During 2009 Elton's fans continued to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation through their Lunch Around the World activities. Over $16,000 was raised during 2009 and donated to the EJAF. Considering how so many people have been cutting back on their spending, this is an impressive achievement, and we thank everyone who organised or attended these events.

We are especially grateful to all those who bid in our eltonjohn.com Out The Closet auction. In total we raised $4,127 from auctioning the six fabulous items from Elton and David's wardrobes. The final winners were Denise from New York, USA (who bought two items); Jenny from Texas, USA; Timothy from Ohio, USA; John from Abbotsford, Australia and Mona from Missouri, USA. Mona bought the gorgeous Yamamoto black wool and faux fur Fedora, and she has sent us a photo of herself wearing her Elton souvenir.

These latest donations means that, since its inception in 2002, the total raised for the EJAF by Elton's fans through Lunch Around The World now stands at an amazing $219,055! We will be celebrating March, Elton's birthday month, with a new Out the Closet auction, so look out for more opportunities to help Elton's special charity and acquire some amazing items!

LATW events are already under way for this year. Debbie Piemonte has arranged her fourth LATW Boston Style for Saturday, May 15, 2010. This will be an Elton tribute concert featuring featuring Gerald Brann and Yellow Brick Road at Showcase Live, Patriot Place, Foxboro, Massachusetts. For further information please contact Debbie or visit her website.

You can read more about Lunch Around the World by visiting the special LATW page in our Elton's Charity section here.