Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Hope On The Horizon Fall Symposium & Luncheon
The autumnal weather was brisk and beautiful for Hope On The Horizon, The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Tenth Annual Fall Symposium & Luncheon on Friday November 1st. The Pierre welcomed 400 power players from business, medical and social circles to the half day event in Manhattan. The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is the only nonprofit solely focused on accelerating the discovery and. development of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s and related diseases. THE ADDF was co-founded and co-chaired in 1998 by Leonard A. Lauder and Ronald S. Lauder. Leonard is the chairman emeritus of the Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Ronald is on the board of Estée Lauder Companies Inc. The 2019 Forbes 400 listed brothers 25 and 159 respectively make the duo dynamic adversaries in the fight for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The foundation’s venture philanthropy approach and scientific research has netted 130 million dollars to date that has been awarded to 50 Alzheimer’s drug discoveries.
The morning began with an enlightened symposium presented by Lilly, “Repurposing Drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease”. Ronald S. Lauder’s keynote, there is hope in drug discovery. “The ADDF has long been committed to diversifying drugs in development for Alzheimer’s, so it is very encouraging to us to see more and better drug targets in Alzheimer’s clinical trials.” After some good natured teasing by Ronald about Leonard’s absence due to back surgery he introduced Howard Fillit, MD, Founding Executive Director & Chief Science Officer, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Dr. Fillit moderated the symposium and accepted the 2019 Golan Christie Taglia Patient Impact Philanthropy Award from Cures Within Reach CEO Barbara Goodman. The award lauded ADDF’s financial, operational and professional philanthropic support of repurposing research in Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Fillit accepted the award, remarking, “On behalf of the ADDF, we are honored to receive this award from Cures Within Reach. We share the common goal of fast-tracking research to bring safe and effective drug treatment options to patients and improve lives.”
The AADF home team of six neuroscientists has identified and funded 600 unique types of Alzheimer’s drug discovery. The innovative clinical research of residents, fellows and PhD candidates has global impact over 18 countries. The panelists at the forefront of Alzheimer’s drug research shared their progress achieved through ADDF funding. Dr. Krista L. Lanctôt, Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and Senior Scientist, Sunnybrook Research Institute has led clinical trials to address agitation in Alzheimer’s patients. Dawn C. Matthews, MS, MBA, CEO ADM Diagnostics, Inc. has used ADDF grants to leading the development of qualitative brain imaging technology. Ana Pereira, M.D., Assistant Professor Neurology and Neuroscience, and Laboratory Head, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai shared her clinical trials to repurpose Lou Gehrig (ALS) drug treatments to slow the degenerative affects of Alzheimer’s disease.
Guests at the benefit included Carol Haarmann Acunto and Steve Acunto, Gigi and Harry Benson, Carol Seabrook Boulanger, Renée and Robert Belfer, Joyce B. Cowin, Mark Anthony Edwards, Paul Fribourg, Stephanie Ginsberg, Nancy Goodes, Marjorie Reed Gordon, Susan Gutfreund, Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Chris Johnson, Veronica and Ray Kelly, Deborah Krulewitch, Laura and Gary Lauder, Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, Laurence Leeds, Jr., Susan and Tom Lowder, Heidi and Tom McWilliams, B Michael, Donald Newhouse, Walter Raquet, Liz and Randal Sandler, Tom Scanlan, Alice Shure, Sharon Sager, Liz and Randal Sandler, Hadley and John Scully, Ambassador Teuta Sahatqija, Lynn Tishman, Laurie and Steve Toma and Wendy Wilshin.
Before the luncheon invitees added their name to a raffle of fabulous door prizes Barbara’s Flowers, The Perfect Palm Beach Getaway for three days at The Breakers and dinner at Café Boulud complete with roundtrip airfare on American Airlines, Golf and lunch for three at the Westhampton Country Club, Pamper Yourself at Spa de la Mer at the luxurious Baccarat Hotel and dinner for four at Perrine, Vhernier “Bon Bon” earrings, Gourmet Dining Delights of luncheon for two at Michael’s and dinner for four at Nobu 57, Explore the New York Art scene with a tour for eight of Chelsea galleries led by a curator from Artmuse and four guest passes to Neue Galerie, a stylish Tiffany Serena evening bag in ostrich and leather and more.
The elegant luncheon was hosted by the lovely nine time. Emmy Award-winning journalist and star of PBS’s NYC Arts, Paula Zahn. Paula is on ADDF Board of Governors. “Alzheimer’s has stolen her soul” she related of her mother, Betty who is in the challenging late stage of dementia. Despite the recent loss of family member producer Robert Evans, honorary chairs Bonnie Pfeifer Evans and Alice Shure attended the luncheon for the presentation of the Charles Evans Award to ADDF board member Pamela J. Newman. The. Charles Evans Award honoring philanthropic leadership was presented by event co-chair Ronald S. Lauder. to honoree Pamela J. Newman, CEO of PJN Strategies. “Pamela truly embodies the altruistic essence of this award,” said Mr. Lauder. “Like Charles Evans, who this award is named in memory of, Pamela’s determination, advocacy and enthusiasm derive from her personal connection to the disease.” Shimmering in silver, Pamela thanked Ronald and Leonard Lauder, “ for not accepting aging and deterioration are inevitable”. Her passionate commitment to ADDF comes from her own experience with her husband Henry’s illness and the bittersweet journey through caregiving and loss. “I am truly honored to receive this award from a foundation near and dear to my heart, which is committed to investing in the most promising approaches to treating Alzheimer’s. One unique characteristic of the ADDF is that they are a family — everyone here has a connection to the disease, and we are dedicated to finding better treatment options. It is critical that we band together as we continue to search for a cure so future generations are not burdened with this disease,” she said.
Everyone enjoyed a lunch of grilled Atlantic salmon fillet, Orzo salad, asparagus, arugula and fennel salad. Dessert was a refreshing trio of sorbets in chocolate cups. Stone Cellar Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon completed the menu. Lucky winners of the door prizes were announced. Every one received gifts of a Estée Lauder beauty travel kit, Holman Ranch wine and Li-Lac chocolates. As we left together as a community to end Alzheimer’s disease, the informative and posh benefit raised 1.2 million dollars to support the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.
