Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Honors Amy Baier and Franco Nuschese at Thirteenth Annual Great Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Show

Celebration of science and fashion benefitting Alzheimer’s research includes special fashion show featuring designs from AKRIS

On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) continued its 25th anniversary celebration at the Thirteenth Annual Great Ladies Luncheon and Fashion Show in Washington, DC. The event honored philanthropist Amy Baier with the 2023 Great Ladies Award and entrepreneur and restaurateur of Café Milano fame Franco Nuschese with the 2023 Estelle Gelman Award.

The event raised more than $600,000 – every dollar of which will go directly to promising science – and celebrated the incredible support by this year’s honorees for the ADDF’s mission of accelerating the development of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer’s. The program also featured a special fashion show of designs by AKRIS in collaboration with our fashion partner Saks, introduced by Larry Bruce, President of Saks Fifth Avenue, with remarks by Peter Herink, CEO of AKRIS Americas.

Elise Lefkowitz, who founded the luncheon with her husband Marc, presented Amy Baier with the 2022 Great Ladies Award. "Having known Amy for so long, I can tell you that she is an incredible mother and wife who is exceptionally dedicated to advancing health and medicine through her philanthropy. She has been involved with the ADDF for the past decade and her generous spirit shines through the commitment and support she has shown for our mission to develop drugs for this devastating disease."

Ms. Lefkowitz also reflected on the special meaning the event holds for her entire family. "We started this luncheon thirteen years ago in memory of my mother, Estelle Gelman, who was a very successful businesswoman, civic leader, and philanthropist. She was a great lady, and we created this event to celebrate her legacy and find a cure for Alzheimer’s."

Accepting the Estelle Gelman Award, named for Ms. Lefkowitz’s mother, Franco Nuschese said, "I am honored to be here today to accept this award, which is especially meaningful to me because I knew Estelle personally. Health-related causes have always been a priority for me – and healthy aging is an undeniable part of this. With the cutting-edge work being done by the ADDF, I know that one day soon, we will have treatments for this devastating disease."

The event also featured an in-depth discussion on the latest advances in Alzheimer’s prevention research with Dr. Howard Fillit, the ADDF’s Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, Dr. Kristine Yaffe of the University of California, San Francisco, and Dr. Jose Luchsinger of Columbia University.

Notable guests included Lynn Blitzer, Patrice Brickman, Larry Bruce, Kristin Cecchi, Charlie Lefkowitz Crowley, Jacqueline Duberstein, Jean-Marie Fernandez, Nancy Goodes, Mae Grennan, Peter Herink, Sheila Johnson, Cindy Jones, Elise and Marc Lefkowitz, Carrie Marriott, Norah O’Donnell, Kelly Ripken, Toni Verstandig, and Lorraine Wallace.

Founding Executive Chairs: Leonard A. Lauder, Ronald S. Lauder, Elise and Marc Lefkowitz