Mission Awards recognize outstanding volunteers
Every year the Alzheimer’s Association East Central Iowa Chapter recognizes individuals, businesses and groups who have worked wholeheartedly throughout the year to MOVE the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association forward. Awards were given on March 31, 2009 at Elmcrest Country Club in seven selected categories: Advocacy; New Volunteer of the Year; Program Service; Distinguished Service or Organization; Public Awareness; Memory Walk SuperSTAR; and Volunteer of the Year.
Public Awareness Award: 2008 Celebrity Champions
The Public Awareness Award was given to our 2008 Celebrity Champions for lending their names and faces in our local awareness campaign last spring.
A Champion is anyone who takes action to learn more about the disease or gets involved with the Alzheimer’s Association. We enlisted 19 local celebrity Champions, dressed them in purple, and had their photos taken in order to promote them in our awareness efforts. These Champions encouraged Eastern Iowans to join our cause and learn more about this devastating disease.
We would like to thank each and every celebrity Champion for dedicating their time in helping us work toward our long-term goal of enlisting 16,000 Champions, which equals the number of East Central Iowans currently afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Our 2008 Champions include: David Braton, Reverend Don Caspers, Tim Charles, Lee Clancey, Jack Evans, JC and Chase, Mayor Kay Halloran, Mayor Tim Hurley, Clay Jones, Melody Judge, Jim Coloff & Jay Rhymer, Joe O’Brien, Dr. Ralph Plagman, Scott Schulte & Ric Swann, Tim Seymour, Ted Townsend, and Dr. Mary Wilcynski.
Tim Charles, President & CEO of Mercy Medical Center
Dr. Ralph Plagman, Washington High School Principle and Dr. Mary Wilcynski, Kennedy High School Principle
Tim Seymour, news anchor of KGAN-CBS2
Ric Swann and Scott Schulte, on-air radio personalities from KZIA Z102.9
Memory Walk SuperSTAR Award: Team Charlotte, Cedar Rapids
Outstanding team captain, Nancy Mowry, has participated in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk signature event for the last three years, almost doubling funds and raising awareness in her community. During our 2008 Memory Walk event, she led her 91-member team to a team fundraising record, increasing their revenue by 24% from the previous year. She sent out letters and made personal phone calls in order to recruit team members raising additional funds. To ensure her donors will be back next year, Nancy took the time to hand-write thank you notes to each person who contributed to her total collection.
We congratulate Nancy in her hard work and dedication to our signature event. We look forward to seeing Nancy and Team Charlotte at our 2009 Memory Walk!
Kim McAleer and Nancy Mowry, Team Captain of Team Charlotte
Distinguished Service or Organization Award: Elmcrest Tennis Pro-Am Tournament
The Distinguished Service or Organization Award was given to the Elmcrest Tennis Pro-Am Tournament for their generosity in designating the Alzheimer’s Association East Central Iowa Chapter as the event’s third party beneficiary. The 3-day event raised a record breaking $11,000 to support our cause making it the most successful year in Pro-Am history. Nearly 300 people attended the event which began on a Friday with an elaborate cookout, Jai Lai betting, live & silent auction and another 2 days of some of the most exciting doubles Pro-Am tennis competition in the region. The event drew the crowd’s attention including more awareness surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and of Alzheimer’s Association as a source of help and hope.
We would like to specially thank and recognize Spencer Eells, Head Tennis Pro as well as Elizabeth Marks and Suzi Galbraith, for generously designating the Alzheimer’s Association as the event’s beneficiary.
Program Service Award: Fred Wilhoite and Susan Primrose, Cedar Rapids
Two panelists from the Early Stage Town Hall Meeting, Fred Wilhoite and Susan Primrose, were presented with the Program Service Award. This first-ever Early Stage Town Hall meeting was held in November of 2008 for individuals in East Central Iowa with Early Stage Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. The Town Hall forum gave people living with the disease the opportunity to connect with others who understand what they were experiencing and discuss the issues that mattered most to them. The Alzheimer’s Association was also able to learn from this forum how to best serve the changing Alzheimer’s population.
The Early Stage Town Hall meeting met its goal by giving those with Alzheimer’s disease a unique chance to share their perspective and connect with others living with the disease. The group is now able to influence future resources, public policy, and general awareness about the realities of the disease.
Susan Primrose accepting her Program Service Award
Advocacy Award: Jon Witherell, Cedar Rapids
Jon Witherell was presented with our Advocacy Award for his perseverance and spirited efforts to create concern around Alzheimer’s disease and advocate for our cause. After being diagnosed with Young Onset Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 43, Jon accepted his diagnosis and fully embraced his situation, advocating about the disease when possible. He first attended the Early Stage Town Hall Meeting in November of 2008, where he became aware of the Alzheimer’s Association and our mission. He then began to regularly attend the Early Stage support group, learning more about the disease and connecting with others going through the same experiences.
In December 2008, Jon met with area congressional leaders to advocate for our cause and to create concern around Alzheimer’s disease and he has been doing so ever since. We admire his strength and his special sense of humor as he learns to live with his diagnosis.
Jon Witherell accepting his Advocacy Award
Volunteer of the Year Award: David and Kathy Good, Cedar Rapids
David and Kathy Good were named as our Volunteers of the Year. Their tireless efforts throughout the year touched all aspects of our mission, including Education, Support, Advocacy and Research. When David Good was first diagnosed with Visual Variant Type Alzheimer’s disease, he and wife, Kathy took a deep breath and jumped right in by learning everything they could about the disease and how to live fully with it. The couple joined the East Central Iowa Chapter Board of Directors in 2008, where they have been active in virtually every event or activity touching all areas of our mission. They are active members of the Program Affairs Committee, respond to every advocacy alert, attend almost every event, and in 14 months have been responsible for generating over $30,000 in revenue to support our mission. The Goods have shared their personal story with all of us and help us all understand what it is like to live with Alzheimer’s
Their dedication to their responsibility as members of our board, especially with the everyday challenges they face, has meant so much to all of us.
Kathy and David Good, Volunteers of the Year Award winners
New Volunteers of the Year Award: Randy and Sally Nazette, Cedar Rapids
Randy and Sally Nazette were named New Volunteers of the Year for their outstanding efforts surrounding the 2008 Memory Walk. Long time friends of Dave and Kathy Good, the Nazettes supported their good friends to form a Memory Walk Team called TEAM GOOD. Neither couple knew the degree to which their success would reach. They set a lofty goal of 100 team members that would raise $8,000. In the end they blew it out of the water and recruited 150 members and raised $21,000 for TEAM GOOD.
A 185-piece mail campaign, plus emails and calls to family and friends, which resulted in 337 individuals who walked and/or donated money to Team Good. In order to symbolize David and his extensive bow tie collection, Randy and Sally distributed Team Good bow tie-themed t-shirts from within their home. The two were truly instrumental in the fundraising efforts and tremendous success for Team Good.
Randy and Sally Nazette accepting their New Volunteers of the Year Award
The Alzheimer’s Association would like to thank each and every volunteer for their loyalty and dedication to the East Central Iowa Chapter. With their benevolent contributions and support, we are able to MOVE closer to our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.
