An event held in honor of legendary Broadway director and writer Abe Burrows, and honoring Disney President and CEO Bob Iger, has raised more than $1.6 million for the Alzheimer’s Association.
The 19th annual “A Night at Sardi’s,” organized by Laurie Burrows Grad in her father’s memory, seeks to raise funds, but also awareness, of the disease. This year, Bob Iger received the Abe Burrows Entertainment Award, which is awarded ” to an individual, television series or movie that embodies the spirit of the event and has shown an extraordinary commitment to the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association.” Laura Suihkonen Jones was also recognized with the Caregiver of the Year award.
The gala, which included more than 900 guests, featured cocktails, dinner, and a musical tribute to Cole Porter. Seth Rogan emceed the event; celebrity guests and performers included Kristen Bell, Scott Bakula, Nick Jonas, Taye Diggs, Patrick Dempsey, and Betty White, in addition to many others.
Iger accepted the award in his mother’s name, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, attributing his success to his parents, and discussing his mother’s suffering from the disease:
Everything that I have, everything that I’ve ever done, I really owe to [my parents]. Everything that I will ever achieve I owe to them as well, because it started with their love and their support…It’s incredibly heartbreaking to see someone that you love so much fall prey to this disease and realize that you’re relatively powerless to stop it or to even slow it down.
