Since its founding by Ginger Kanaly & Carol McDonald in 2000, the Alzheimer's Women's Auxiliary for Resources and Education (AWARE) has raised more than $3.2 million to support the Alzheimer's Association Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter.
One major way the ladies have raised such an impressive sum is through the annual AWARE luncheon, scheduled to take place on November 16 at River Oaks Country Club.
At 11:30 am, co-chairs Gayle Coolidge Hightower and Ginger Coolidge Kelley welcome supporters who are eager to help win the fight against Alzheimer's. Hightower and Kelley lost both their parents to the disease, and Kelley is herself battling Younger-Onset Alzheimer's, which afflicts people under the age of 65.
"Being involved [with AWARE] is helping me now by keeping me active and not feeling sorry for myself," Kelley says. "I can focus on others and tasks that I need to complete."
This year's guest speaker is Kim Campbell, wife of singer Glen Campbell. The Grammy-winning musician revealed his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2011, after which he and Kim captured his goodbye tour — which ended up playing 151 concerts all over the world — in the documentary Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me. Now the pair has relocated to Nashville, where Kim spends time with Glen at his memory support community and helps raise awareness for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.
"The Alzheimer's Association provides an outreach to so many diverse populations in our city and throughout the country," says Hightower. "This disease does not discriminate. The organization gives good, timely information that is helpful for caregivers and for those struggling with the disease. Each speaker we have heard at the luncheon has a great outlook on life and great advice for dealing with loved ones."
Last year's luncheon raised $200,000, but surely Houston can outdo itself this year.
To reserve your seats for this powerful event and support the Alzheimer’s Association, please contact Alexis Eaton at alexis.eaton@alz.org or 713-314-1331.
Gayle Coolidge Hightower, Cyndi Ford, and Ginger Coolidge Kelley at last year's AWARE luncheon.
