Rita Hayworth Gala Leadership

Gala Founder

Princess Yasmin Aga Khan

Honorary Vice Chair, Alzheimer's Association

Founded by Princess Yasmin Aga Khan in honor of her mother, Rita Hayworth, who died as a result of Alzheimer’s disease, the first Rita Hayworth Gala was held in New York in 1984. The event expanded to Chicago in 1987. Combined, the Rita Hayworth Galas have raised more than $86 million for the cause.

2024 Gala Chairs

Lori and Craig Stern

2024 Gala Chairs

Lori and Craig Stern have been members of the Rita Hayworth Gala Steering Committee since 2016. While trying to find resources for Lori's mom, who still lives with the disease at 94, they were introduced to the Alzheimer’s Association. The more they learned, the more they wanted to help find a cure.

In addition to the Steering Committee, Lori is involved in a benefit each year that raises money for future testing of cancer patients at Ingalls Memorial Hospital University of Chicago while Craig serves on the Board of Jewelers for Children, an industry charitable organization which donates to several causes, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Lori and Craig are also very involved in their business, Rogers & Hollands Jewelers, a 74-store chain with locations in 13 states. Lori operates as the executive vice president of merchandising and Craig as the chairman and CEO.

Lori and Craig are both looking forward to working with the Steering Committee to create a very successful, impactful and fun Rita Hayworth Gala at The Old Post Office in Chicago on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

Gala Steering Committee

Jaclyn Cantore
Susan & Jim Draddy
Tara Gibney
Allie & Jon Harris
Corey Fitzpatrick Huth
Renee' Konzelman
Linda Leonberger
Fifi & Ron Levin
Sharon & Scott Markman
Leslie & David McGranahan
Linda & Bob Mendelson
David Moscow
Maggie & Michael Murzanski
Phoebe & Michael Nitekman
Sadruddin Noorani
Debra & Michael Pelech
Joan & Paul Rubschlager
Amy & Stuart Savitz
Lori & Craig Stern
Jerome H. Stone Family: Jim Stone, Ellen Stone Belic, and Cynthia Stone Raskin
Leslie & David Storch
Barbie & Bruce Taylor
Holly & Jeffrey Taylor
Rozmin & Ebrahim Valliani

#RitaHayworthGala #ENDALZ

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a variety of special events in cities across the country.