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.

Rozmin and Ebrahim Valliani began volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association and Rita Hayworth Gala in 2011 in honor of Ebrahim’s grandmother, Shirin Valliani, who had been living with the disease. Following her passing in 2013 their engagement increased and they attended the Rita Hayworth Gala for the first time.

As members of the Young Champions Committee and eventually the Gala Steering Committee, they led peer-to-peer fundraising efforts that brought great awareness and funds to the event. These efforts led to the family getting more involved and making it an annual tradition to attend the Gala through sponsoring a table. Even their two young children, Reyah and Elyas, have started to make an impact by donating in their name to continue the legacy.

Rozmin’s involvement in the community stretches beyond the Alzheimer’s Association, as a Girl Scout Leader and an active member of the Parent Organization at her daughter’s school. Ebrahim’s career as an entrepreneur has led him to over 25 years in the Hospitality Industry and most recently in the Commercial Real Estate Brokerage space, focused on dispositions of hotels.

Rozmin and Ebrahim look forward to working with the Steering Committee to make this year a great success! As the gala continues to focus on the legacy of Rita Hayworth, honor the generations of support, and celebrate the work of the Alzheimer’s Association, they hope you will join us on May 10, 2025!