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Life and Culture

Life and Culture

Stephen Hawking, the famous British physicist and one of the world's most brilliant scientific minds died at 76, as confirmed by a statement made by his family. The genius of astrophysics suffered from ALS, a degenerative disease, from the time he was 21 years old, thus exceeding life expectancy predictions. Since 2005 he was only able to communicate by means of a speech synthesizer.

Joan Roca was the master behind the special menu that the Elton John AIDS Foundation served during its traditional charitable Oscars viewing gala. Nearly one thousand guests enjoyed the creations of El Celler de Can Roca, which combined some of their traditional family dishes and others incorporating local California produce. “This is an opportunity to showcase our work at the restaurant, but also to shine the spotlight on Spanish cuisine,” said Joan Roca. The involvement of BBVA's brand ambassadors in one of the year’s top events in Los Angeles was possible thanks to the partnership between BBVA Compass, the U.S. franchise of the Spanish bank, and the Elton John Foundation.

Some of the brightest stars from the worlds of entertainment, sports and more came together last night to raise funds for the Elton John Aids Foundation (EJAF) at the nonprofit’s annual Oscars watch party and dinner in West Hollywood.

Now in its 26th year, the Academy Awards Viewing Party was hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish. As one of the co-sponsors, BBVA Compass was honored to bring its brand ambassadors, the Roca Brothers of the Michelin three-star restaurant El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, to design and prepare dinner for the event’s more than 900 guests, all in support of EJAF’s important fundraising initiatives addressing the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the United States, Canada and Latin America.