Emma Heming Willis is taking a stand for families affected by dementia with the launch of a new fund in honor of her husband, Bruce Willis.
At The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration’s Hope Rising Benefit in New York on Thursday, March 12, Heming Willis accepted the Susan Newhouse & Si Newhouse Award of Hope and used the moment to announce the creation of the Emma & Bruce Willis Fund for Dementia Research and Caregiver Support, according to PEOPLE.
Heming Willis Reveals the New Fund
“This journey has opened my eyes to the realities so many families face when a loved one is living with frontotemporal dementia,” Heming Willis said during the event. “I believe deeply in the importance of supporting research while also showing up for the caregivers who carry so much every day.”
Heming Willis added how she hopes the fund will help many families.
“Through this fund, my hope is to help deepen understanding of FTD and ensure families facing it feel seen, supported, and less alone. Bruce has always led with generosity and heart, and I know he would be proud to see this effort helping families facing this disease,” she said.
The philanthropic initiative, housed under the Entertainment Industry Foundation, is focused on advancing understanding of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), raising awareness, supporting scientific research, and providing resources for caregivers navigating the disease.
By combining research funding with caregiver assistance, the Emma & Bruce Willis Fund aims to create a holistic approach to addressing the realities of FTD. For families facing similar diagnoses, the fund represents hope, guidance, and solidarity.
Willis Was Diagnosed in 2022
Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia in March 2022, and the following year, Heming Willis confirmed the diagnosis had been further specified as frontotemporal dementia.
The actor’s family—including Heming Willis, their daughters Mabel and Evelyn, along with Willis’ ex-wife Demi Moore and daughters Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah—has been actively supporting him throughout his health journey.
Heming Willis’ announcement at the Hope Rising Benefit reflects her dedication to carrying forward her husband’s legacy of compassion.
She has been very vocal and honest about the difficulties of caregiving and wrote a book on the very hard job.
“Applaud yourself for the work you’re doing, one of the hardest jobs in the world,” she wrote about caregivers in an except obtained by Oprah Daily. “Your loved one would be proud. Not just for the care you’ve given, but for the way you’re honoring them by continuing to tell their story and for how you are choosing to show up for yourself.”
With the support of the entertainment industry and the public, she hopes the initiative will foster greater awareness, drive scientific discovery, and ultimately improve the lives of both patients and those who care for them.
The Emma & Bruce Willis Fund marks a significant step in public advocacy for dementia, highlighting the power of combining personal experience with philanthropic action to make a meaningful difference.
