Burton, Groff and Pierce Join Alzheimer's Gala 6/2

On Monday, June 2, 2008, hundreds of New Yorkers will join with the Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter at the annual Forget-Me-Not Gala to celebrate the contribution of the Arts in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and dementia.   Held at The Pierre, the black tie event is expected to raise more than $1 million and will be emceed by Tony Award winner David Hyde Pierce, star of Broadway's Curtains, and tireless advocate in the Alzheimer's community.  
 
Tom O'Horgan, revolutionary Broadway director will be this year's Public Awareness Award recipient.  Mr. O'Horgan, 82, who has Alzheimer's disease, is the only director to ever have had four shows running simultaneously on Broadway: Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Lenny and Inner-City.  He's also the man who brought rock and roll to Broadway and launched the careers of Ben Vereen, Diane Keaton and Melba Moore. Last year, in a selfless act of generosity, Mr. O'Horgan sold many of the precious theatre mementoes he has amassed throughout his career. He donated a portion of the proceeds to the NYC Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association to help other New Yorkers affected by Alzheimer's disease.
 
Actor Kate Burton will receive the Chapter's "Creative Leadership Award" for her work in Grey's Anatomy and in what will be a moving tribute, Jonathan Groff, star of the hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening, will give a special performance and sing "Where Do I Go?" from Hair. Groff will be a featured performer in this summer's Hair revival at the Shakespeare Festival  
 
Lou-Ellen Barkan, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter said, "Through their advocacy, art, or willingness to share their deepest personal stories David, Kate, Jonathan and Tom have dramatically raised society's awareness about Alzheimer's disease. By shining a spotlight on this disease that now affects more than 5.5 million Americans, each has contributed significantly to increasing the national dialog about the disease and how to combat it.  For this we are deeply grateful."  
 
Barkan noted that David Hyde Pierce's father and grandfather died from Alzheimer's, as did Jonathan Groff's grandmother.
 
The money raised at the gala supports essential programs and services that benefit the more than 500,000 people in New York City diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, their family members and caregivers.  In less than 50 years, without prevention or a cure, more than 20% of all New York City residents will be affected by AD, as a person with the disease or as a caregiver.  
 
Also honored at the Gala will be Karen Bell, MD for her innovative work at the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's disease and the Aging Brain, and the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center at Columbia University Medical Center.
 
The evening will include a cocktail reception, live and silent auctions, dinner, and dancing to Valerie Romanoff's Starlight Orchestra.

For information on purchasing tickets, please call 212-581-1400.
 
ABOUT THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION NYC CHAPTER:  Over 200,000 people diagnosed with Alzheimer's live in the five boroughs of New York City.  The mission of the Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter is to create and promote comprehensive and humane care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, and to provide support for their family and professional caregivers.  The Chapter meets this mission in the community through increasing public awareness, providing education, creating and encouraging replication of model programs, collaborating with research centers, and undertaking advocacy. www.alznyc.org 

Photo Credit Linda Lenzi

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