Longtime Alzheimer’s advocates honored with Jerome H. Stone Philanthropy Award

Longtime Alzheimer’s advocates honored with Jerome H. Stone Philanthropy Award

The Alzheimer’s Association presented its Jerome H. Stone Philanthropy Award for Alzheimer’s Research to Jerre and Mary Joy Stead, chairs of the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation in Phoenix, during AAIC 2016’s opening session. The annual award honors individuals and organizations that have had significant impact on the global Alzheimer’s research field through their philanthropy. The Steads have been instrumental in raising $40 million to support groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research, including the first-ever prevention drug trials.

TORONTO, July 24, 2016 — The Alzheimer’s Association presented its Jerome H. Stone Philanthropy Award for Alzheimer’s Research on Sunday to Jerre and Mary Joy Stead during the opening session of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® 2016 in Toronto, Canada.

The annual award honors individuals and organizations that have had significant impact on the global Alzheimer’s research field through their philanthropy.

“The Steads are deserving recipients of one of the Alzheimer’s Association’s highest honors,” said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “The promising advances being made in Alzheimer’s research simply would not be possible without the support of philanthropists like them. The Alzheimer’s Association commends Jerre and Mary Joy for their passion and commitment to changing the future of Alzheimer’s disease.”

The Steads are recognized for their numerous philanthropic contributions in support of Alzheimer’s research, including current scientific studies aimed at prevention research and enhancing care for families already suffering from the disease.

“The Steads are deserving recipients of one of the Alzheimer’s Association’s highest honors,” said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “The promising advances being made in Alzheimer’s research simply would not be possible without the support of philanthropists like them. The Alzheimer’s Association commends Jerre and Mary Joy for their passion and commitment to changing the future of Alzheimer’s disease.”

As chairs of the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona, the Steads were instrumental in raising $40 million to support ground-breaking Alzheimer’s research, including the first-ever prevention drug trials. Funding support is also being used to improve care models for people living with the disease by offering a more comprehensive approach that addresses their physical, emotional, behavioral, educational and practical needs. In recognition of the Stead’s contributions, the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in 2012 named its outpatient facility the Stead Family Memory Center.

“Our commitment to investing in prevention efforts for Alzheimer’s started from a very personal standpoint. Our family experienced first-hand the suffering Alzheimer’s brings not just to the individual, but to their loved ones as well,” said Jerre and Mary Joy Stead. “We are honored and humbled to receive the Jerome H. Stone award and look forward to the day when awards like this are no longer needed because we have found a prevention for Alzheimer’s.”

Established in 2013, the Stone Award is named in honor of Jerome Stone, primary founder of the Alzheimer’s Association. Stone was one of the first private citizens to advocate for investment in Alzheimer’s research. The award underscores the Alzheimer’s Association commitment to accelerating the global effort to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease and to recognizing the efforts of researchers who advance understanding of it. The Association is the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research. It currently supports more than 350 ongoing research projects in 21 countries, totaling more than $80 million. Since 1982, it has awarded more than $350 million to almost 2,300 scientific investigations.

About AAIC
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) is the largest gathering of leading researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer’s and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community.
AAIC 2016 home page: www.alz.org/aaic/
AAIC 2016 newsroom: www.alz.org/aaic/press.asp

About the Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

Media Contacts:
Alzheimer’s Association AAIC newsroom, 416-585- 3701, media@alz.org
Mike Lynch, Alzheimer’s Association, 312-543-7589, mlynch@alz.org

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