Twice the Impact During the Dog Days of Summer
Twice the Impact During the Dog Days of Summer
Our End of Summer 2x Match is underway, but not for long. From now until midnight on Aug. 31, your gift can have double the impact on advancing research and helping provide care and support for those impacted by Alzheimer’s.
Donate NowAndy and Ricci Sanchez
"We hope there are more promising breakthroughs while we're still here, and we want to be part of this battle even when we're gone. We'll never stop!"
Andy and Ricci Sanchez, Founders Society members, have generously included the Alzheimer's Association in their trust.
Ricci Sanchez was 56 years old and the COO of a large hospital when she was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's.
"I had been struggling with my short-term memory, relying on sticky notes to get through the day," Ricci says.
It quickly became clear that Ricci's career was over. The demands of her job would be increasingly difficult in her condition, and rapid decline is usually expected with younger-onset Alzheimer's. In search of support, Andy reached out to the Alzheimer's Association for advice, and they joined a support group.
"Our support group has truly become part of our extended family. We laugh together, cry together and enjoy lending a listening ear. We rally in support of someone struggling, and sometimes we get to celebrate successes and happiness. Each day is different, much like the nature of the disease," says Ricci.
"Coming to grips with the fact that my brain doesn't work the way it used to is something I have struggled with, but educating myself about this disease allowed me to come to a place of acceptance to move forward. I was encouraged both by Andy and by others living with Alzheimer's who shared their own stories when I decided to make my diagnosis public," Ricci says.
Meanwhile, Andy and Ricci began rearranging their lives around the new diagnosis, meeting with elder care attorneys, getting social security disability and more.
"After we crafted our trust, wills and our general end-of-life planning, our relationship with the Alzheimer's Association grew," Andy says. "That's when it hit us! We and others like us will always be battling this disease, even after your loved one has passed and even when the care partner or caregiver has passed. This battle is ongoing until we have the first Alzheimer's survivor. Therefore, it was a natural fit to include the Alzheimer's Association in our estate plans."
Ricci became an Early-Stage Advisory Group member for the Alzheimer's Association, giving her an opportunity to reach out on a national and global scale. She's used her background in health care to share a unique perspective on the disease, helping write many published articles and design and co-author a new research project with Quinnipiac University, titled "Perspectives on Living Well with Dementia," for The Journal of Applied Gerontology.
"Alzheimer's disease may be insidious, yet Andy and I find joy in each day," Ricci says. "We love to cook together, and our son and daughter-in-law share a meal with us every week. Our daughter teaches at California State University, Bakersfield, and we travel to watch her compete in golf tournaments, and she comes to Houston for the holidays. We have spent many years supporting our children in their endeavors, and we are lucky to have their support today."
Andy and Ricci hope that by sharing their experiences, they can help others navigate life with dementia a little more easily. We asked Andy about the advice he would give someone who was recently diagnosed, as well as their family members.
"My advice to care partners — learn as much as you can about the particular type of dementia that your loved one is going through. You'll be better equipped to understand the doctors, the current research and what lies ahead for you and your loved one."
"To other family members — try to understand the disease and don't be afraid to help! Spend time with the one living with the disease so that the care partner can shop and catch up on chores. Maybe offer to help with a dinner once in a while, take the car to get inspected, heck! Anything. This disease can be very lonely for both the care partner and loved one."
"For the one that's been diagnosed — it's challenging, and many are in denial, but there is no better advocate than someone living with a dementia diagnosis to share their journey and challenges with others."
Finally, we asked Andy what he would tell someone who was considering including the Association in their estate plans, as he and Ricci did.
"Only research will lead to the first survivor — and that discovery and research can only happen through awareness, advocacy and action that leads to fundraising. We have brilliant minds, advocates, volunteers and staff all working together to make breakthroughs to find the first survivor. But all of our collective efforts come to a halt without the fuel to drive our cause. The fuel to keep all of us going is your generous donation. So, please join us in this journey."
Interested in this type of gift?
Andy and Ricci Sanchez are making their gift to the Alzheimer's Association via a living trust. You can find more information about what this means at the link below.
Donor spotlight
John Strader
"With the dire necessity to improve the situation for the people that are living with this disease and the people that are caring for them, I decided this is the best place to invest our estate after Lisa and I are gone."
Diane Young
"I want to help the Association continue its work on research, clinical trials and free resources for caregivers. Without money, they can't do those things. That's going to be a part of my legacy to my mom."
Anjanette Kichline
"I'm so proud to be able to honor my father and other family members who lost their fights to Alzheimer's. My dad was an inspiration to me, and I hope, through my gift, I can inspire others to join the fight to end Alzheimer's."
JJ and Tim Jordan
"A world without Alzheimer's is the legacy we would like to leave behind. Hopefully, whatever we end up leaving will help support other families like ours. We would not have survived without the Association. We just never felt alone."
Pat and Dave Krebs
"We want to play an active part in the vision of the Alzheimer's Association — that one day, there will be a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia."
Russ and Katy Wing
"I chose to create a charitable gift annuity to benefit the Alzheimer's Association — a meaningful way to give back while receiving lifetime income. It's a win-win."
Find your local Alzheimer's Association Planned Giving Advisor
Our planned giving team is here to answer questions about including the Alzheimer's Association in a will, trust, beneficiary designations or other legacy planning opportunities.
Contact the planned giving team
Jill Workman
Alzheimer's Association
Senior Director, Planned Giving
Phone: 866.233.5148
Email: plannedgiving@alz.org
The information provided on this website is presented solely as general educational information and is not intended to be a substitute for professional estate planning, financial or legal advice. It is important to consult with a tax, financial and/or legal advisor about your specific situation.