Host a Purple Party!

September 21st is World Alzheimer’s Day, and the Harrah’s Foundation has pledged to match each dollar up to $1 million that is raised for Alzheimer’s research. Everyone who wants to be involved can help raise funds and spread the word by hosting a Purple Party.

You can host an educational, socially responsible and FUN party that will help raise both funds and awareness of World Alzheimer’s Day. You can go to http://actionalz.org and create your own page for your party, send an email reminder to your  guests – it even allows guests to make donations online.  The first 500 people to sign up and pledge to raise at least $150.00 will receive a free World Alzheimer’s Day party kit, with cocktail napkins, thank-you cards, donation forms and envelopes, speaking points about Alzheimer’s, and a DVD of Alzheimer’s celebrity Champions speaking about why this cause is so important.

It’s easy to raise $150.00! Ask your guests to donate the amount they would have spent on a nice dinner out including cocktails, and instead, have a potluck supper at your house. Or host a movie night with new release DVDs and popcorn, and ask guests to donate the amount they would have spent on a movie for two plus a babysitter. You’ll be surprised how quickly the funds add up! If you can’t host a party, you can still donate to this important cause, and print out a form to solicit funds from friends and coworkers.  Just go to the donation page of ActionALZ to make a donation, and it will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Harrah’s Foundation.

Since getting involved with the Alzheimer’s Association, I have learned that this is a cause that inspires people to action. Everyone has a loved one who is getting older and more forgetful, but imagine if your older loved one had forgot how to walk, to swallow, to breathe. Alzheimer’s Disease scares the crap out of me, frankly, and I will do anything I can to help. Won’t you?