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The 32nd annual Alzheimer’s
Association Rita Hayworth Gala was held at Cipriani 42nd
Street on Tuesday, October 27th, 2015. The event
raised more than $2 million for critical Alzheimer’s care,
support and research programs.
Willie Geist,
co-anchor of The
Today Show and Morning
Joe emceed
the event, which included remarks from Gala General Chair
and Founder Princess Yasmin
Aga Khan (daughter
of Rita Hayworth) and 2015 Gala Chair Daryl
Simon. Simon gave a moving speech about her mother’s
battle with the disease, which inspired her to become
involved with the Gala. Actress Kimberly
Williams-Paisley poignantly
spoke as a part of the program, sharing about her mother’s
struggle with dementia.
Michele and Larry
Herbert were
honored with the Rita Hayworth Award. Michele spoke
powerfully about her dedication to the cause drawing both
laughter and tears from the crowd. The Herbert’s recently
committed a substantial gift to create the Michele
and Larry Herbert Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s in Women Fund as
part of the Alzheimer’s Association Women’s Alzheimer’s
Research Fund, which will support critical research into
gender vulnerabilities in Alzheimer’s and why woman are
disproportionately affected by this disease.
Later in the evening, CBS News correspondent Michelle
Miller introduced B.
Smith and Dan
Gasby as they
were honored with the Alzheimer’s Association Champions
Award for their dedication to the cause and for B.’s courage
in announcing her own diagnosis. Actor Danny
Gloversend a personal video message honoring his close
friends B. and Dan for “bravely using their voices for
Alzheimer’s” calling them his champions and heroes. Model Klara
Urbanova donned
the stunning purple gown celebrated fashion designer Naeem
Khan, a longtime supporter of the organization, designed
as a part of his Purple Dress Partnership with the Gala,
which was auctioned off to benefit the Alzheimer’s
Association.
Notable attendees included: Daryl
Simon (Gala Chair), Princess Yasmin Aga Khan (Gala Founder),
Michele and Larry Herbert (Honorees), B. Smith and Dan Gasby
(Honoree), Willie Geist (Emcee), Brooke Shields, Kimberly
Williams-Paisley, Ray Kelly, Hunt Slonem, Patty Smyth
McEnroe, Brendan Shanahan, Yaz Hernandez, Olivia Jordan,
Robin Meltzer, Sharon Bush, Nicole Sexton, Jean Shafiroff,
John and Margo Catsimatidis, Somers Farkas, Chele Chiavacci
Farley, Margo Nederlander, Karyn Kornfeld, Carleton Varney,
Harold Koda, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia and Anne
Hearst and Jay McInerney.
The theme of this year’s Gala, ‘our future is crystal
clear’, highlighted the gala steering committee’s commitment
to the vision of a world without Alzheimer’s disease. Since
the inaugural Rita Hayworth Gala over three decades ago, the
New York, Chicago and Palm Beach events have now raised more
than $68 million to support the Alzheimer’s Association. The
mission of the Association is to eliminate Alzheimer’s
disease through the advancement of research, to provide and
enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the
risk of dementia through promotion of brain health.
www.alz.org
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