SANTA MONICA, Calif.—Elizabeth Taylor put some superstar sparkle into an HIV/AIDS fundraiser Sept. 27.

Taylor, 75, is a founding chairwoman of the annual Macy’s Passport event, a charity auction and showcase for food and fashion.

Since 1988, Passport has raised $25 million for HIV/AIDS services, prevention and research. The actress was honored with its first Humanitarian Award for AIDS Activism.

“I have done this every year for years,” Taylor told The Associated Press in an interview. “It’s tradition and it’s part of my existence.”

As her longtime friend Rock Hudson battled AIDS, which killed him in 1985, Taylor began work to raise funds and increase awareness of the disease.

“I used to have doors slammed in my face, telephones hung up on me,” she said when asked about the differences between her early fundraising efforts and today. “This (is) 100-percent turnaround.”

Taylor, with some assistance, walked on the stage to a standing ovation. She made her way to a chair, sat down and accepted her award.

“I was here at the first night, here last year,” she said. “I will continue to be here until we defeat the enemy of HIV and AIDS.”