At age 72, Jeanine Pelletier became increasingly forgetful, and her family insisted she visit a neurologist. When she was tested in May 2007, the diagnosis was Alzheimer's disease.

"I was stunned by the results of my mom's diagnostic testing. This was so new to us; no one in our family had the disease," says Lisa Pelletier-Fekete, the youngest of Jeanine's three daughters. "Alzheimer's is a diagnosis that's very difficult to accept — you almost don't want to say the word out loud. But the Alzheimer's Association helped us to see we're not alone and there are so many people in this position."

Jeanine's husband, Gerald, started Modern Woodcrafts, a nationwide provider of interior woodworking and design for high-end retail stores, in his basement. From humble beginnings, the Connecticut-based company grew to 70 employees. In 2000, the success of the business prompted Gerald to start the Pelletier Family Foundation to support a variety of causes, including health care and disease research initiatives.

"My father has always been very generous to his family, friends and employees. He started the foundation so that he could strategically help those in need," Lisa says. "He gave me and my sisters, Louise and Lynn, the opportunity to select philanthropic opportunities. At first we made several small gifts to nonprofits, but eventually we decided we wanted to make a larger impact. After our mom's diagnosis, we knew we wanted to direct our giving to Alzheimer's disease research."

Jeanine's Alzheimer's disease diagnosis forever changed the Pelletier family.

"We want to contribute to finding a cure so this disease will not impact future generations," Lisa says.