Top row, L-R: Hope Rising MC Paula Zahn, Hope Rising Benefit Co-Chairs Joan Berlin and Anna Wintour, AFTD Ambassador Spencer Cline, Ariana DeBose, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey
Bottom row, L-R: AFTD CEO Susan L-J Dickinson, Hope Rising Benefit Co-Chair David Zaslav, AFTD Board members Donald Newhouse and Kathy Newhouse Mele
AFTD’s ninth annual Hope Rising Benefit, held April 3 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City, raised over $1.9 million to support AFTD’s mission and pave the path forward to greater awareness, effective care, and research into urgently needed treatments for FTD.
The event’s Keynote Speech was delivered by Spencer Cline, an AFTD Ambassador whose father, Lawrence, had FTD and died in 2012. Last summer, he honored his late father and raised funds for AFTD’s mission by biking across the entire United States, from Oregon to South Carolina.
In a speech that Vogue described as “deeply moving,” Spencer recounted his two-month ride, including the broken collarbone he suffered in Georgia, with just about 300 miles to go. Since the injury prevented Spencer from biking the last stretch himself, the AFTD community made up the remaining miles by riding in their own communities on his behalf.
“While it was not the finish I ever imagined, it was almost more beautiful, and it sums up what AFTD is all about,” he said at Hope Rising. “Having a loved one with FTD is impossible to get through alone. It takes a community of support rallying around you, lifting you up when you can’t keep going.”
ABC’s Person of the Week
On Friday, Spencer was named ABC World News Tonight’s “Person of the Week.” A segment devoted to his family’s FTD journey highlighted his cross-country bike ride and included footage from Hope Rising the night before.
“My hope is that one day, with everyone’s help, we’ll find a cure in my lifetime, and that no child will have to lose a parent to FTD,” Spencer told anchor David Muir.
Spencer is continuing to honor his father by accepting donations to support AFTD’s mission.
Continuing a Hope Rising Tradition
Journalist Paula Zahn reprised her annual role as Hope Rising’s master of ceremonies, while Academy Award–winning actress Ariana DeBose provided the evening’s musical entertainment. Over the weekend, Ms. DeBose described her participation in Hope Rising as a “privilege.”
As in previous years, AFTD Board member Donald Newhouse served as Benefit chair, along with co-chairs Anna Wintour (editor-in-chief, Vogue) and David Zaslav (CEO and president, Warner Bros. Discovery). AFTD Board member Kathy Newhouse Mele and Joan Berlin served as vice chairs.
Ms. DeBose continued a Hope Rising tradition by performing the Eddie Cantor classic “If You Knew Susie” in honor of his late wife, Susan Newhouse. Microphone in hand, she walked through the crowd and traded lines of the song with Mr. Newhouse. It was just one of many highlights in this special, hope-filled evening.
An Honor Deferred
Emma Heming Willis and Bruce Willis were scheduled to be honored with the Susan Newhouse & Si Newhouse Award of Hope. Emma was going to attend and accept the award on their behalf, but unfortunately could not make it in person due to the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year. Mrs. Willis did address the 400-plus guests in attendance with a video message.
They will be honored at the next Hope Rising Benefit, scheduled for March 12, 2026.
The Susan Newhouse & Si Newhouse Award of Hope is named for Mr. Newhouse’s late wife and brother, both of whom had FTD.
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