Just in time for Valentine's Day, we've learned about an exciting partnership between Godiva and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF)!  Learn more in this letter from Scott Campbell, executive director of EJAF.  Then enter the sweepstakes and check out the Limited Edition True Love Gold Heart!

 On February 1, 2010, at a press conference in Los Angeles, EJAF Board member David Furnish and long-time EJAF supporter actress Eva Longoria Parker joined Godiva Chocolatier representative Alison Tryon to announce an exciting new partnership between the world's leading premium chocolatier and one of the world's leading nonprofit HIV organizations.

For Valentine's Day 2010, Godiva is encouraging consumers to open their hearts to loved ones as well as to people in need. Godiva will celebrate the joy of giving back with a special limited edition gift box and an exciting Valentine's Day Sweepstakes inspired by Godiva's partnership with EJAF. As Ms. Tryon stated, "The eternal values of love and sharing, as exemplified by EJAF, have always been staples of Godiva's philosophy, particularly during Valentine's Day. We are proud to honor our shared ideals and support their valuable contributions through this special Valentine's Day sweepstakes. At Godiva, we have long admired the tireless efforts of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and their grant-making programs that bring life-saving HIV prevention education and support services to people in need across the world. We are proud to support them in their endeavors."

 The Grand Prize winner of the 2010 Godiva Valentine's Day Sweepstakes will win an exclusive, all-expenses-paid trip to New York City in the fall, where he or she will receive red carpet treatment at EJAF's star-studded An Enduring Vision benefit. At the event, the winner will present Sir Elton John with a $200,000 check on behalf of Godiva. Additionally, to honor another cause close to the winner's heart, Godiva will make a $20,000 donation to a charity of the winner's choosing, allowing the sweepstakes winner to give back in two very special ways.

Godiva has also created the Limited Edition True Love Gold Heart assortment to commemorate its partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation. As Ms. Longoria Parker stated at the press conference, "I really love this new Limited Edition Valentine's Day box that honors Godiva's partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation. It reminds us that love and compassion should always go hand-in-hand. I will definitely be gifting this to some of my loved ones this year and encouraging others to share a gift that gives back to those in need."

"Saving lives is truly the ultimate expression of love, and that is what Godiva's generous donation will accomplish," added EJAF Board member David Furnish. "In fact, contributions like Godiva's will help EJAF not only to support its ongoing grant-making initiatives, but also to provide emergency dollars in crisis situations related to HIV/AIDS. Just this past week, EJAF released $200,000 in emergency funding to two of our grantees in Haiti to provide HIV/AIDS medicines and other medical supplies for the earthquake relief effort. At EJAF, we pride ourselves on being both a responsive and responsible nonprofit organization, putting our donors' generous contributions to work quickly in regions and populations hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and doing so in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. Elton and I are so very grateful to Godiva for their generous support and partnership in this vital, life-saving work."

Sincerely,

Scott Campbell
Executive Director
Elton John AIDS Foundation

P.S. Please visit www.ejaf.org to find detailed information about EJAF's mission and history and to make secure, tax-deductible, online donations in support of our work.