Join agency's efforts aimed at battling, ending dementia

    • Volunteer: Volunteers provide an important balance that demonstrates community involvement, endorsement of the cause and investment in the organization, creating advocates, donors and friends. Volunteers serve as committee members, advocates, event chairs, program supporters and administrative workers.
    • Increase public awareness: The Rhode Island chapter is a private, nonprofit organization started in 1989 by family caregivers and health care professionals. The chapter provides education, personal support and advocacy around key issues of concern to persons affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Although the chapter has evolved as an agency over the last 22 years, many people are still unaware that the organization exists. Please spread the word about the chapter and the great work that it does to help Alzheimer’s families in need.
    • Host a chapter event or promote chapter retail items: Now that the Walk to End Alzheimer’s season is here, a great way to jump-start your team fund-raising is to host a Cocktails for a Cause event in your community. If you frequent a restaurant or belong to a country club, ask management to donate some appetizers and provide a cash bar and promise that at least 40 or 50 of your friends will attend. It is a win-win for the establishment, your team fund-raising and the Rhode Island chapter. At the chapter’s last Cocktails for a Cause event, we raised more than $1,500.
    In addition, you can host a home or office party to sell some our wonderful items, including the Alzheimer’s forget-me-not charm or pin, Alzheimer’s bead, cookbooks watercolor note cards, and beaded bookmarks.
    • Join our speaker’s bureau: If you are a professional in an Alzheimer’s related field and would like to teach other people about the disease, call our office. You can reach out by educating our loved ones with the disease, volunteering to showcase a talent for our Live & Learn participants or volunteering at a health fair or trade show. Our small and mighty program office, run by Program Director Marge Angilly, is the person to contact by e-mailing to marge.angilly@alz.org or calling (401) 421-0008.
    • Be a sponsor: Sponsorship takes many forms at the Alzheimer’s Association-Rhode Island Chapter. The sponsorship opportunity for businesses that has the most benefits is the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. It’s anticipated more than 1,500 people will gather on Oct. 2 at Slater Park, Pawtucket, and Salve Regina University, Newport, to raise funds and awareness. Benefits include placement of business logos on the Web site for the walk, names or logos on 20,000 brochures and 2,000 T-shirts and vendor space. Companies can also be a food sponsor or team sponsor; or sponsor a walker.
    The walk is the chapter’s largest source of income, but there are other ways to showcase your business and help us. You can be an exhibitor at our annual conference for caregivers or other events throughout the year. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, visit our Web site at www.alz.org/ri or contact me by sending an e-mail to camilla.farrell@alz.org or calling (401) 421-0008.

    Camilla Farrell is development director of the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter in Providence.