DiCaprio's Titanic fundraiser: from dinner with Kate Winslet to a sculpture of endangered tigers
Hollywood heads for St Tropez as Leonardo auctions off a date with his co-star and himself
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Your support makes all the difference.A fan of the film Titanic is to get a memorable evening when Leonardo DiCaprio auctions off the chance to have dinner with the Oscar-winning actor and his former co-star Kate Winslet.
The lot will raise money for DiCaprio's conservation foundation, which is holding its lavish annual gala dinner in St Tropez tonight.
The winning bidder can dine with Titanic’s Jack and Rose at a New York restaurant of their choice. Due to the stars’ filming commitments, they will have to select a date in either October or November.
Other lots in the auction include a three-metre long sculpture of a tiger created by the celebrated Russian artist Vasily Klyukin. It is called ‘6/9’ to highlight how three species of tiger are now extinct, leaving only six on the planet.
Talking about the inclusion of his piece in this year’s event, Mr Klyukin said: “I have four kids and do not want them to just survive in a desert or caves. Working on this sculpture, I was trying to make it appealing – drawing attention to its name as well as to the substance behind it.”
Another work of art by Mr Klyukin, depicting a dancing fairy, sold for $300,000 at a recent Aids fundraiser in Cannes.
Guests at tonight's gala will be entertained with a special performance by Lenny Kravitz, but members of the audience are just as A-list: Madonna, Cate Blanchett, Emma Stone, Marion Cotillard, Tom Hanks, Jared Leto, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Tobey Maguire and Uma Thurman are among those expected to attend.
Last year, the gala dinner and auction raised $45 million and featured guests such as Bono, Chris Rock, Jonah Hill, Naomi Campbell, Mariah Carey, Tobey Maguire and Edward Norton.
Proceeds go to DiCaprio's foundation, which offers grants to environmental causes. The dinner itself will also benefit a GoFundMe campaign that Winslet supports, which is helping a young mother in the UK pay for her cancer treatment.
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