Dodgers Donate A Million {Dollars} To Elton John AIDS Basis – Deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a $1 million donation to the Elton John AIDS Basis final night time through the penultimate present of his closing North American tour.

John was the attraction for 3 sold-out exhibits at Dodger Stadium, concluding tonight and supposedly ending the 75-year-old’s touring days in North America (he’ll nonetheless do European dates, and we’ve heard vows of retirement earlier than).

John gave a heartfelt thank-you to Los Angeles on Saturday night time. He acknowledged that his profession took off in Los Angeles, due to a magical night time on the Troubadour. He thanked former Los Angeles Occasions music critic Robert Hilburn for chronicling that present, and likewise talked about his iconic 1975 date at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles as one of many causes he wished to conclude his run in Los Angeles on the similar venue.

“I’m thrilled to play my three closing exhibits of my Farewell Yellow Brick Highway tour within the US at Dodger Stadium, an iconic venue which has meant a lot to me and my profession,” he stated in an announcement.

Dodgers Chairman and principal proprietor Mark Walter and tennis legend, activist, and Dodgers coowner, Billie Jean King joined John on stage to current the donation at Saturday’s present. 

“Past the plain affect and pleasure of his music, Elton has been a social chief in fostering LGBTQ acceptance and equality and has labored tirelessly to enhance the lives of these dwelling with HIV and AIDS by way of the Elton John AIDS Basis,” stated Walter. “We on the Dodgers share Elton’s dedication to group, equality and repair and are happy to have the ability to help the work of the inspiration. Billie Jean and I thank Elton for all he has achieved and congratulate him on his iconic profession.”

The Elton John AIDS Basis was established in 1992 and is likely one of the main impartial AIDS organizations on the planet. The Basis’s mission is straightforward: an finish to the AIDS epidemic.