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(Monday, June 4, 2018 – New
York, NY) – Members
of New York City’s philanthropic, business,
health care and Alzheimer’s communities
gathered tonight at The Pierre at the annual
“Forget-Me-Not” Gala hosted by CaringKind,
New York City’s leading expert in
Alzheimer’s and dementia care for more than
three decades. The event, emceed by Tony
Award winning actor and tireless Alzheimer’s
advocate David
Hyde Pierce, raised
$1.2 million. The fundraiser was chaired by Liz
Hirsh and David
Hirsh, CaringKind
Board Chair.
CaringKind honored its
President and CEO Lou-Ellen Barkan with
the Special Appreciation Award for
her outstanding leadership and commitment to
raising awareness about Alzheimer’s, other
dementias, and caregiving. Barkan who cared
for her mother and father, both of whom had
dementia, will retire at the end of the
fiscal year after nearly 15 years as the
head of the organization.
Heath B. McLendon, Board
Member Emeritus, said, “Lou-Ellen’s record
of achievements is significant. She led
with a determination forged, in part, by her
personal connection to dementia – having
cared for her mother and father who lived
with the disease. A strong mentor to staff,
an outspoken advocate and a fighter for what
she believed was right, she inspired all of
us to think outside the box. All of this
has put a much-needed focus on New York
City’s Alzheimer’s community and cemented
CaringKind’s position as a leading expert in
dementia caregiving. We wish her well and
are strengthened in the knowledge that we
will continue to rely on her friendship and
support as we move forward.”
Barkan said, “Like my
impending retirement, tonight’s event is
bittersweet for me. I am surrounded by
CaringKind staff who make a marked
difference in the lives of those we serve
every single day. As I look out into the
audience, I see some of the Alzheimer’s
community’s most brilliant medical and
research professionals and fiercest
advocates and supporters. I may be giving up
the title of President and CEO, but I will
never give up on the fight against
Alzheimer’s. I’d like to congratulate Dr. Manji
and this year’s TackleALZ NYC team for
their well-deserved honor tonight. I’d also
like to thank each of you for making the
second act of my career one of great purpose
and impact.”
Honored with the Young
Leadership Award was this year’s TackleALZ
NYC team. The team just recently played
its annual Powder Puff Charity Football
Game, a flag football competition and
fundraiser, to raise money for CaringKind.
The Corporate
Leadership Award was
presented to Husseini
K. Manji, MD Global
Head, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area at
Janssen Research & Development, LLC, one
of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of
Johnson & Johnson.
Also in attendance was Dr.
Max Gomez, CBS 2 Medical Reporter, and
esteemed members of the scientific
community including Dr. Peter
Davies, Dr. Mony de Leon, Dr.
Warachal Faison, Dr.
Silvia Fossati, Dr.
Richard Isaacson, Dr.
Jose Luchsinger, Dr. Mary Mittelman, and Dr.
Mary Sano.
The evening offered a
cocktail reception, silent and live
auctions, and dinner and dancing to Hank
Lane Music and Productions with Harris Lane,
band leader. Among the live auction items
were a VIP Package to Broadway’s “Hello,
Dolly!” and a dinner with David Hyde Pierce
and some of the world’s leading Alzheimer’s
and dementia scientists.
Among CaringKind’s many
programs and services are:
CaringKind was formerly known
as the Alzheimer’s Association, NYC Chapter.
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About CaringKind: CaringKind is
New York City’s leading expert on
Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving. With
over 30 years of experience, we work
directly with our community partners to
develop the information, tools and training
to support individuals and families affected
by dementia. We offer a 24-hour Helpline run
by professional staff, individual and family
counseling sessions with licensed social
workers; a vast network of support groups;
education seminars and training programs;
early stage services and a wanderer’s safety
program. We believe in the power of
caregiving and seek a world where everyone
dealing with dementia has the support they
need, when they need it.
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