The
Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala, themed “So Near & Yet
So Far,” took place on Tuesday, October 27, 2009. This year’s
gala raised nearly $2 million. Guests enjoyed one of the most glamorous
and highly anticipated evenings of the season in the Grand Ballroom of
the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel. Roger Waters poignantly opened the evening
the playing “Wish You Were Here” and The Pointer Sisters
and The Stingers Band got the crowd of more than 600 guests dancing.
The annual Rita Hayworth Gala is one of New York City’s most prestigious
and successful fundraising events. Over the past 24 years the Rita Hayworth
Galas in New York and Chicago have raised more than $53 million. Funds
raised support Alzheimer’s Association’s goal of enhancing
care and support for all affected and eliminating Alzheimer's disease
through the advancement of research. Princess Yasmin Aga Khan established
the Gala as a tribute to her mother, Rita Hayworth, who lived with Alzheimer’s
disease for many years before her death in 1987.
Rita Hayworth Gala attendees
included Bryant and Hilary Gumbel, Regis and Joy Philbin, David Hyde
Pierce and Brian Hargrove, Brooke Shields, Nina Garcia and David Conrod,
Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon Aykroyd, Roger Waters, Anne Hearst McInerney
and Jay McInerney, John McEnroe and Patty Smyth, Nikki Haskell, Eric
Ripert, Buzz Aldrin, Jim Nantz, Art Garfunkel and Harvey Keitel and Daphna
Kastner.
For their outstanding contribution to the field of Alzheimer’s
Muffie Potter Aston received the Rita Hayworth Award, Lonnie Wollin,
Esq. received the Lifetime Achievement Award and John, Margo, Andrea
and John Jr. Catsimatidis received the Family Philanthropy Award. The
founder of the Rita Hayworth Gala Princess Yasmin Aga Khan served as
General Chair; Alexandra Lebenthal was the Gala Chair; Allen Brill was
the Underwriting Chair; Muffie Potter Aston was the Sponsor Chair; Nancy
Corzine was the Décor Chair; Nurit Kahane Haase was the Journal
Chair; Donna Dixon Aykroyd, Somers Farkas, Susan Hess, Kathy Hilton,
and Anne Hearst McInerney were the Auction Co-Chairs; Chele Upton Chiavacci,
Hilary Dick, and Andrea Stark were the Gift Bag Co-Chairs; and Dennis
Basso and Mark Locks were the Corporate Committee Co-Chairs. Rolex Watch
USA Inc. underwrote the Gala.
