SECOND ANNUAL BANKERS LIFE AND CASUALTY COMPANY ALZHEIMER'S FUNDRAISER GOES NATIONAL
Thursday, April 29, 2004
CHICAGO (April 29, 2004) - Volunteers from
Bankers Life and Casualty Company offices throughout the United
States will take to the streets on May 7-8, 2004 to raise money to
fight Alzheimer's disease.
The national insurer, which created and sponsors the Forget Me
Not Days street corner fundraiser with its sister company, Colonial
Penn Life Insurance, Philadelphia, expects to build on the success
of 2003's inaugural event. This year, volunteers will collect in 50
cities compared to six communities in the pilot event.
"Alzheimer's disease is the most feared disease among America's
seniors," said Bankers President and CEO William Shea. "But,
research is providing hope for people with the disease, their
families and all of us."
"Bankers is a company that focuses exclusively on seniors'
health and financial needs," he said. "So we are proud to do all we
can to help the Alzheimer's Association fight the good fight."
Bankers, a provider of life and health insurance products for
seniors, is also the premier corporate sponsor of the annual
Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala. The company established the Forget Me
Not Days fundraiser to increase giving and participation of its
employees, who say the event has special meaning for them.
Bankers employees expect to significantly increase the amount
raised last year, according to Mark Matenaer, senior manager of
marketing at Bankers, who conceived the idea and heads the
committee that puts on the event.
"We have a strong history of corporate giving, but this event is
one-of-a-kind," said Matenaer. "Forget Me Not Days mobilizes agents
and employees to go out into their communities in force for a
single cause. It's pretty special."
The effort sends out volunteers clad in distinctive green Forget
Me Not Days gardening aprons, to collect donations from passersby.
In return, contributors receive a packet of forget-me-not seeds
they are encouraged to plant in honor of the estimated 4.5 million
Americans who have Alzheimer's.
This year, Bankers employees and agents will collect on the city
streets of: 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.
"We are very happy to partner with the Alzheimer's Association,"
said Matenaer. "Most of what is known about the disease has been
discovered through research done in the last 15 years. It's right
that our company with its focus on seniors should play a part in
that effort."
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.
"Support from friends like Bankers has allowed medical
researchers to uncover many secrets of Alzheimer's. Researchers
have the necessary scientific leads and information needed to
achieve major breakthroughs; it's not a question of whether the
disease can be prevented but rather when the Association's goal of
'A World without Alzheimer's' will be achieved, " said Ron
Champagne, vice president, development for the Alzheimer's
Association.
"As we continue to learn about the disease, the Association
urges Americans to understand what America's medical research
community has accomplished and join us in advocating for a renewed
commitment to research and improved care for those with
Alzheimer's." he added.
Since awarding its first grants in 1982, the Association has
committed more than $150 million toward research into the causes,
treatment, prevention, and cure of Alzheimer's disease. While
supporting the worldwide research effort the Association also works
tirelessly to enhance the quality of life for affected individuals
and their families. Through its national network of chapters, it
offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the
disease, their families, and care partners.
The Chicago-based Alzheimer's Association is a tax-exempt,
nonprofit organization. All of its programs and services are made
possible through contributions, large and small, from individuals,
corporations, and foundations.
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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