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UCI MIND Raises Record-Breaking $370K at 9th Annual Gala

By December 12, 2018Community Events

IRVINE, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2018)UCI MIND, the University of California, Irvine’s Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, Orange County’s only state and federally designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), hosted its 9th annual A December to Remember Gala on Saturday, December 1 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach. UCI MIND raised a record-shattering $370,000 through underwriting, ticket sales and donations from the attendees.

“UCI MIND would not be at the forefront of Alzheimer’s disease research without the strong community behind us,” notes Dr. Joshua Grill, Director of UCI MIND. “We are forever grateful for the continued support that we have received throughout the years.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the third leading cause of death here in Orange County. In fact, current predictions suggest that by 2050 there will be more than 16 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

For nine years and counting, the Gala has brought more than $1,591,000 to fund critical research and we expect that with this year’s honorees, the entire Orange County community will respond to UCI MIND’s ongoing mission.

(left to right) Keith Swayne, Steve O’Leary, William Edwards, Dr. Joshua Grill

This year’s honorees included William Edwards, CEO of Edwards Global Services; Steve O’Leary, Vice Chairman of The Shipyard; and Keith Swayne, retired CEO of Case Swayne Co./International Food Solutions. Each of these individuals have personally been affected by this disease and were honored for their visionary leadership, dedication to UCI MIND, and their work toward preventing others from having this same disease impact other families.

UCI MIND recognized the Brower Group, The Smart Agency™ , as the 2018 Community Leadership Award Honoree. Led by Chief Strategist Judy Brower Fancher and President Jenn Quader, Brower Group is an award-winning and highly-regarded national public relations, content and marketing firm. The Brower team has promoted UCI MIND’s cutting-edge research on a pro bono basis since 2016.

(left to right) Jenn Quader, Judy Brower, Dr. Joshua Grill

Brower Group has increased awareness about UCI MIND and specifically increased the number of individuals enrolled in the UCI C2C Registry from 0 to 1,521 and counting.

“We are honored to have received such strong advocates from the community and feel that it is our duty to recognize them for their commitment in helping us rid the world of Alzheimer’s,” says Dr. Grill. “Their dedicated advocacy about Alzheimer’s and raising awareness about the need to fund research is truly remarkable and we can only hope that it will effectively treat, prevent or reverse this disease.”