Unlike in years past, when the AWARE Affair fundraiser was all cocktail dresses and stilettos, 2024 Event Co-Chairs Angie Carpenter, Kamilia Smith and Lacey Young decided to party it up with a western flair on Friday, April 12. And where else would boot scootin’ be more appropriate than Gilley’s Dallas? In addition to the dining and dancing, the night also saluted those who have championed the battle against Alzheimer’s Disease and raised funds for AWARE Dallas programs helping those suffering from the disease. Here’s a report from the field:
Everyone knew they were in for a very special evening when they entered Gilley’s Dallas last week for the AWARE Affair 2024: Boots, Buckles And Brain Health and were greeted by country music, hand clapping and energetic dancing by the Richardson High School Desperados dance troupe.
There were smiles all around as the passed hors d’oeuvres, wine and champagne, circulated throughout the room, guests bid on jewelry, trips, sports memorabilia and more in the silent auction, designed their cowboy hats – or bought new ones – at the Wild Knox Hat Bar; bought tickets in the Whiskey and Bourbon Pull, played Brain Games or had their boots professionally shined by Baron Brown.
Joining Co-Chairs Angie Carpenter, Kamilia Smith, MD., and Lacey Young were AWARE President Karen Koop; Advisory Committee members Stacey Jones Angel, Mari Epperson, Jolie Humphrey and Ann McKinley; Don Epperson, Bart Humphrey, Dr. Holly Miori (chatting about her new book “Millennial Philanthropy: Next Generation Fund Development for Professionals and Nonprofits”) and her husband, Michael Miori; Dr. Cindy Marshall, who has just been named winner of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Jeanne Jackson-Siegel Clinician of the Year Award for 2024 and her husband, Dr. Duc Tran and more. Honorary Co-Chairs emeriti were Sally and Forrest Hoglund, Biddie and Lee Roy Jordan, David McDavid Jr. and the late Kim McDavid, Venise and Larry Stuart and Ellen Terry with her daughter, Amy Terry Kriegel and son, Todd Terry.
Emcee, TV host and spokesperson Amy Vanderoef welcomed the crowd and introduced the chairs. As they each spoke, their enthusiasm and energy filled the room. They thanked the honorary chairs emeriti, AWARE board and Host Committee greeted with applause from everyone.
Dr. Miori took the stage introducing Sharon Walker as the recipient of the Founder’s Spirit Award. They gave some background saying Sharon became familiar with AWARE when her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. An avid supporter, she has served on the Fundraising Committee for years, as well as the Grant Review committee, and is a past president. Having broken her shoulder recently, everyone was delighted that she could attend this evening and she received a round of applause as she approached the stage with her husband Bob Walker, who is also an AWARE board member, and they hugged as she received her award.
Stacey was joined on stage by Greg Osler to present the Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership Award to Barbara Mathes. The award is named for Greg’s late wife, Amy, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at a young age and was a devout volunteer with AWARE. She had a servant’s heart, always led with a smile and a tireless spirit. Having moved out of state, Barbara could not attend but in a statement, said, “I am humbled to receive this award and very proud of the accomplishments of the AWARE group, which is dedicated to keeping the funds raised in our community and continues to achieve their goals in the fight against Alzheimer’s and in support of those suffering from this horrible disease and their families, caregivers, research and Grant Recipients.”
After the invocation by Nicole Bates, everyone enjoyed the buffet dinner, which was followed by a spirited game of Heads or Tails, or Hats or Buckles. The live auction featured items such as vacations in private homes and jewelry. David McDavid, Jr. joined the auctioneer on stage and shared his stirring, heartfelt story about his late wife Kim, who also suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s, and topped off the live auction with the auction of Kim’s Purple Coat of Hope. Purple is the color of Alzheimer’s and since 2018, Kim and David have sponsored a purple jacket – or a few each year – to the live auction. As he was joined on stage by previous Purple Coat winners, this year, in loving memory of Kim, four were sold at $5,000 each to a rousing standing ovation.
Kamilia had everyone enthralled as she gave insight into her experience with her mother, who also battled Alzheimer’s disease for 18 years. A call for donations with a paddle raise sponsored by Belmont Village Senior Living brought in more donations benefiting AWARE, which for over thirty years, has given hope and help to those in Dallas and the greater North Texas area affected by Alzheimer’s disease, including family members, caregivers and in support of its Grant Recipients.
The dance floor filled literally to the rims as Kaitlin Sanchez with the Breckenridge Band called people to come on up as she gave instructions for some fun line dancing and all enjoyed the evening until the lights went out.
Sponsors included Stacey Jones Angel for the Invitations; Patron Party sponsors: Jolie and Bart Humphrey; Photo Experience: Dr. and Mrs. Gary B. Wood; Buckle sponsors: Gail Plummer and John Cattaneo; Grant Education Presentation: Sharon and Bob Walker; Brain Games, For Love & Art; Boot Shine: Drs. Kamilia and Ryan Smith.
