CEO David R. Weinreb of The Howard Hughes Corporation Honored for Support of Alzheimer’s Research

The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Ninth Annual Fall Symposium & Luncheon Raises Record-Breaking Total of Over $1.6 Million

Ronald S. Lauder, David R. Weinreb, Alice Shure, Leonard A. Lauder, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans.
Photo by Patrick McMullan/PMC.

David R. Weinreb, CEO of The Howard Hughes Corporation, received The Charles Evans Award from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) at its Ninth Annual Fall Symposium & Luncheon "Hope on the Horizon" held at The Pierre in New York City, November 2. This year's recording-breaking event welcomed over 400 guests and has raised over $1.6 million for Alzheimer's research.

Nine-time Emmy Award winner and ADDF Board member, Paula Zahn, hosted the inspiring event. Speaking to the audience, Ms. Zahn, noted "Alzheimer's is increasingly becoming more common as the population ages, and more of us personally, will be affected by this devastating disease. With hope, and continued support of the science, we will get closer to a cure." Ms. Zahn's mother is one of the 50 million people worldwide with Alzheimer's disease.

ADDF Co-Founder and Co-Chairman Leonard A. Lauder welcomed guests to the lunch and noted while there remains no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there is hope in drug discovery. He later joined his brother ADDF Co-Founder and Co-Chairman Ronald S. Lauder to present the Charles Evans Award to David R. Weinreb, Chief Executive Officer of The Howard Hughes Corporation, for his leadership and outstanding support of Alzheimer's research.

"David truly represents the philanthropic spirit of this award," said Ronald Lauder. "Like Charles Evans, who this award is named in memory of, David’s perseverance and passion are based on a family connection to the disease. He does this for his family, but also for the millions of other families like his dealing with the hardships of this disease every single day."

"It is a great honor to receive this award from a foundation solely committed to finding and funding the best ideas to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease. One of the key differentiators of the ADDF is that 100 percent of every dollar donated goes directly to research. It is important that we bring meaning to our suffering and work together as we strive to find a cure and rid this disease for future generations," said Mr. Weinreb, who was joined by his father, Neil Weinreb, the primary caregiver for Mr. Weinreb's mother who suffers from dementia.

A morning symposium, led by Dr. Howard Fillit, Executive Founding Director and Chief Science Officer of the ADDF, featured three distinguished panelists. Dr. Michelle M. Mielke, Professor, Departments of Health Sciences Research & Neurology, Mayo Clinic, and an ADDF-supported researcher, and Dr. Mark A. Mintun, Vice-President of Neuroscience, Eli Lilly & Co., discussed the role of biomarkers to accelerate drug development for Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Richard Isaacson, Director, Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic, Weill Cornell Medicine, also an ADDF-supported researcher, discussed the latest advances in prevention and the scientific evidence that supports a brain-healthy lifestyle.

Guests at the inspiring event included Bill Ackman, Iris Apfel, Carol Seabrook Boulanger, Renée and Robert Belfer, Laurie Dowley, Joyce B. Cowin, Iris Dankner, Bonnie Pfeifer Evans, Olivia Flatto, Mary-Ann Freda, Paul Fribourg, Stephanie Ginsberg, Nancy Goodes, Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Kiera and Chris Johnson, Yue-Sai Kim, Younghee Kim-Wait, Deborah Krulewitch, Ana Laspetkovski, Gary Lauder, William Lauder, Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, Laurence Leeds, Jr., Susan and Tom Lowder, Heidi and Tom McWilliams, Donald Newhouse, Tom Scanlan, Alice Shure, Sharon Sager, Connie Spahn, Vanessa Williams, and Wendy Wilshin.

Everyone who donated during the luncheon was eligible to win one of a range of gifts provided by the ADDF's generous supporters, including Eataly, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Jean Georges, the New York City Ballet, Nobu Fifty Seven, The St. Regis New York, and VHERNIER.

The ADDF sincerely thanks Judy & Leonard A. Lauder, Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder, and the entire Host Committee for their leadership and support. It also offers its gratitude to the generous sponsors: The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., Staples, and UBS; and Eli Lilly & Co.