When Gina Holzheimer was introduced to Dr. Howard Fillit during a client breakfast she organized as a Private Banker at J.P. Morgan in 2019, she immediately felt drawn to his work with the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). Having watched her grandfather struggle with his memory for years until he eventually passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2016, she felt compelled to do what she could to change the course of this devastating disease for generations to come. Her solution: channeling her passion into action by getting involved with the ADDF and encouraging other young people to do the same.
Soon after meeting Dr. Fillit, Holzheimer came to the ADDF with the idea of starting the Young Professionals Committee (YPC), a group of individuals dedicated to making an impact in the fight against Alzheimer’s. One of the first to embrace the idea was Josh Lauder – grandson of the ADDF’s Co-Founder Leonard A. Lauder – who signed on as Holzheimer’s Co-Founder for the group.
“When Gina mentioned the idea, I was excited to get more involved with the important work my grandfather started when he created the ADDF,” said Lauder. “It was thrilling to see peers in their twenties and thirties interested in contributing their time and energy to an organization that’s both extremely close to my heart and to which I know they have a meaningful personal connection.”
Since its first meeting in September of 2019, the YPC has grown to a group of more than 65. Most members have been personally impacted by the disease taking hold of a loved one, an experience that has lit a fire within them to act now in supporting the ADDF’s pursuit to find a cure. They know that although Alzheimer’s is typically considered a disease of the elderly, it is not a normal part of aging – and want to prevent it for future generations.
In under a year, the YPC has already raised over $75,000, with plans to continue to grow both the committee and its impact. They have organized a series a fundraising events since their inception, including a week of fitness classes in February 2020 meant to promote a healthy lifestyle, which has been shown to lower risk for Alzheimer’s, and donating proceeds to the ADDF.
Most recently, the YPC participated in the ADDF’s Memories Matter event, which took place on July 21 as a virtual presentation. The event shined a light on the impact of Alzheimer’s disease through powerful storytelling from patients, caregivers and entire families, with a focus on younger generations. Memories of loved ones were shared by many of the young professionals, along with Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, country music star Jay Allen, and Academy and Tony award winning actress Marcia Gay Harden.
YPC members told their stories in a segment highlighting their experiences with family members affected by the disease, whether a grandparent or a parent with early-onset Alzheimer’s. “Hearing everyone share their memories was so deeply personal. It connected us as a group and made us want to fight harder than ever,” said Holzheimer. “Knowing that I’m doing everything I can to find a drug to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s is really rewarding.”
ADDF Board Members Wendy Wilshin and Stephanie Ginsberg, who created Memories Matter three years ago, lauded the work of the YPC and their participation in the event. “This generation is interested in making the world a better place… They have the energy, they have the drive, and they’re making a difference.”
We look forward to seeing the YPC’s brilliant work yet to come.