Parties You Will Never Get Into

How do you get Justin Timberlake, Jessica Alba, and Tyra Banks together? Simple. Invite them all in one big significant affair like Alicia Key’s 5th Annual Black Ball.

The 2008 Black Ball was held last Nov. 13 at the Hammerstein Ballroom of New York City. An annual benefit event, the ball is intended to raise awareness as well as to solicit support and funding for Keep a Child Alive organization. The organization finds ways to help provide life-saving anti-retroviral treatment and support services to children and families who have HIV/AIDS in Africa and in other third world countries.

This year’s Black Ball event started with a cocktail party to begin the evening’s festivities. An auction was held right after the cocktails. Later on, guests were treated to a sumptuous dinner, which featured exceptional performances by celebrity guests Justin Timberlake, Joni Mitchell, Jack White, and Emmanuel Jal. Of course, the ball’s host and Keep a Child Alive’s co-founder, Alicia Keys, also performed. She and Timberlake also serenaded their guests with a rendition of their own version of Phil Collins’ “Another Day in Paradise.”

Guests who lent their presence and support to Keys and the organization included the Gucci-clad new mom Jessica Alba, Iman and David Bowie, the elegant Queen Latifah, singer John Mayer, America’s Next Top Model’s Tyra Banks who wore a Mariah Carey-like Michael Kors gown, Timbaland, Lenny Kravitz’s daughter Zoe, Swizz Beats, Adele, and Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi who looked beautiful in a Naeem Khan.

Alicia Keys, the 28-year old global ambassador for the organization, was herself stunning in an Armani strapless dress that she paired with an Armani python jacket.

The singer’s celebrity friends were all in praise for her dedication and commitment to the organization and pledged to support Alicia Keys in trying to raise money and awareness for the organization.

During the star-studded event, Queen Latifah was honored for her humanitarian work. The brain behind Idol Gives Back, Simon Fuller, was also an honoree.

Iman, also a global ambassador for the organization, co-hosted the cocktails while Jessica Alba was the perfect ambassador for Keep a Child Alive throughout the night.

The 2008 Black Ball event was able to raise a total of $2.4 million.