Alzheimer's Association to Benefit from Creative Memories'® Limited Edition Photo Albums

Alzheimer's Association
Monday, 31 March 2003

The second annual Time for Triumph campaign highlights the importance of preserving family photos for people with Alzheimer's disease

The Alzheimer's Association and Creative Memories® have once again joined forces to help people with Alzheimer's disease triumph over memory loss. Throughout April and May, proceeds from Creative Memories'® Triumph photo albums will benefit the association. This is part of the second annual Time for Triumph campaign. Funds raised will help the Alzheimer's Association advance research and provide quality care and support for the 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease, and nearly 20 million family members who are affected by its devastation.

Creative Memories®, an international direct selling company that produces scrapbooks and offers techniques for organizing and preserving photographs in keepsake albums, is credited by many with igniting the spark in the popular scrapbooking industry. More than 70,000 independent sales consultants teach the art of scrapbooking throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Japan, and Germany.

During the 2002 campaign, Creative Memories® Consultants raised $526,532 for the Alzheimer's Association through sales of the Triumph Album and raised an additional $250,000 through nationwide pledges for the Alzheimer's Association's 2002 Memory Walks.

Alzheimer's slowly robs people of their memories and their personalities, causing them, and their loved ones, a great deal of frustration and sadness. Working on a photo album filled with pictures of family, friends and familiar places while a person is in the early stages of the disease can be a therapeutic and comforting experience. A person with Alzheimer's disease may not remember what they had for breakfast, but can recall details about a special occasion when shown a photo taken many years ago.

"Families often express how their loved ones with Alzheimer's disease appear to be comforted when looking at family photos," said Jennie Ward Robinson, director, medical and scientific affairs for the Alzheimer's Association. "Preserving family photos in keepsake albums for people with Alzheimer's disease reinforces their memories of the past and helps them stay connected with the present."

"Creative Memories® is a committed partner in the fight against Alzheimer's disease," said Ron Champagne, vice president, development for the Alzheimer's Association. "Their support through the hard work of thousands of sales consultants across the globe is making a difference in the lives of millions of people affected by this dreadful disease. Not only have Creative Memories® developed the Time for Triumph campaign, they are also a corporate sponsor for the 2003 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, our signature fundraising event."

"It has been said, 'We do not know the true value of moments until they have undergone the test of memory,'"said Rhonda Anderson, Creative Memories® co-founder. "There's a natural and powerful connection between our mission and that of the Alzheimer's Association. Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to provide support for those with the disease and to fund research to find a cure."

To find out more about the Time for Triumph photo albums, log on to http://www.creativememories.com/whatsnewcoll.asp?SN=wn619369. For information about the Alzheimer's Association, call 800.272.3900.

The Alzheimer's Association is the premier source of information and support for the 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Through its national network of chapters, the association offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the disease, their families and caregivers and represents their interests on Alzheimer-related issues before federal, state and local government and with health and long-term care providers. The largest private funder of Alzheimer research in the United States, the association has committed $136 million toward research into the disease.

For more information, or to contact Alzheimer's Association, see their website at: www.alz.org