Jerre and Mary Joy Stead

Jerre Stead's mother lived with Alzheimer's disease for 14 years, and "nothing else takes a person away from family like this disease does," he says. "Its impact is incredible."

Jerre and wife Mary Joy were grateful for the level of care they could provide, but saddened by the realization that many families could not afford to do the same for their loved ones. Rather than accept defeat, the couple helped establish the Alzheimer's Association Eastern Iowa Chapter as well as the Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter and the Desert Southwest Chapter. Jerre has also served on the Association's National Board of Directors.

Recipients of the Alzheimer's Association 2016 Jerome H. Stone Philanthropy Award for Research, the couple make a leadership gift in 2018 to ensure an evidence base for high-quality care and support services provided to people facing Alzheimer's disease. The Stead family is funding a series of research studies that will lead to a replicable model of care by examining the impact of telephone care consultation on callers' self-efficacy, confidence, competence, stress and well-being. As part of the project, the Association's 24/7 Helpline is hiring staff to conduct enhanced care consultation services and comparative-effectiveness trials on those care protocols.

"We always said that if we got an opportunity, we were going to invest to help change the world, and Alzheimer's is the most difficult disease in the world," Jerre says. "Fortunately, we've been blessed, and we're able to contribute our time, talent and treasure today."