The Alzheimer’s Association is preparing to host its annual Rita Hayworth Gala on the Saturday before Mother’s Day Sunday – Saturday, May 10th, 2025 at the iconic Old Post Office in Chicago.
Rozmin & Ebrahim Valliani 2025 Rita Hayworth Gala Chairs. Image credit: Alzheimer’s Association
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Honorary Vice Chair of the Alzheimer’s Association, will host the evening, joined by Gala Chairs Rozmin and Ebrahim Valliani, who are dedicated to this cause in memory of Ebrahim’s grandmother, adding a deeply personal dimension to their leadership role.
This year’s gala will feature a sophisticated evening of dining, dancing, and storytelling, aimed at raising awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association’s care, support and research programs. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction and enjoy live entertainment by Rush Street Rhythm.
About the 2025 Rita Hayworth Gala Chairs
Rozmin & Ebrahim Valliani
(L-R) Ebrahim, grandmother Shirin and Rozmin Valliani. Image credit Valliani family
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.
“We are deeply honored to chair this year’s Rita Hayworth Gala.
What began as a way to honor Ebrahim’s grandmother has grown into a family tradition.
On behalf of our family and the millions of others touched by this disease, we are committed to raising awareness and critical funds for the Alzheimer’s Association to help move closer to a cure.”
~ Rozmin and Ebrahim Valliani,
2025 Rita Hayworth Gala Chairs,
Chicago, USA.
Chicago, Illinois, USA – April 3, 2025: (L-R) Rozmin Valliani, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan and Ebrahim Valliani attend as Akris celebrates Princess Yasmin Aga Khan as Global Woman with Purpose before opening boutique at Waldorf Astoria. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images fpr Akris)
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.
We continue to gather to honor the legacy of those we have lost and to fight for all of those impacted by Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
Chicago, Illinois, USA – April 4, 2024:(L-R) Rozmin Valliani, member of the Rita Hayworth Gala Steering Committee, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Ambreen Khowaja
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!
About the Rita Hayworth Galas
This annual fundraiser will bring together philanthropists, advocates, and community leaders to honor the legacy of Hollywood actress, dancer, and producer, Rita Hayworth. Hayworth’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease inspired her daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan to establish the Rita Hayworth Galas.
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 $90 million for the cause.
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan with Sadruddin & Rukhsana Noorani’s family who have been intimately involved with the Alzheimer’s Association for more than 3 decades. Sadruddin Noorani has been long standing member of the Alzheimer’s Association as Gala Steering Committee member and Benefactor since 1996. Image credit: Noorani family collection
“I am in awe of what we’ve accomplished in the past 40 years.
Working with the Alzheimer’s Association has been my life’s work.
I work year-round with them to raise critical funds and awareness.
I have an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude to each and every person who has supported me, the Association and this event over the years.
I hope they share that same sense of accomplishment because it is something to be proud of and to celebrate.”
~ Princess Yasmin Aga Khan,
Honorary Vice Chair, Alzheimer’s Association,
Founder of Rita Hayworth Galas in New York & Chicago
Al & Naz Dhalla with Princess Yasmin. The Dhallas have supported the Chicago & New York Galas since 2017. Image credit: Al Dhalla
In 2024, the Rita Hayworth Gala in Chicago raised nearly $900,000, directly supporting the Alzheimer’s Association’s initiatives in care, support, and research.
Over the past four decades, the gala, combined with its sister event in New York City, have been impactful fundraisers for the Association, generating over $90 million to drive progress toward its vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
For the past 40 years, several hundred Ismailis across North America exercising the ethos of generosity, stewardship, care and service, have participated and supported the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Rita Hayworth Galas in both Chicago and New York, prominent among them being the Noorani and Valliani families.
Murad Nensey with Princess Yasmin Aga Khan at the Akris celebrates Princess Yasmin Aga Khan as Global Woman with Purpose. Image credit: Murad Nensey
In addition to raising critical funds, the events shed light on a condition that touches the lives of nearly seven million Americans and over 11 million family members and caregivers nationwide.
In Illinois alone, there are more than 250,600 people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia and more than 311,000 Illinoisans providing unpaid care to a loved one with the disease.
August, 2018: Princess Yasmin Aga Khan’s 35 years support draws 6,000 attendees from 68 countries for the Alzheimer’s Association international conference.
“Right now is a very exciting time in the field of Alzheimer’s and dementia research.
For the first time, there are treatments on the market that treat the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s, slowing the progression of the disease, and allowing families more time with their loved ones.
While these drugs aren’t cures, they are a major step in advancing the state of Alzheimer’s treatment.
This progress is what we’ve worked so hard for over the years, but until we achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia, we have much more work to do, and I know I won’t stop until we get there.”
~ Princess Yasmin Aga Khan,
Honorary Vice Chair, Alzheimer’s Association,
Founder of Rita Hayworth Galas in New York & Chicago
About the 2025 Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan Honorary Vice Chair, Alzheimer’s Association
Rozmin & Ebrahim Valliani Gala Chairs
And the Gala Steering Committee
invite you to join us as we honor the legacy of Rita Hayworth, celebrate the strides made by the Alzheimer’s Association and anticipate a future filled with hope and progress.
May 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
The Old Post Office 433 W. Van Buren Street Chicago, IL 60607
“We are deeply honored to chair this year’s Rita Hayworth Gala.
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