Hands-on foundation executive director Scott Campbell tapped Virginia Fout of V Productions to produce the event again this year, her fourth go. Of all that's been made about the party's greater significance this year, Fout said, "The thing to remember is that first and foremost we're a fund-raiser, so on Oscar night we're unique [from Vanity Fair's party]." She added, "In years past we'd have celebrities that would try to do both [parties], but they'd just stay there and not come over to ours because the night gets long."

As for decor, the room featured what Fout called "an uplifting, feel-good, motivating look," designed by New York-based Antony Todd for the second time. Gone was last year's silvery palette, and in its place was a sea of fuschia, orange, yellow, and gold with purple and green accents—apropos of the cheerful feeling in the room in light of a ceremony that could have been derailed by the writers strike. Mokara orchids packed simple vases on tabletops, and dinnerware featured gold rims.

"The colors overall are just very happy and festive. It's an exciting time because the strike has just finalized itself, and everyone is really celebrating that. It's kind of a twofold celebration," Fout said. "Plus we get a nice diverse group of people in the room—not all celebrities, not all corporate America. It's a conscious decision to mix and marry different folks." This year table prices soared to about $100,000.

Fout says the team behind the fund-raiser never considered scrapping the party altogether, even as the writers strike continued into February. She says John had always planned to perform, which is consistently a draw for guests no matter what the status of the ceremony, and the fund-raising component was too important to the foundation to consider pulling the plug. "Unfortunately, AIDS didn't go on strike, and there's still a need out there to raise awareness and raise money," Fout said. "But it's wonderful that the strike is over. I will not lie to you."   —Alesandra Dubin