On October 25th, Southampton resident Karyn Kornfeld [above] will chair the 2016 Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala in New York City.  Always an anticipated hallmark of the fall philanthropic season, this year’s Gala will honor Bill Brand, President of HSN and the Chief Marketing Officer of HSN as well as Brendan Shanahan, the legendary former NHL player who is now the President of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Karyn and her husband Steven Kobre split time between the Upper East Side and the East End with their four children. KDHamptons talks to Karyn about her commitment to family, philanthropy, and cultivating a beautiful life on the East End.

KDHamptons:  The current Alzheimer’s statistics will surely surprise our readers, please share?  Karyn Kornfeld: Alzheimer’s is actually the only disease among the top 10 causes of death in America that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. Although deaths from other major causes have decreased significantly in the last decade, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have increased significantly — 71 percent. It kills more people than breast and prostate cancer combined.”

KDHamptons: The Kornfeld Family was honored at the 2014 Rita Hayworth Gala with the Family Philanthropy Award. What inspires your work with the association?
Karyn Kornfeld: My grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s.  It was heartbreaking for me to watch such a vivacious woman become lost in her own mind and become a shell of herself.  I had to do something to help find solutions for this horrible disease once she passed away and I feel so lucky to join forces with the Alzheimer’s Association, which inspired me years ago to become the first Junior Committee Chair, and an active member of the Rita Hayworth Gala Steering Committee.

KDHamptons: Please tell us about this year’s Gala?
Karyn Kornfeld: This year’s Rita Hayworth Gala is themed “The Time is Now”, which means so much to me personally as I am excited about the new research coming out about Alzheimer’s. I am optimistic that our generation can be the ones who end this disease so that our children will never have to experience it.  We will help spread the word about lifestyle habits that people can adopt to maintain or potentially improve your brain health as you age.

KDHamptons: What do you love most about the East End?
Karyn Kornfeld: We love to spend pure family time at our home in Southampton. Because of how hectic our city lives are, our Hamptons home has become a meeting place where we love to entertain. We feel so fortunate that even though we are summer residents, the Southampton community embraces us.

KDHamptons: Share a short HAMPTONS LOVE LIST?
Karyn Kornfeld: Sure! We love the relationships we have formed with all the local vendors..
· The lobster roll at Silver’s
· Cor-J Seafood in Hampton Bays: Get there early to get the largest steamers!
· The always changing homemade sausages at Peconic Prime Meats in Southampton.
· The marinated mushrooms at Scotto’s Pork Store of Hampton Bays.
· Carvel in Hampton Bays is a family favorite.
· Squire Pond in Hampton Bays: There is great clamming on the northern side of the pond and a beautiful sunset on the ocean side of the Great Peconic Bay side of the pond.

Since the inaugural Rita Hayworth Gala over three decades ago, the New York City, Chicago and Palm Beach events have raised more than $69 million to support the Alzheimer’s Association. Don’t miss this wonderful event, for more information please go HERE or call (914) 231-6180.