Fine Arts, Big Hearts

Twenty-five years ago, amfAR Trustee Cindy Rachofsky and Howard Rachofsky opened their Dallas home to host the inaugural TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art, an annual dinner and art auction benefiting amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA). Each year, artists and galleries generously donate works to be auctioned, the Rachofsky House is bedecked in thematic colors and lights, and members of the Dallas community, international art world, and other supporters come out to an event that has become the DMA’s most successful fundraiser and the most successful domestic benefit for amfAR.

“Of course, we are surprised not only by the incredible generosity of the guests who have attended for 25 years but that it has maintained its allure,” says Cindy Rachofsky, an avid philanthropist who serves as a board and executive committee member of the DMA. “The guests who attend have become family—they are dedicated to the cause.”

“The extraordinary thing about TWO x TWO and why we are so proud of what it has accomplished is that what we set out to do actually happened,” Rachofsky continues. “TWO x TWO developed art patrons from people who weren’t before. We taught the public about AIDS and that it is not a red or blue state issue, that it is not a gay disease. It dispelled all the preconceived notions of what AIDS is.”

She adds: “TWO x TWO changed the perception of Dallas nationally and internationally. People weren’t coming to Dallas in the ’90s to attend an event. Today, they do. Almost 20% of the guests come from out of town.”

Over the years, TWO x TWO has raised more than $120 million for amfAR’s AIDS research programs and the DMA’s Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund. Cindy and Howard Rachofsky received amfAR’s Award of Courage in 2009 for their tireless commitment to the fight against AIDS.

Since 2000, TWO x TWO has honored one artist each year with the amfAR Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS. Some of the biggest names in art have received the award—Robert Rauschenberg, Julian Schnabel, Cecily Brown, Rashid Johnson, Alex Katz, María Berrío, to name a few. The 2024 honoree is Swiss artist Nicolas Party.

“We think it is important to acknowledge and celebrate those who have made a difference. It has had a positive impact on the event,” says Rachofsky about the award.

When asked to recall a single moment over the years that represents the spirit of TWO x TWO, Rachofsky cannot narrow it down—the spirit resides in how well the event has thrived, “the fact that the event has continued to flourish each and every year and has brought in a new generation of supporters.”

On Saturday, October 19, 2024, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, along with co-hosts Lisa and John Runyon, will once again welcome guests to TWO x TWO, a truly special mix of creativity, community, and compassion.

2023 Event Highlights

Click Here to read more from the July 2024 issue of amfAR INNOVATIONS.

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