Our Impact
Funds raised through Junior Committee events become investments in Alzheimer’s research and the critical programs offered by the New York City Chapter.
Our most recent accomplishment is raising more than $380,000 from our involvement in the 2009 ING New York City Marathon. The donations from this initiative were allocated toward National research and NYC Chapter programs.
Members of the Junior Committee and Team Run2Remember voted to allocate $120,000+ to support in entirety, two full-time positions at the Chapter: a MedicAlert and Safe Return Associate and a Physician Outreach Manager. Additional funds were allocated toward other Chapter programs including a volunteer recognition event and an informational DVD.
On a National scale, we selected to allocate $115,000+ directly to the Alzheimer’s Association to fund two research projects in New York City. Our donation will fully fund Li Liu, Ph.D.’s research project “Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion and Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis” at Columbia University Medical Center and partially fund Jin Ryoun Kim, Ph.D.’s research project “Design of a Molecular Probe for Rapid In Situ Amyloid Aggregation Detection” at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU.
In recent years, we earmarked portions of our non-research funds for Safe Return, a national initiative that facilitates the return of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias who wander and become lost. Our contribution enabled the Chapter to hire a part-time staff person to help publicize and administer the initiative, and the number of Safe Return registrants has doubled. As a result, in 2005, the City of New York awarded a $500,000 grant in support of this initiative.
We also supported a Special Assistance Fund to assist indigent those suffering with Alzheimer’s in the five boroughs—and their caregivers—with urgent needs, such as air conditioning during the brutal summer heat.
The Junior Committee is looking forward to funding new projects and initiatives as we continue to host events in support of the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter.