FORGET ME NOT DAYS NETS $84,000 FOR LOCAL ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHAPTERS
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
CHICAGO (May 25, 2004) - Forget Me Not Days,
the annual street corner fundraiser of Bankers Life and Casualty
Company, has raised over $84,000 for local chapters of the
Alzheimer's Association.
"This year's results far exceeded our expectations," said Dan
Veto, senior vice president of Marketing at the Chicago-based
Bankers, which created and sponsors the event.
"Through fundraising and donations, Bankers has contributed more
than $500,000 to the Alzheimer's Association over the last three
years," he said. "But what's really wonderful about Forget Me Not
Days is that 100% of the proceeds stay with the Alzheimer's
Association chapter in each community to fund local programs."
About 1,000 volunteers from Bankers took to the streets May 7
and 8 to collect donations from passersby. Volunteers collected in
50 cities, thanking contributors by handing out packets of
Forget-Me-Not seeds. Over 100,000 seed packets were exchanged for
donations. Organizers say they hope those seeds will be planted in
honor of the 4.5 million Americans who suffer from Alzheimer's.
This year, participating Bankers branch offices collected in:
Springdale, Ariz.; Ft. Smith, Ark.; Jonesboro, Ark.; Little Rock,
Ark.; Camarillo, Calif.; Citrus Heights, Calif.; Fresno, Calif.;
Modesto, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.; Van Nuys, Calif.; Lakewood,
Colo.; West Hartford, Conn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Miami, Fla.;
Pensacola, Fla.; Singer Island, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.; Chicago, Ill.;
Fairview Heights, Ill.; Palos Hills, Ill.; Lafayette, Ind.; Muncie,
Ind.; Cedar Falls, Iowa; Baton Rouge, La.; South Portland, Maine;
Framingham, Mass.; Mashpee, Mass.; Livonia, Mich.; Traverse City,
Mich.; Duluth, Minn.; Edina, Minn.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Cary, N.C.;
Charlotte, N.C.; Concord, N.H.; Matawan, N.J.; Parsippany, N.J.;
Oklahoma City, Okla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Eugene, Ore.; Portland, Ore.;
Erie, Pa.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Richmond, Va.; Bellevue, Wash.;
University Place, Wash.; De Pere, Wis.; Germantown, Wis.; LaCrosse,
Wis; Wausau, Wis.
"What's great about Forget Me Not Days," said Ron Champagne,
vice president, development for the Alzheimer's Association, "is
that not only does it raise money, it makes people aware of the
Alzheimer's Association. Just by being out there on street corners,
in good weather and bad, bringing the disease to the attention of
the public, Bankers is doing a tremendous service."
"That's critical at a time when the Alzheimer's Association is
inviting Americans to join us in advocating for a renewed
commitment to research and improved care for those with
Alzheimer's," he added.
The Alzheimer's Association is the largest source of private
funding for Alzheimer's research and the premier source of
information and support for Americans currently living with the
disease. Alzheimer's affects about one in 10 people over the age of
65 and nearly 50 percent of those over 85.
Established in 1879 and headquartered at the historic
Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago, Bankers Life and Casualty
Company focuses exclusively on the financial security needs of
seniors. The company offers a broad portfolio of health and life
insurance and retirement savings products designed especially for
seniors. These products are distributed through a national network
of professionally trained company agents. Visit us online at www.bankers.com.
Contact: |
Linda Heacox
312-396-7666
l.heacox@banklife.com |
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