By Judy Carmack Bross
(L to R) Power of Purple: A Reason to Hope Luncheon Co-Chairs Perri Irmer, Barry Masek, Francia Harrington, Donovan Pepper and Marta Cerda
Evoking the mightiness of storytelling—whether by CNN Anchor Amara Walker, Ben Lissner, a young man reflecting on his father living with Alzheimer’s, or luncheon Co-Chair Francia Harrington speaking stirringly about her late brother-in-law and others–the Alzheimer’s Association’s Power of Purple: A Reason to Hope Luncheon celebrated caregivers. The sold-out luncheon of 511 guests—almost all in varying purple shades and most with their own connection to the ravages of Alzheimer’s or dementia—surpassed the goal by raising over $460,000 and shared tangible reasons for hope.
Ben Lissner shares his story at the Power of Purple: A Reason to Hope Luncheon
Dr. Joanne Pike, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, shared: “We are at a place where we are seeing progress on the treatment front, the diagnostic front, but also we are in a new era of providing quality care through our health system partners, through our caregiver network and being able to provide new programs and services in a way that we have not delivered historically …. we are in a place where we use the word hope for the first time in a long time.”
Amara Walker
Walker, who co-anchors CNN’s This Morning Weekend, shared her experience with her mother being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and how she has used the resources of the Alzheimer’s Association. She told the audience: “The Alzheimer’s Association has done so much for me and it’s just incredible where I am today emotionally verses 5 years ago when I started seeing my mother’s symptoms…The journey has been lots of highs and lows. In public, I’m a news anchor living the dream, but in private, I’ve been living this horrible reality of losing my anchor, my mother. But it’s been so uplifting to tell my story, because so many of you have the same story. We’re all in it together.”
Walker added: “I have several hopes, but the first is that we have a society that uplifts our caregivers. For the caregivers out there, if you feel overwhelmed, like you can’t do this anymore, reach out for help…My hope is a dementia-friendly society, one that we can all live in.” She went on to share examples of how people can do this around the world including The Café of Mistaken Orders in Japan.
Delia Jervier, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter voiced her own hope: “We want to find our first survivor of this terrible disease.”
(L to R) Power of Purple: A Reason to Hope Luncheon Awardees Michelle Mason, Pastor Jeanette Jordan, Dr. Darren Gitelman (Advocate Health Care) with Delia Jervier (Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter), Terrianne Reynolds (Region 9 Health Systems Director, Alzheimer’s Association) and Matt Hendrick (Advocate Health Care)
Host Committee Members Marty Wilke and Shanan Fennema
Nancy Rainwater, Communications Director of the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, talked to us about the Luncheon’s purpose:
“We really wanted to get across that caregivers need our support. They work so hard and many end up with illnesses themselves because they don’t have time to take care of themselves.”
Rainwater told us recent statistics found in “The Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report” which estimates that 6.9 million people age 65 and older in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, including 250,600 in Illinois.
“This year the cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is projected to reach $360 billion — a $15 billion increase from a year ago. This does not include unpaid care provided by family caregivers and friends,” Rainwater said. “Last year in Illinois there were 311,000 dementia family caregivers, providing 480,000,000 hours of unpaid care valued at $9,840,000,000.”
Katie Lane, Director of Grants and Strategic Partnerships at the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, told us: “It is so important that employers support employees who are caregivers. We offer many educational programs and encourage companies to provide resources and support for those navigating this journey.”
Emcee Jeanne Sparrow presents the Corporate Champion Award to Stephanie Foley at Cboe
Emcees WGN’s Evening News Anchor Ray Cortopassi (proud in purple socks) and Jeanne Sparrow, WVAZ’s on-air personality—both of whom paid tribute to relatives who have suffered from Alzheimer’s–presented the Corporate Champion Award to Cboe, accepted by Executive Vice President Stephanie Foley, and the Health System Award to Advocate Health Care, accepted by Dr. Darren Gitelman, Director of Cognitive Disorders for Advocate. Pastor Jeannette Jordan and Michelle Mason received the Caregiver Awards.
Emcee Ray Cortopassi presents the Family Caregiver Award to Pastor Jeanette Jordan
Luncheon Co-Chairs Barry Masek and Francia Harrington gave the closing remarks to the sea of purple in front of them. Harrington pointed out her purple flower pin that many in the audience were wearing as a tribute to those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. She and Masek shared their personal connections… the relatives they have loved and lost to these diseases and how the whole family is affected.
(L to R) Rochelle Schaetzl (V.P. North America Marketing, Griffith Foods) , Patricia Schoulda (Account Director, Griffith Foods), Lisa Utter (Sr. Marketing Manager, Griffith Foods), JoAnn Anderson (Labeling & Purchasing Specialist, Nufarm). Griffith Foods is a Gold Sponsor of the Power of Purple: A Reason to Hope Luncheon
Illinois Chapter Board and Host Committee Members Bruce Hopple, Aimee Nolan and Marilyn Lissner with guest.
Host Committee Member Amy Sunshine, Phil Blackman, Delia Jervier (Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter Executive Director) and Illinois Chapter Board and Host Committee Member Carol Shaw-Burns
Host Committee Member Jan Tratnik and other guests at the Power of Purple: A Reason to Hope Luncheon
To support this event and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association, visit PowerAndHope24.givesmart.com. For further information visit: www.alz.org/illinois
