NONPROFIT Aware North Texas-based nonpro t dedicated to ghting Alzheimer’s disease
BY HANNAH JOHNSON
AWARE AFFAIR 2023 The Aware A air is a fundraising gala that supports the nonpro t and its mission in ghting Alzheimer’s disease. This year’s theme is “An Artful Evening.”
When: April 14
I n 1989, six women led the charge in creating A.W.A.R.E, or the Alz- heimer’s Women’s Association for Resources and Education. Since then, men and women have joined the 501(c)(3) nonpro t organization, now called Aware, that is dedicated to ghting Alzheimer’s disease. “Alzheimer’s is a global crisis,” Aware President Holly Hull Miori said. Miori, who lives in Grapevine, was working at a neuroscience research center when she attended Aware A air, the nonpro t’s annual fundraising gala. She later joined as a member before joining the board. Aware is made up of more than 200 members. Membership levels range from $75-$500. The nonpro t pro- vides funding to programs, projects and research through grants. In 2013, Aware became a compo- nent of the nonpro t incubator The Dallas Founda-
wear on caregivers, Miori said. She said Aware is trying to nd resources for the members who are part of the nonpro t. “We provide a network for [caregiv- ers], so they can nd each other and support each other,” Miori said. Discussions around Alzheimer’s have changed as Miori said more celebrities share their experience with the disease. Still, she said communi- ties are not comfortable talking about the disease. “Aware is part of that education— taking a global issue and keeping it a local impact,” Miori said. “That is where Aware wants to be, by being part of the education, but also … the research and caregiving.” Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that a ects memory, thinking and behavior, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows
Where: Lighthouse ArtSpace, 507 S. Harwood St., Dallas
Cost: Individual tickets begin at $500, and sponsorship ticket from $1,200-$2,500.
Holly Hull Miori is the Aware president.
PHOTO COURTESY AWARE
KNOWING THE SIGNS Education on Alzheimer’s disease is a focus for North Texas-based nonpro t Aware. Early detection provides a better chance of bene ting from treatment.
Typical age-related changes
Signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia
• Making a bad decision once in a while • Missing a monthly payment • Forgetting what day it is and remembering it later • Sometimes forgetting which word to use • Losing things from time to time
• Poor judgment and decision making • Inability to manage a budget • Losing track of the date or the season • Di culty having a conversation • Misplacing things or being unable to retrace steps to nd them
SOURCE: ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
tion, which Miori said would keep the funding for research and caregiving local. The nonpro t works with faith
“WE PROVIDE A NETWORK FOR CAREGIVERS , SO THEY CAN FIND EACH OTHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER.” HOLLY HULL MIORI, AWARE PRESIDENT
as many as 5.8 million Ameri- cans were living with the disease in 2020. The CDC classi es it as the seventh leading cause of death in
Karisti Julia (left) and Dr. Cindy Marshall attended 2022’s Aware A air.
communities, arts organizations and medical communities in the greater Dallas area. “We really want to take care of our community, and we want to be the catalyst for research,” Miori said. One aspect of Alzheimer’s that peo- ple might not be aware of is how it can
PHOTO COURTESY DANNY CAMPBELL
Aware Aware serves Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake and more communities in the greater North Texas area. info@awaredallas.org www.awaredallas.org/contact
the United States. “Alzheimer’s is one of those dis- eases that breaks across all barriers,” Miori said. “It doesn’t care about your education, your socioeconomic [status] or your race. It can a ect anybody.”
Stephanie Bray (right) received the Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership Award at 2022’s Aware A air.
PHOTO COURTESY DANNY CAMPBELL
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