Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Honors Beatriz Illescas Claugus and Tom Claugus, Foundation For A Better World at the Fifteenth Annual Connoisseur’s Dinner

On Thursday, May 5, 2022, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) hosted their Fifteenth Annual Connoisseur’s Dinner, honoring Beatriz Illescas Claugus and Tom Claugus, Founders of the Foundation For A Better World (FFBW), with the Chairman’s Award in New York City.

The event raised more than $1.8 million, every dollar of which will go directly toward research to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer’s disease. The ADDF is the only nonprofit solely focused on accelerating the development of drugs for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s.

“We are incredibly honored and humbled to be acknowledged by the ADDF along with the Foundation For A Better World,” said Beatriz Illescas Claugus and Tom Claugus. “Alzheimer’s poses a global health burden and enormous unmet need on society and for that reason, we remain committed to the ADDF’s mission. The FFBW amplifies the work of those who have devoted their lives to the betterment of the world and the ADDF exemplifies this through their drive to support the most innovative science in the ongoing search for treatments and prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s.”

“Tonight, we had the pleasure of honoring two wonderful humanitarians and philanthropists, Beatriz and Tom Claugus, who came to the ADDF a few years ago ready to drive our mission forward and help us find drugs to cure Alzheimer’s disease,” said Leonard A. Lauder, Co-Founder of the ADDF. “It’s been a wonderful partnership and Ronald and I are so grateful for their continued philanthropy and leadership.”

Notable guests including Judy and Leonard A. Lauder, Ronald S. Lauder, Josh Lauder and Katherine Chan, Ghislain d’Humieres, Jane and Clifford Hudis, Daisy Soros, Paula Zahn and Paul Fribourg, Lisa Dennison, and Charles Stewart were among the supporters in attendance.

The event included a “state of the union” on Alzheimer’s research, which was presented by Howard Fillit, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of the ADDF, who remarked on the incredible progress and optimism in Alzheimer’s research.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would be at a time in the Alzheimer’s field where we have so many scientific advances and reasons for hope,” remarked Dr. Fillit. “From the beginning, the ADDF understood the need to attack Alzheimer’s from all angles. Our efforts have greatly contributed to the rich and diversified clinical trial portfolio that we have today – much of it powered by the biology of aging, which is developing multiple therapies to address the many complex underlying causes of this disease.”

The ADDF also announced Dr. Miranda Orr, Assistant Professor of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, as the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Melvin R. Goodes Prize for Excellence in Alzheimer's Drug Development. The award will be formally presented at the ADDF’s Goodes Prize Luncheon in New York City.

The black-tie event featured an exclusive preview of Sotheby's upcoming Macklowe Collection before the auction sale on May 16, 2022.  Guests were able to view thirty pieces of work from the celebrated collection, like Gerhard Richter’s painting Seascape from 1975, estimated to sell between $25-$35 million.