AWARE Affair Celebrate the Moments Alzheimer’s Myths Unveiled

(Featured Photo: Carol Stabler, 2021 Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership award honoree; Gail Plummer, 2020 Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership award honoree; Barbara Sypult, 2020 Inaugural Founders Award honoree; Kay Hammond, 2021 Founder’s Award honoree.)*

2021 AWARE Affair CELEBRATE THE MOMENTS Alzheimer’s Myths Unveiled Sailed Through the Storm with a Beautiful Event at the Dallas Arboretum
Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease Since 1989

This year’s AWARE Affair CELEBRATE THE MOMENTS Alzheimer’s Myths Unveiled was unlike any other, happening both indoors and outdoors at Dallas’ beautiful landmark, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
        
“This morning’s deluge had us a little worried,” said Barbara Glass, president of AWARE. “We were prepared for any situation but were so thankful when the weather cleared. The food vignettes and entertainment were all covered. The silent auction displayed under clear canopies draped in soft lighting brought an aura of being its own party, it was decorated so beautifully.”

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This unique event was co-chaired by The Women of AWARE Affair: Carol Stabler, Barbara Glass, Stacey Jones Angel, Sharon Ballew, Stephanie Bray, Janet Broyles, Emily Collins, Karen Carney, Cheryl Chantilis, Kay Hammond, Jolie Humphrey, Karisti Julia, Josey Kennington, Wendy Kumpf, Paige Rippey Locke, Becky Mills, Holly Hull Miori, Gail Plummer, Barbara Sypult, Venise Stuart, Sharon Walker.
        

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Honorary Chairs Emeriti were Sally and Forrest Hoglund; Kim and David McDavid, Jr.; Ellen Terry with her daughter Amy Terry Kriegel and son, Todd Terry.
        

VIP guests entered at A Tasteful Place where inside the Charlotte and Donald Test Pavilion, a very special treat featured Chef of the Year for Texas, Chef Luke Rogers, winner of the 2020 Iron Fork Chef Competition presented by US Foods and the World Food Championships, demonstrating the preparation of his dish, Tuna Tartare with avocado, radish, watercress, mango, cucumber, white wasabi aioli, and wonton crisps. Guests enjoyed that specialty, along with passed hors d’oeuvres catered by Two Sisters Catering and botanical cocktails featuring Ketel One Botanical and Ketel One.
        

At the adjacent Three Sisters Lagoon Overlook, AWARE Men presented a special “Scotch and Sliders” experience featuring Dewar’s Scotch and a very popular putting green contest manned by Janet and Jack Broyles. Vignettes of food tasting experiences were perfectly situated along the tree-lined pathways leading up to Rosine Hall where the main announcements and awardees were celebrated.  Wines were provided by HALL Wines courtesy of HALL Group/HALL Arts Hotel, Opolo Vineyard and Beviamo International. Beer was provided by Shiner Bock and Ben E. Keith.

Live performances highlighted the work of the dedicated organizations who provide programs, services, education, and resources to those living with or caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. They included Stomping Ground Comedy performing inside Rosine Hall, Plano Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet and Texas Winds Musical Outreach Perennial Brass Quintet performing outside in Ginsburg Plaza and Texas Winds Musical Outreach Trinity River Jazz Kings performing outside in Ginsburg Plaza during the dessert reception.
        

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The evening continued inside Rosine Hall as award-winning broadcast journalist Scott Murray, emcee, welcomed last year’s president, Jolie Humphrey, who reminded everyone that last year’s event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and thanked everyone for their support through that harsh time. There were also award honorees who did not receive their awards at that time, who would be honored this evening. She made special mention of AWARE’s partnership with the Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Fund, which provides support for scholarships for nursing students at Baylor University, Texas Woman’s University, and Texas Christian University toward their studies in gerontology, especially in the field of dementia.
 

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Scott continued with Alzheimer’s Myths Unveiled:
         Myth #1: It is embarrassing to have Alzheimer’s. Unveiled: An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is nothing to be ashamed of and does not invalidate a patient’s importance, value or lifetime accomplishments.
         Myth #2: Alzheimer’s is an old person’s disease. Unveiled: Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed in patients as young as 50 and symptoms can appear in patients as young as 30.
        
