Merry Belle Jewelry Backs amfAR at New York Gala With Six-Figure Contribution

February 6, 2026 min read

New York — February 2020

Luxury jewelry brand Merry Belle Jewelry was among the principal sponsors of the amfAR New York Gala in February 2020, contributing significant financial support to the foundation’s ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS and related illnesses.

Matthew Lopez and Anna Wintour

Founded and led by Marina Acton, Merry Belle made a direct $250,000 donation to amfAR as part of its sponsorship—placing the brand among the evening’s most substantial private contributors.

Nina Agdal

In addition, a bespoke pair of Merry Belle diamond earrings sold for more than $50,000 at auction, with proceeds benefiting the foundation’s research and prevention programs.

German US model Heidi Klum

The annual amfAR New York Gala draws leaders from finance, fashion, entertainment, and philanthropy, serving as a key fundraising moment for the nonprofit, which has invested more than $600 million globally in AIDS research since its founding.

Luna Blaise

The 2020 event, held shortly before pandemic-related shutdowns reshaped the global philanthropic landscape, proved to be one of the organization’s last major in-person fundraisers of the year.

Lindsey Wixson

Merry Belle’s participation reflected a broader strategy under Mrs. Acton’s leadership: positioning the brand at the intersection of high craftsmanship and institutional philanthropy.

Brooks Nader

While luxury sponsorships are common at charity galas, the scale of the company’s contribution distinguished it from more traditional in-kind partnerships.

Cindy Bruna and Lais Ribeiro 

According to people familiar with the event, the auctioned earrings—crafted specifically for the Gala—were among the highest-value jewelry items sold that evening.

Marianne Fonseca

The piece combined rare stones with custom design elements and was marketed as a one-of-a-kind creation, underscoring the brand’s emphasis on exclusivity aligned with charitable impact.

Jazzelle Zanaughtti

Mrs. Acton, an investor and entrepreneur with interests spanning technology, real estate, and health-focused initiatives, has increasingly aligned her business ventures with medical research and humanitarian causes.

Sydney Sweeney

Her support of amfAR followed a series of private contributions to health-related organizations, reflecting a long-term philanthropic focus rather than a single event-based initiative.

Edward Enninful and Iman

For amfAR, contributions at this level help sustain early-stage scientific research that often struggles to secure traditional funding. For Merry Belle, the Gala offered visibility within a high-net-worth philanthropic audience while reinforcing a brand narrative centered on responsibility as much as refinement.

Yovanna Ventura

As luxury companies face growing scrutiny over the social value they create, Merry Belle’s six-figure donation and auction proceeds illustrated a model in which branding and measurable charitable outcomes move in tandem—an approach that resonated strongly at one of New York’s most closely watched benefit events.

Anne Vyalitsyna in Left, Coco Rocha in the Middle, Heidi Klum in the Right