Alzheimer's Association Launches Public Service Announcement Featuring 'Dear Abby' 5/5/2003
From: Anne Brownsey of the Alzheimer's Association, 312-335-4078; E-mail: Anne.Brownsey@alz.org CHICAGO, Ill., May 5 -- The Alzheimer's Association is launching a new public service announcement featuring Jeanne Phillips, a.k.a. "Dear Abby," to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease and to encourage people to call the Alzheimer's Association if they or a loved one is showing signs of memory loss. Jeanne Phillips is the daughter of Pauline Phillips, founder of the original "Dear Abby" advice column, who now suffers with Alzheimer's disease. "We are grateful for the support we have received over the years from the "Dear Abby" column," said Sheldon Goldberg, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "'Dear Abby' has been instrumental in helping the association raise public awareness about this dreadful disease and provided readers with information on where to turn for help and support." Twenty-two years ago, "Dear Abby" published a letter from "Desperate in New York" that raised worldwide public awareness about the devastating illness. "Dear Abby" advised "Desperate" to contact the Alzheimer's Association. At that time, approximately 1 million Americans had Alzheimer's. Today the number of individuals with Alzheimer's is estimated to be more than 4 million. That number is expected to increase exponentially as the first wave of the 76 million baby boomers begins turning 65 in 2011. ------ The Alzheimer's Association is the premier source of information and support for the 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Through its national network of chapters, the association offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the disease, their families and caregivers and represents their interests on Alzheimer-related issues before federal, state and local government and with health and long-term care providers. The largest private funder of Alzheimer research in the United States, the association has committed $136 million toward research into the disease. For more information on the Alzheimer's Association, visit http://www.alz.org. |