Washington, DC – WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s, a robust and growing national network of influential women focused on ending Alzheimer’s, will hold its second annual Women’s Summit in Washington, DC on September 16-17. In addition to briefings from leading Alzheimer’s experts, the Out of the Shadows Summit will launch the Shadow Box Memory Project.
Like the AIDS Memorial Quilt panels, the unique shadow boxes honor a loved one who has suffered from Alzheimer’s. Each pays tribute to a life – capturing stories of families across the nation in a powerful illustration of the human toll of Alzheimer’s.
Numerous summit participants have created shadow boxes. They will be on display at the Out of the Shadows dinner at the National Women’s Museum and will accompany summit participants to meetings with Members of Congress on Wednesday, September 17. A shadow box sampling is available here: http://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/sites/default/files/shadow%20boxes%20for%20media%20advisory.pptx
Summit attendees will hear about the striking fear of Alzheimer’s among young women, the importance of gender-based research, the financial impact of Alzheimer’s on women as victims and caregivers and the growing jobs and career impact on women employed in business.
Out of the Shadows Dinner
After the summit, hundreds of guests will join WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s for a moving and inspirational night focused on bringing Alzheimer’s out of the shadows. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) will be honored for her fight to give Alzheimer's research the federal funding it needs. Guests will preview the documentary about Glen Campbell’s farewell tour while battling Alzheimer’s called “I’ll Be Me,” introduced by director James Keach.
Congressional Alzheimer’s Briefing
WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s will hold a Capitol Hill briefing on women and Alzheimer’s on Wednesday, September 17. Speakers include Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congresswomen Doris Matsui and Marsha Blackburn, and Trish and George Vradenburg, Co-Founders of USAgainstAlzheimer’s.
Details of the events are as follows:
- WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s Out of the Shadows Summit featuring leaders in the Alzheimer’s movement: Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC. For a meeting agenda, please contact Ranit Schmelzer at [email protected].
- Out of the Shadows dinner honoring Senator Susan Collins: Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 PM (6:30 PM reception), National Women’s Museum, Washington DC. Shadow boxes will be on display. RSVP to [email protected].
- Women and Alzheimer’s Hill Briefing with Leader Nancy Pelosi and Reps. Doris Matsui and Marsha Blackburn: Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 9:00 AM, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G11.
Alzheimer’s affects 5.4 million people in the U.S. and 44 million worldwide. Recent independent research shows that it is the third leading cause of death, although it is official listed as the sixth. It is the only disease in the top ten that currently has no cure, treatment, or prevention. Yet it receives dramatically less government funding, industry focus, or scientific study than other, less widespread diseases.
The Out of the Shadows dinner is sponsored by Underwriter Sponsors Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation and BrightFocus Foundation and Presenting Sponsors Eisai Co., Ltd. and Jill Lesser and Jonathan Diesenhaus.
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About WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s
WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s is a network of USAgainstAlzheimer’s. With a robust national network of influential women, WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s presses federal policymakers to pursue legislative and funding opportunities for Alzheimer’s research and increase awareness about Alzheimer’s as a major women’s health crisis that requires a robust response from government, industry and the research community. www.womenagainstalzheimers.org.
About USAgainstAlzheimer’s
USAgainstAlzheimer's is an entrepreneurial and disruptive organization demanding a solution to Alzheimer's by 2020. Driven by the suffering of millions of families USAgainstAlzheimer’s presses for greater urgency from government, industry and the scientific community in the quest for an Alzheimer's cure – accomplishing this through effective leadership, collaborative advocacy and strategic investments. For more information, visit www.usagainstalzheimers.org.