Clinton honored at Vienna AIDS Ball

Former President Bill Clinton will be among the guests of honor at Vienna's 18th annual Life Ball, marking the beginning of a major AIDS conference held in Austria's capital city from July 18 - 23.

Actress Whoopi Goldberg and model Elizabeth Hurley will also appear as guests of honor.

This year's event will be in keeping with traditional Viennese balls, organizers said. The Ball has been known for its eccentricity in the past. This year's Life Ball will open with 100 debutantes and adapted versions of classical music pieces by Richard Wagner and Ludwig van Beethoven.

The opening fashion show -- during which models strut on a catwalk shaped like the iconic red AIDS awareness ribbon -- will feature designers Diane von Furstenberg, Calvin Klein, and Kenneth Cole.

Last year's Life Ball raised $1.8 million and saw approximately 40,000 people. For more information, visit www.lifeball.org.

Go to Steve Weinstein's first-person account for a report on last year's ball.