Events in New York City Raise Awareness in Style

It’s been a great season of fundraising.

The Alzheimer’s Association Imagine Benefit, built on the legacy of the Rita Hayworth Gala, featured a star-studded lineup of performances that helped raise funds to benefit critical Alzheimer’s Association care, support and research programs while bringing awareness to the disease.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and member of the 2016 Summer Olympics famed “Final Five,” Laurie Hernandez, emceed the event that was held at New York City’s legendary Jazz at Lincoln Center. Attendees were treated to a cocktail hour featuring a specialty cocktail by chef and author Madison Cowan as well as performances by some of New York City’s incomparable performers. Under the musical direction and accompaniment of Dan Micciche (currently the music director and conductor for Wicked), guests enjoyed numbers by jazz pianist and virtuoso Aaron Diehl, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lisa Fischer, Broadway actress Talia Suskauer (currently Elphaba in Wicked) and the world famous Harlem Gospel Choir. The evening concluded with dessert and dancing hosted by performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Scarlet Envy.

“We gather here tonight because we know the devastating impact Alzheimer’s has on more than 6 million Americans and more than 11 million loved ones who are their caregivers,” said Laurie Hernandez during her opening remarks. “It is special for me to have my family with me here tonight as we honor the memory of my dear grandma Brunilda Hernandez, or ‘Yeya,’ as she was known to me, who we lost in November 2016 to this terrible disease. We know we have to do whatever we can to put a stop to this disease for the generations that have come before us and for those that are yet to come.”

During the event, siblings Brandon, Jesse and Lila Martz shared a powerful mission moment story about their father Brian’s diagnosis with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2016 at the age of 59. They shared a moving video in tribute to their mother, who is their father’s primary caregiver, about their experiences with Brian as his disease progresses.

The 25th Annual Collaborating for a Cure Gala  silver anniversary took place at Cipriani Wall Street.  More than $6 million towards the goal of funding the next five years of crucial SWCRF cancer research programs such as the Partnership for Aging and Cancer Research Program, the SWCRF Institute Without Walls, and the Women’s Cancer Research Program.

(Photo by Jared Siskin/PMC/PMC)

Founder and CEO Dr. Samuel Waxman, who received the well-deserved and long-overdue Lifetime Achievement Award, spoke to his vision (goal) for a future in which cancer does not have to be a disease associated with aging.  “The incidence of cancer is increasing, in part, as a by-product of improvements we are making in human longevity,” said Dr. Waxman. “But through our collaborative research programs, we can flatten this curve. I am thrilled to be a part of many amazing breakthroughs that have occurred in cancer research – with more to come.”