Alzheimer's Assoc. Rita Hayworth Gala Raises $2 Million

The 32nd annual Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala was held at Cipriani 42nd Street on Tuesday, October 27^th, 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 PrincessYasmin 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 Fundas 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 Glover send 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.

The 32nd annual Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala was held at Cipriani 42nd Street on Tuesday, October 27^th, 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 PrincessYasmin 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 Fundas 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 Glover send 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.

20 Things You Didn’t Know About 'The Shawshank Redemption'

Nineteen ninety-four was a time of runaway white Ford Broncos, physically assaulted figure skaters, and bad shit going on in Rwanda, or something. But most importantly, this year-of-years established Zihuatanejo as THE vacation destination for wrongly accused bankers who go on the lam after exposing money-laundering schemes conducted by the very prison they just broke out of.

Normally we’d preface that with “spoiler alert” but, frankly, if you haven’t seen The Shawshank Redemption by now, than you’re already beyond help. The Warner Bros. classic, based on a Stephen King short story, was adapted into a script by first-time director Frank Darabont, and starred Tim Robbins as the aforementioned bad-luck accountant, Morgan Freeman as a black man named Red, and Bob Gunton as one seriously “obtuse” warden. While the film’s initial box office was disappointing, it went on to find huge success in video rentals and ad nauseum TNT broadcasts. In this, the 20th anniversary of the greatest guy flick to ever feature so few women, it’s time to find out just how well-versed you are on all things Andy…

1)  In the book, Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding was a ginger-haired, middle-aged Mick. Harrison Ford, Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman were all considered for the role that went to Morgan Freeman. Darabont alluded to the unusual casting choice by having Red jokingly reply to Andy’s inquiry about his nickname with the line, “Maybe it’s because I’m Irish.” Happily, they opted to not follow the quote with audio of a studio audience laughing.

2) Steven Spielberg praised Shawshank by telling Darabont that the film was a "a chewing-gum movie—if you step on it, it sticks to your shoe.” (It’s crap like that, that makes us sometimes feel like Steve’s massively overrated.)

3) The film was adapted from the Stephen King short story Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption. The compilation also brought the Nazi-riffic Apt Pupil and leach-tastic The Body (aka Stand By Me) to the silver screen. Rob Reiner famously directed the latter while trying and failing to do the same with Shawshank.

4) Two women had speaking roles in the film: One chick complains about Brook’s skills as a grocery clerk, and another dame assists Andy at a bank.

5) The book mentions that Andy smuggled $100 into Shawshank via his, yet to be tapped, rectum; which is how he pays Red the $10 for the rock hammer.

6) The film’s title was released in Israel as Walls Of Hope. Mostly because Oye, This Cell Is Drafty had already been used for Escape From Alcatraz, years before.

7) Stroh’s was the brand of beer Red and the gang drank on the roof during the day Andy cleverly got them all off work duty—which proves the old adage “prison guards are cheap.”

8) Tom Hanks turned down the role of Andy Dufresne because he’d already committed to Forrest Gump—proving, yet again, that he’s less a “national treasure” and more “Hollywood’s biggest monster.”

9) Although set in Maine, (mostly because Stephen King is unaware that any other state exists) the prison that doubled for Shawshank is in Mansfield, Ohio. The state reformatory was abandoned, and scheduled for demolition once the film was finished. Happily it was successfully saved and became a tourist attraction that holds the uprooted oak tree where Andy buried his letter to Red, as well as his escape tunnel. As for where Andy’s unyielding belief in the human spirit now resides? That’s inside all of us, friend.

10) The film was released in Taiwan as 1995: Fantastic—which makes sense, because it came out a year later than ’94 in that particular country. Actually, no… it still doesn’t make sense.

11) Darabont credited multiple viewings of Goodfellas as inspiration for using narration to illustrate the passage of time.

12) The mugshot of a young Red, attached to his parole papers, was actually a photo of Morgan Freeman’s son Alfonso.

13) The role of Tommy Williams—which was played by Gil Bellows of, uh… Gil Bellows fame— was originally intended for Brad Pitt.