season. It was during one of the final contest challenges that Guerra revealed to the show's judges that he has been HIV positive for more than 10 years.

"As a designer, Mondo understands Ms. Taylor's sense of style. As someone with HIV he can certainly appreciate the contributions she made to ASF and to fighting HIV/AIDS," said Jillson.

In 1993 Elizabeth Taylor donated her Nolan Miller sapphire beaded gown that she had worn to one of President Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Balls as a live auction item to benefit ASF. In subsequent years she donated other gowns to benefit the agency and attended ASF events along with pop icon Michael Jackson.

Red Ball II festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction followed by a served dinner, program, live auction, entertainment, and dancing. In addition to the Elizabeth Taylor tribute, guests will also be treated to a Hollywood-themed song and dance spoof entitled "Coup de Graae" that makes fun of such off-Broadway hits as "ForbiddenBroadway" and "Forever Plaid." Star of the show is Jason Graae who got his start on Broadway in "Forever Plaid."

Tickets are still available for the Red Ball by contacting Marc Montminy at ASF at 949-809-8766.

Annually, ASF helps more than 1,600 people and their families that are either living with HIV or are impacted by the HIV disease. Services include food, transportation, housing, case management, emergency financial assistance, children and family programs, community outreach, mental health counseling, support groups, HIV testing and an extensive array of HIV prevention and education programs. Visit www.ocasf.org for more information.