Macy's Passport event information
Tuesday 9/16 - Thursday 9/18 at Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
Macy's Passport 2008, commemorating an iconic quarter-century of unparalleled men's, women's and children's fashion, state-of-the art theatrics, celebrity guests and unwavering dedication to our HIV/AIDS community. Since the onset of the AIDS pandemic in the early 1980's, Macy's in steadfast partnership with our sponsors, top designers and community organizations has raised invaluable awareness and over $27 million toward saving lives. Macy's Passport has the mission of putting AIDS fundraising on a worldwide stage.
Now in its 26th year, Macy's Passport is the result of fashion and compassion joining forces for the common good. One of the best-loved fashion theatre events in America, it's also the one with the biggest heart.
It all began in 1980, when Macy's presented "GQ Live," a men's fashion show featuring American designers in the employee cafeteria of Macy's San Francisco. The initial audience totaled 300 people large, to ensure that the following year, an "American Designers" show was held in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Union Square Park. Creative wheels started to turn and the vision grew. More than 2,000 supporters attended the 1983 show, making it official Macy's Passport was a hit!
In 1987, Hollywood legend and AIDS activist Dame Elizabeth Taylor made her debut appearance at Macy's Passport, elevating the show to a new level. One year later, the show stepped up again. Macy's, in a pivotal and pioneering move, turned Passport into a benefit for six Bay Area AIDS agencies, thereby becoming one of the first companies in the United States to recognize the need for AIDS fundraising and to shine a light on the intensity of the pandemic.
By 1992, Macy's Passport hit its stride with the 10th Anniversary show featuring supermodels Claudia Schiffer and Christy Turlington on the runway. Swatch, one of the show's sponsors, released a limited-edition watch designed by Vivienne Westwood, sales of which helped triple Passport's previous fundraising efforts. All told, $250,000 was donated to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Shanti Project.
By the mid '90s, Macy's Passport became known as a unique and powerful fashion fundraiser. With its reputation spreading far outside of San Francisco, the show went on the road and became an annual event in both San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Building yearly on its success, in 1996, with help from Founding Chair Dame Elizabeth Taylor and basketball star and HIV/AIDS activist Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Macy's Passport raised a record-breaking $1.5 million. Hollywood embraced the event, and over the years, the celebrities who've graced the stage reads like the "A list": Sharon Stone, Annette Bening, Tyra Banks, Macy Gray, Cindy Crawford, Tina Turner, Will Smith, Liza Minnelli, k.d. lang, Jennifer Lopez, Sean Combs and Mary J. Blige. The best and the brightest names from the world of fashion have also taken Macy's Passport to heart, with Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors lending their talents. Every year Macy's Passport shined causing audience members to wonder how the show could possibly top itself...
In 2007 Passport celebrated its 25th anniversary, surpassing $27 million raised for the HIV/AIDS organizations that serve our local communities.
For more information, visit www.macys.com
You can help support Passport with Passport In-Store.
Passport In-Store is a shopping event to benefit local HIV/AIDS research, care, prevention and education programs. Buy a $10 ticket and save 10-20% on most of your Macy's purchases, plus receive an additional $10 off of one purchase of $25 or more. All ticket proceeds go directly to participating HIV/AIDS organizations. Tickets can be purchased from participating Macy's Stores or organizations. While shopping you may enjoy informal modeling, dressing seminars, cooking demonstrations, live music, beverages and more. Tickets go on sale in-store September 12, 2008 Since its inception Passport In-Store has raised over $2.5 million for participating HIV/AIDS organizations.
Your $10 ticket affords you:
Details can be found at www.macys.com/passport.
