Dear Family and Friends, As we prepare to gather for the Thanksgiving holiday, we all have much to be thankful for. One of the things I'm thankful for are family and friends like you who, by supporting The Judy Fund, continue to honor all who have been affected by this disease and to move closer to the Alzheimer's Association's vision of a world without Alzheimer's.

The Judy Fund thanks the Mu Theta Sammy Showcase at USC on Nov. 9th for raising over $5,000 at this amazing event! (l-r): Eli Kotelov, Justin Hekmat, and Jacob Helfant. Thanks also to Aaron Raus, Mu Theta Philanthropy Chair, for his leadership and support of The Judy Fund! The men of Sigma Alpha Mu honor us each November Our association with Sigma Alpha Mu (ΣAM) fraternity means so much to our family and to our cause. Once again this year, the men of Sigma Alpha Mu have honored us with their signature fundraising event, No Shave November for The Judy Fund benefiting the Alzheimer's Association. Chapters and alumni groups around the country grow facial hair for the entire month and ask families, friends and others to sponsor their efforts. The guys have fun documenting the month on social media to raise awareness and funds, and once again, they continue to raise the bar. So far this year, they have raised nearly $20,000, well ahead of their total at this time last year. No Shave November is the latest example in the men of Sigma Alpha Mu's legacy of having fun and doing good things. Thank you so much, Sammies!

Members of the Eliashar/Hurwitz/Gelfand family gather in front of 611 Linda Vista Drive in Palm Springs, CA , the home of Judy and Marshall Gelfand, where their three children — Todd, Elizabeth and Dean grew up. The impact of The Judy Fund grows from generation to generation Nothing brings a family together like a wedding, and no mention of family would be complete for the Gelfands without the Hurwitz and Eliashar families. Tamar Hurwitz, who as many of you know is the daughter of Rina Eliashar (and sister to Doreen Hurwitz Gelfand, my amazing sister-in-law) married Drew Fleming on Oct. 15 in San Francisco. Tamar's family came in from Israel as well as both coasts of the US for the wedding. In the couple's honor, various family members donated over $24,000 to The Judy Fund at the Alzheimer's Association. What a thoughtful and lasting gesture! Thank you, Tamar and Drew, and congratulations on a beautiful start to your life together. After the wedding celebration, the Eliashars, Hurwitzes and Gelfands gathered for the global family reunion. This year, the reunion was held in Rancho Mirage, CA, and one of the activities allowed the families to remember Judy with a group photo in front our childhood home, 611 Linda Vista Drive in Palm Springs. There is a lot of love in that picture!

Thankful for friends who feel like family

David Berry (far left) gathers with family and friends representing The Judy Fund in the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer's. From LA to Chicago, The Judy Fund brings families together in the fight against Alzheimer's! At the Santa Monica Walk to End Alzheimer's®, we turned out the biggest team and raised $10,315!

David Berry, Dean Gelfand's friend and roommate in college, honored The Judy Fund by heading up a team in the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer's in late September. "Dean and I went to the University of Arizona together," David says. "Judy was kind of my West Coast mom. I wanted to get involved to honor Judy and my own mom, who is living with Alzheimer's disease. I called up Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns and asked if we could walk for The Judy Fund, and she loved the idea," David explained. Dozens of David's friends and family members turned out on the big day, and his team for The Judy Fund raised nearly $7,500 for the Alzheimer's Association! Congratulations, David. We are honored to call you our friend!

November is Alzheimer's Disease Month and National Family Caregiver Month November also is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregiver Month, a good time to acknowledge that while the holidays can be a happy time, the hustle and bustle also can be stressful for people living with the disease and those who care for them. Please know that there are many tools and resources available to help caregivers. The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) provides reliable information, support, guidance, problem-solving and crisis assistance any time of the day or night, seven days a week. You also can visit alz.org for a wide range of resources or go directly to the Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiver Center alz.org/care for information on early-stage caregiving, middle-stage caregiving or late-stage caregiving. The Alzheimer's Association is here to help.

Giving thanks and support The holidays are a time when we support the organizations that have special meaning to us. I know the Alzheimer's cause and The Judy Fund have special meaning to you. As you give thanks this month, I hope you will consider a Thanksgiving gift to The Judy Fund today. Your donation will continue to advance public policy and accelerate research toward treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends! Sincerely, Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns Chair, The Judy Fund