Beneficiaries are the AWARE Dallas 2023-2024 Grant Recipients: Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation, Bishop Arts Theatre Center, Center For BrainHealth at The University Of Texas At Dallas, For Love And Art, Jewish Family Service, Juliette Fowler Communities, Plano Symphony Orchestra, Stomping Ground Theater And Training Center, Texas Winds Musical Outreach, The Senior Source, The University Of Texas At Dallas Center For Vital Longevity, The University Of Texas At Dallas Center For Vital Longevity, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Wilshire Baptist Church and the Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Fund. (Follow the jump to see the various programs being supported by AWARE Affair.)
AWARE undertakes thoughtful research and conducts site visits to identify non-profit organizations that actively help all those affected by Alzheimer’s in the north Texas community and award grants to assist them in their work. To date, AWARE has awarded nearly $14.5 million to worthy programs and research. Learn more at the website www.awaredallas.org
AWARE Mission: AWARE is dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s disease by providing funding and support to programs, projects, and research provided by nonprofit organizations that actively help individuals affected by Alzheimer’s in Dallas and the greater North Texas area.
AWARE is a component fund of The Dallas Foundation, a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity. In partnership with the Foundation, AWARE conducts an annual grant review process by which grant applicants are carefully and thoughtfully vetted to ensure that grant dollars are awarded to organizations that provide outstanding services to Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, and to those research institutions that are at the forefront of medical research in the treatment, prevention, and cure of Alzheimer’s disease.
* Photo credit: Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio
AWARE Dallas 2023-2024 Grant Recipients
- Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation: Salary support for the Baylor AT&T Memory Center to provide a trained care-navigation specialist on site at the Center. At the point of care, patients and families are provided with disease education, caregiver training and support groups, elder law and financial planning, and a 24/7 helpline.
- Bishop Arts Theatre Center: Support for a program offering senior/elder adults customized theatre workshops and performances to enhance their social, emotional, and physical memory abilities.
- Center For BrainHealth at The University Of Texas At Dallas: Support for the creation of a BrainHealth Help Line to offer guidance to caregivers and those with Alzheimer’s who are seeking information and tools to help them move out of a place of distress.
- For Love And Art: Support to increase staff needed to coordinate volunteers, and assist with growth for a program bringing an interactive art experience to people with cognitive impairment and limited mobility living in long-term care facilities.
- Jewish Family Service: Support for the Older Adults Program staff to provide in-home mental health counseling, care management, and daily living support to older adults with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, allowing them to remain living in their own home.
- Juliette Fowler Communities: Support the organization’s campus-wide dementia care initiatives including I’m Still Here, Dementia Friendly Dallas, music therapy, and Caregiver support programs.
- Plano Symphony Orchestra: Support for Healing Notes, a free music therapy-influenced concert designed as an interactive musical experience for seniors. The program focuses on low-income individuals living in memory care facilities and dealing with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
- Stomping Ground Theater And Training Center: Support for Improv for Caregivers, a fun and interactive program for family and professional caregivers that uses improvisational comedy techniques to teach effective communication skills that are specific to the needs of persons with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
- Texas Winds Musical Outreach: Support for the Concerts for Seniors program providing interactive concerts in 86 nursing homes and adult day care facilities bringing joy, relief from isolation, and peace to individuals affected by memory loss, and providing new communication skills to their caregivers.
- The Senior Source: Support for the Senior Companion Program matching trained volunteers with low-income individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families needing in-home assistance with meals, errands, and light housekeeping, providing caregivers with respite and/or time to work outside the home.
- The University Of Texas At Dallas Center For Vital Longevity: Support for testing the theory that Alzheimer’s disease is caused in part by a severe decline in the brain’s energy system by examining neurometabolites using MRI scanning on one of seven such advanced MRI scanners in the country. Study located in the lab of Dr. K. Kennedy.
- The University Of Texas At Dallas Center For Vital Longevity: Support for acquisition of a mobile Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ( fNIRS) system with physiological measures to assess brain-physiology in broad range of adults, and to train scientists in its use and allowing a broader range of access to study participants. . Study located in the lab of Dr. Chandramallika Basak.
- Westminster Presbyterian Church: Support to expand the number of days offered by the Caregivers Day Out program and allow more individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementias to participate and provide greater respite for their caregivers.
- Wilshire Baptist Church: Support for the Friday Friends Program providing stimulating activities for participants living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and respite for their caregivers.
- Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Fund:Scholarship support for nursing students at Baylor University, Texas Woman’s University, and Texas Christian University toward studies in gerontology, especially in the field of dementia.
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