Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Features Care Partner and New York Times Best-Selling Author Emma Heming Willis at Ninth Annual Memories Matter Gala

New York, NY – April 16, 2026 – The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) hosted its annual Memories Matter event on April 15, 2026, at the iconic American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The extraordinary evening gathered 500 guests and raised a record-breaking $1.5 million to advance innovative science and support the ADDF’s mission of accelerating the development of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer’s disease.

A fireside chat featuring care partner, New York Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Journey, andChief Impact Officer of Make Time Wellness, Emma Heming Willis, and nine-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Paula Zahn was a defining moment of the evening. Heming Willis spoke about her deeply personal connection to dementia, reflecting on her husband, iconic actor Bruce Willis’ experience living with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), a disease that remains difficult to treat and has limited therapeutic options. Their conversation offered a powerful perspective on the importance of research, awareness, and community in the fight against Alzheimer’s and related dementias like FTD.

“FTD is often misunderstood. Unlike Alzheimer’s, it affects behavior, personality, and language first, and can strike people in the prime of their lives,” said Emma Heming Willis. “For many families, diagnosis comes too late, delaying critical care. We need greater awareness and stronger investment in research, and thanks to organizations like the ADDF, we’re moving closer to earlier diagnosis, effective treatments, and real hope for families.”

Memories Matter Founding Chairs Stephanie Ginsberg and Wendy Wilshin shared reflections on their families’ experiences with Alzheimer’s and thanked the community of supporters who have come together around this event for their role in advancing progress.

“We want a future where an Alzheimer’s diagnosis doesn’t come with the same fear and uncertainty, but instead comes with real options, real treatments, and real hope,” said Ginsberg and Wilshin. “Because of you, research is moving faster. New ideas are being funded. And there is real hope for a future without Alzheimer’s.”

Randal Sandler, Co-Vice Chair and Secretary of the ADDF’s Board of Governors, highlighted how quickly the field is evolving and how philanthropic support is helping turn promising ideas into real progress.

“We have seen firsthand the toll this disease takes, not only on those diagnosed, but on the families who love and care for them,” said Sandler. “That shared experience is what brings us together, but it is also what propels us forward. Because tonight is not only about remembrance; it’s about progress. Together, this community is helping to fund the science that is changing the future of this disease.”

Notable guests included Andrea and Allen Algaze, Bal Agrawal, Hope and Marc Altheim, Sandy and Ron Ashendorf, Mara and Steven Canner, Cindy and Glen Edelman, Joel Florin, Jeff Gates and Mike Moran,  Elizabeth and Paul Greenbaum, Stephanie and Ian Ginsberg,  Debby and Paul Glickman,  Karen and Joseph Javitz, Laura Lauder, Katherine and Josh Lauder, Alicia and Stephen Nussdorf, Lori and John Reinsberg, Liz and Randal Sandler, Jamie Seidner and Jonathan Rubin, Laura and Stephen Toma, Jules and Joe Watson, Emma Heming Willis, Wendy Wilshin and Ron Dickerman, and Paul Zahn among others.

Event sponsors included Filippo Berio USA Ltd., Madison International Realty, the National Mah Jongg League, Round Pond Estate, and the MacDonnell Family.

About The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)
Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the development of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer's disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer's, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. The ADDF's leadership and contributions to the field have played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer's PET scan (Amyvid®) and blood test (PrecivityAD®) to market, as well as fueling the current robust and diverse drug pipeline. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded nearly $400 million to fund 792 Alzheimer's drug development, biomarker, and prevention programs in 21 countries. To learn more, please visit:  http://www.alzdiscovery.org/.