Holly Miori, recipient of the very first Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership award, took the stage and presented the 2020 Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership award to Gail Plummer and the 2021 Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership award to Carol Stabler. In a touching moment, Greg Osler, Amy’s husband who was representing her this evening, joined them at the stage. The Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership Award is given to an AWARE member who has demonstrated a high level of leadership in educating members and the general public about AWARE, its mission and Alzheimer’s disease.
        
The last two myths were revealed: Myth #3: Women are the primary caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients. Unveiled: While women have historically been the primary caregivers, as diagnoses increase, caregiving responsibilities now fall to husbands, children and extended family members.
        
Myth #4: AWARE only funds research for Alzheimer’s. Unveiled: AWARE invests in key research but puts great emphasis on funding treatment and support for patients and caregivers.  

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Barbara Glass presented the 2020 Inaugural Founders Award to Barbara Sypult and the 2021 Founder’s Award to Kay Hammond, all to rousing rounds of applause. The Founders Spirit Award is given to an AWARE member who exemplifies the vision of the organization’s founders by generously giving her/his leadership, dedication and resources over an extended period of time to the mission, vision and values of AWARE.
          
Glass also thanked underwriters and sponsors, plus others who served crucial roles in making this evening’s event a wonderful success. The Orchid Sponsor was William Seanor. Iris Sponsors were Stacey and Charles A. Angel, Jr. and Venise and Lawrence D. Stuart, Jr.; Kennington Family Philanthropic Fund. Plum Sponsors were Lydia and Bill Addy, Sally and Forrest Hoglund, Gail and Bill Plummer, Jolie and Bart Humphrey and Sheryl and Gary Wood. Favors Sponsor was Weitzman. Photo Experience Sponsor was Karen and Mark Carney. AWARE Grant Gallery Education Partner was Acadia Pharmaceuticals.  
        
These presentations were followed by a spirited live auction of one-of-a-kind experiences, including A Monarch Restaurant Chef Experience & Celebration at Home for 6, the AWARE Men’s Purple Jacket, Golf with 3 x SEC Coach of the Year & CBS Sports broadcaster Houston Nutt and more. As the evening wound to a close, guests enjoyed sweets in Ginsburg Family Plaza and fanciful take-home desserts provided by La Tarte Tropézienne.
        
For those guests who were unable to attend in person, AWARE offered a simulcast Virtual Experience Catering Package which included a four-course dinner for two and a bottle of HALL wine delivered to their home.            
        
Beneficiaries/Grant Recipients for 2020-2021 are: Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation, Casa De Vida,  Dallas Arboretum And Botanical Society, Dallas Museum Of Art, Ed-U-Care, For Love And Art, Jewish Family Service, Juliette Fowler Communities, Plano Symphony Orchestra, The Senior Source, Texas Health Resources, Stomping Ground Comedy, The University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Texas Winds Musical Outreach, Visiting Nurses Association Of Texas, Wilshire Baptist Church, Myrna D. Schlegel Aware Scholarship Fund.
        
Media sponsor is Senior Resource Guide.
        
AWARE Mission: AWARE is dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s disease by providing funding and support to programs, projects, and research provided by nonprofit organizations that actively help individuals affected by Alzheimer’s in Dallas and the greater North Texas area.
       
AWARE is a component fund of The Dallas Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) publicly supported charity.  In partnership with the Foundation AWARE conducts an annual grant review process by which grant applicants are carefully and thoughtfully vetted to ensure that grant dollars are awarded to organizations that provide outstanding services to Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, and to those research institutions that are at the forefront of medical research in the treatment, prevention, and cure of Alzheimer’s disease.
        
Together with compassion and dedication we can make a difference. Membership is open to both men and women. Join AWARE now and join the fight www.AWAREDallas.org   Instagram: @awaredallas. Facebook: @awaredallas
        

*Photos by Dana Driensky and Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio

Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations is honored to represent AWARE.)