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Kim Kardashian, Kanye West among celebs honoring Franca Sozzani

Honoree Franca Sozzani, left, holds Kim Kardashian's hand up to show off her new 15-carat engagement ring from Kanye West at the Dream for Future Africa Foundation Gala.
(Michael Buckner / WireImage)
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The event: The Dream for Future Africa Foundation Gala, honoring Vogue Italia editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani on Thursday. Co-hosted by model Amber Valletta, super chef Wolfgang Puck and Gelila Assefa Puck, the evening came complete with performances by Kenny Babyface Edmonds and opera singer Vittorio Grigolo, an art auction by Simon de Pury and a gourmet four-course dinner at Spago in Beverly Hills.

The buzz: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West had a steady stream of well-wishers congratulating them on their three-day old engagement and taking in Kardashian’s eye-popping, cushion-cut 15-carat diamond ring and her curvaceous post-baby body in her skintight, slit-midriff dress.

West said he came to support Sozzani, who in turn called West a good friend, saying she met the rapper at the fashion shows in Europe.

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The crowd: The night’s emcee, musician D.A. Wallach, declared the event the fanciest party he’d ever attended and the occasion “seriously elite.”

PHOTOS: Dream for Future Africa Foundation Gala

“All of the coolest people in the world are here in one room,” Wallach said. There were also some of the most beautiful, I might add, given some of the world’s top models, including Angela Lindvall, Karolina Kurkova and Devon Aoki, added to the already glamorous list of actors, actresses and others.

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More guests were Joe Jonas and Blanda Eggenschwiler; Ted Sarandos of Netflix and former ambassador Nicole Avant; music legends Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones and Smokey Robinson; burlesque queen Dita Von Teese; tennis great Maria Sharapova; artists Doug Aitken and Mark Bradford, actors Chord Overstreet, Amy Smart, Holly Robinson Peete, Alex Pettyfer, Ali Larter and Erika Christensen; Colleen and Bradley Bell, Eva and Michael Chow, Ben Silverman, Francesco Carrozzini, Nikolai von Bismarck, Rachel Zoe, Liz Goldwyn, Ben Silverman and Shiva Rose. Walter Aranasieff was the night’s musical director.

Quotes of note: Aoki lauded Gelila Puck for the vocational centers she is setting up in Africa, geared to teach people skills for the future. “Think of all the generations that will affect,” she said.

“Giving back is the new luxury,” said Sozzani.

The numbers: With tickets priced from $2,500 and tables going for much more, $750,000 had been raised even before the night’s auction.

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“And the door will be closed until we reach $1 million,” said Gelila Puck, who later happily reported reaching the goal.

Read more about Los Angeles social events at Society News LA.

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Photos: Lea Michele, Lily Collins at CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

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