Vicky Patel with daughter Traci Hagedorn

Vicky Patel's father, Richard Sakers, Sr., was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2003. "To see the man he became, while also remembering the man he was, crushed my soul," she says.

An entrepreneur who currently operates a film production company, Vicky joined the Zenith Society in 2015 with a $1 million gift for research that raised $6.4 million for the Association’s full mission through a challenge match. She made a second Zenith-level gift in 2018 to advance the Association-led U.S. POINTER study. In recognition of her generosity, the Association conferred the 2022 Jerome H. Stone Philanthropy Award for Alzheimer's Research on Vicky at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® in San Diego.

“My father lived with Alzheimer’s for 12 years after he was diagnosed, so I am all too aware of the need for more funding for Alzheimer’s research,” says Vicky, “It has to come from somewhere. Why not from me?”

The northern California resident also supports the Association's full mission as the top fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's® out of nearly 500,000 participants nationwide, leading The Poppies team for the San Jose Walk.

"My dad is my inspiration," Vicky says. "He was aware of the donations I've made. He knew about the Walk team named for him. His reaction to these things makes me want to give all that I have to help find a cure for this disease."