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They held the annual Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala at the Waldorf this past Tuesday night. The theme was The Magic of Mardi Gras. Underwritten by Rolex Watch USA and chaired by Muffie Potter Aston, they raised more than $1.3 million. General Chair was Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, daughter of the late Rita Hayworth whose affliction with this terrible disease inspired her daughter’s monumental fundraising work.

Corporate chair was Walter Fischer, CEO of Rolex USA whose underwriting of the evening assured greater funds for the Alzheimer Association research funding. They honored actress Donna Dixon who lost her father to the disease. Live auction co-chairs were Claudia Cohen and Susan Hess. Journal chair was Margo Catsimatidis; Gift Bag co-chairs were Anne R. Hearst and Andrea Stark. Deborah Norville was emcee. There was a special performance by Dan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues with the Elwood Blues Review featuring The All-Star Blues Brothers Movie Band featuring Stax-Volf stars Sam Moore, Eddie “Knock On Wood” Floyd, Dick Dunn and Steve Cropper.

The evening’s theme inspired incredible masks, frivolity and joy. It was a great party, as it always is every year, put together by a dedicated team of (mainly) women, many close friends, a band of concerned citizens, masking as merry-makers to make sure everyone had a good time.