Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Honors Lauder Family in Recognition of Historic Gift and 25 Years of Dedication to Curing Alzheimer’s Disease at Sixteenth Annual Connoisseur’s Dinner

On Monday, November 6, 2023, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) hosted their Sixteenth Annual Connoisseur’s Dinner, honoring Leonard A. Lauder, Ronald S. Lauder, William Lauder, Gary Lauder, Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, and Jane Lauder in celebration of their historic $200 million gift to the ADDF, announced earlier this year.

The event, held at Sotheby’s in New York City, raised nearly $3 million, every dollar of which will go directly toward the innovative science that fuels the ADDF’s mission to accelerate the development of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer’s disease. The Lauders’ extraordinary gift ensures the ADDF will be able to continue our work until we have fulfilled our goal, ultimately changing the way the world ages.

Celebrated author and journalist Walter Isaacson presented the Lauder family with the Chairman’s Award. “Since Leonard and Ronald Lauder founded the ADDF 25 years ago, the family has shown an unmatched dedication to curing this devastating disease, infusing the Lauder spirit of innovation, quality, and excellence into the ADDF’s quest to identify and support the most promising research. It is an honor to recognize their efforts tonight.”

Leonard Lauder said, "Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t affect just one person, it impacts entire families. That is why it is so meaningful for my family to be honored by the ADDF, an organization my brother and I began because of our mother. She inspired us to do everything we could to fight and prevent this disease and I am proud to see my children and nieces pick up that torch.”

Ronald Lauder added, "We are proud of the impact the ADDF has made over the past two decades. The progress we are seeing in prevention, diagnostics, and drug development makes me confident the innovative research we support will continue to build momentum until we eradicate this disease for future generations."

The ADDF’s Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer Dr. Howard Fillit remarked on the incredible progress of the past year and the ADDF’s plan to continue this momentum. “There has never been a more exciting time in Alzheimer’s research, and we would not be here without the vision, commitment, and leadership of the Lauder family. Their remarkable gift comes at a critical time, with a new era dawning in the field and the ADDF leading the charge to build upon recent breakthroughs. Our laser focus on a precision medicine and combination therapy approach will revolutionize treatment and stop Alzheimer’s in its tracks.”

The black-tie event featured an exclusive preview of Sotheby's Impressionist, Modern, and Contemporary Art sales and wine pairings presented by Sotheby’s Wine.

Notable guests included Lisa Dennison, Fabrizio Freda, Roz Goldstein, Nancy Goodes, Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Walter Isaacson, Ann Jackson, Aerin Lauder, Danielle Lauder, Jane Lauder, Jo Carole and Ronald Lauder, Karen Lauder, Laura and Gary Lauder, Rachel Lauder-Lyons, William Lauder and Lori Kanter-Tritsch, Bonnie Lautenberg, Heidi and Tom McWilliams, Liz and Randal Sandler, Tad Smith, Ann Tisch, Barbara Tober, and Paula Zahn.