Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala 2022
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan is the founder of the Rita Hayworth Gala to raise awareness regarding Alzheimer’s Disease, the first one was held in New York in 1984. The event expanded to Chicago in 1987 combined, the Rita Hayworth Galas have raised more than $80 million for the cause.
One in Nine older adults are living with Alzheimer’s in 2022.
This means somehow we’re all connected to someone who has suffered from this disease. Some would describe it as a stealer of joy and life. They’re hardly wrong and it’s for this reason that the Rita Hayworth Galas were established.
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan is the second daughter of the silver screen legend, Rita Hayworth, and the third child of Prince Aly Khan.
She is a philanthropist best known for raising public awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.
Yasmin is also the president of Alzheimer’s Disease International, a National Council Member of the Salk Institute, a spokesperson for the Boston University School of Medicine, Board of Visitors, and serves on many boards including Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Association.
The 2009 documentary I Remember Better When I Paint narrated by Oscar-winning actress Olivia de Havilland (of Gone with the Wind) features a stirring interview with Yasmin describing how her mother took up painting while struggling with Alzheimer’s and produced beautiful works of art also featured in the film.
The 72-year-old Princess was influenced by the death of her mother and is on a mission through her various endeavors to create a world where people don’t suffer from the disease.
The Legendary Rita Hayworth (1918-1987)
Rita Hayworth was a Spanish American actress, dancer, and producer. She rose to fame in the 1940s and made the most of her career. Rita’s mother was Irish, her last name was “Haworth” and she was also a dancer.
You might remember her for her performances in her most popular movies like Gilda, Affair in Trinidad, Only Angels Have Wings, The Strawberry Blonde, Separate Tables, You’ll Never Get Rich, You Were Never Lovelier, and more.
She is listed as one of the top 25 female motion picture stars of all time in the American Film Institute’s Survey, AFI 100 years 100 stars. She was also on the musical Cover Girl in 1944 with Gene Kelly.
Rita struggled with Alzheimer’s for years and didn’t get an early diagnosis because her condition was first thought to be alcoholic dementia.
This ceremony took place in 1978 at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Hayworth was presented with the inaugural National Screen Heritage Award of the National Film Society, a group that published American Classic Screen magazine (1976–84).
When her health deteriorated so badly, she was placed under the care of her daughter Princess Yasmin before she died at the age of 68 from the disease.
According to Medical Historian, Barron Lerner, Rita’s diagnosis in 1981 made her “the first public face of Alzheimer’s, helping to ensure that future patients did not go undiagnosed … Unbeknownst to her, Hayworth helped to destigmatize a condition that can still embarrass victims and their families.”
Chicago Rita Hayworth 2022 Gala
Since its beginning, the gala has been both legacy and history maker in the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease.
This year’s event, the 34th gala, was held but with limited capacity, the theme was This is Our Moment – with a big top circus vibe!
This year’s corporate awarded honoree is the Bankers Life and CNO Financial Group. CNO and Bankers Life support Alzheimer’s Association events and host fundraisers to create more awareness and support the association further.
The Philanthropy Award goes to Dani Jachino, who has spent over twenty years with the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Disease of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior.
It’s one of the most common causes of dementia, with over 6.2 million Americans living with the disease in 2021.
The loss of memory and cognitive abilities interferes greatly with daily life and its biggest risk factor is age.
Older adults are more at risk of suffering from the disease until their death.
There is also early-onset Alzheimer’s that affects those younger than 65 years.
The worst thing about Alzheimer’s is how it progresses and worsens. On average, a person with the disease lives 4 to 8 after the diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s has no cure, but there are signs and symptoms to help benefit from early treatment.
You can learn more about the disease HERE.
Read more from I On The Scene: HERE.
