Dani (R) with Alzheimer’s Association CEO Harry Johns.
We are thrilled to congratulate Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter Board Member Dani Jachino on her 2022 Rita Hayworth Gala Philanthropy Award. Dani is a tireless and passionate leader in the fight to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. From advocating for a more dementia friendly state to being a repeat Walk to End Alzheimer’s Elite Grand Champion, Dani is an invaluable part of our organization.
“My Mother lived the last year and a half of her life in a dementia unit,” Dani shares on her Walk to End Alzheimer’s fundraising page. “My Dad’s brother and sister died of Alzheimer’s, as did another aunt and uncle. Friends’ parents died of the disease. Friend’s spouses have the disease. I do not want it and I do not want you to have it either.”
The 2022 Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala was held on Saturday, April 23 to raise funds for care, support, research and advocacy. The event was 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 and expanded to Chicago in 1987.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Philanthropy Award. However, it’s not the end of the journey,” Dani says. “There is much more to do so we fulfill our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and other dementia – for future generations.”
Dani accepts her award at the Rita Hayworth Gala.
Dani first got involved with the Alzheimer’s Association after placing her mother in a memory care facility. Dani attended a support group where she connected with others facing similar challenges. She deepened her involvement by becoming co-facilitator of the support group, chairing four Chicago Walks to End Alzheimer’s, becoming a member of the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement Leadership Society and joining the Illinois Chapter Board of Directors fifteen years ago.
This will be Dani’s final year on the Illinois Chapter Board of Directors, but her impact in the fight to end Alzheimer’s will continue to be felt. We thank Dani for the countless ways she strengthens our mission and brings hope to families facing the disease across Illinois and the nation.
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