I would like to applaud the New York Yankees for their efforts in helping to increase awareness during World Alzheimer’s Month. They are holding awareness events for 14 games played at their home stadium. Six other Major League Clubs have joined the Yankees in support — the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Los Angeles Dodgers — who are also holding events at their home stadiums during September.
As avid Yankee fans may already know, former University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summit was in attendance on Sunday, Sept. 1 for a pre-game ceremony where she and her son, Tyler, received the 2012 Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award from the Alzheimer's Association for their inspiring work through the Pat Summit Foundation. The Yankees have committed to giving even more exposure to this mission by playing a video public service announcement at every home game throughout the month of September.
This month also marks the start of our annual nationwide Walk to End Alzheimer’s season, which offers six walks in New Jersey – including those in Jersey City, Point Pleasant, Princeton, and Paramus. In addition to individuals with the disease, their family members and friends, teams are comprised of businesses and concerned citizens who recognize the impact of this illness on all of us. We are inspired every year by the growing sense that the business community and our citizenry is stepping up to show their support of what is now the most costly health condition in the country.
We are behind the curve in educating the public on the ever-increasing tolls Alzheimer’s disease takes on individuals, families and society as a whole. Organizations like the Yankees can play a vital role in helping to raise the public consciousness. The visibility afforded this cause by a great organization like the Yankees can go a long way toward summoning the collective concern and awareness required to sufficiently meet the challenges posed by Alzheimer’s disease.
Lawrence Brooks
President & CEO
Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter