Alzheimer's Association Receives $1 Million from Dart Foundation for Alzheimer Research

Alzheimer's Association
Thursday, 7 August 2003

Funds to support association's Zenith Fellows research grants program

The Alzheimer's Association has received $1 million from the Dart Foundation to fund Alzheimer's disease research. With this donation, the Dart Foundation becomes a member of the Alzheimer's Association's Zenith Fellows, a premier group of donors to the association's research program.

"We believe research offers the best promise for improving the health and lives of the millions of people directly and indirectly affected by Alzheimer's disease," said Dart Foundation Vice President Jim Lammers. "Over time, more and more of us will be touched by Alzheimer's disease. We are supporting the Alzheimer's Association's Zenith Awards Program because it identifies and supports researchers who are likely to make significant, positive contributions in the coming years."

The Zenith Awards provide grants to investigators who have contributed significantly to the field of Alzheimer's disease research or made significant contributions to other areas of science, and who are now beginning to focus more directly on problems related to Alzheimer's disease and are likely to make substantial contributions in the future.

The Alzheimer's Association initiated the Zenith Fellows award in 1991 to provide a vehicle for research support for donors with a substantial personal commitment to the advancement of Alzheimer's disease research. The awards are made possible by the generosity of a group of individuals and organizations that have each committed $1 million to the Alzheimer's Association in support of the program.

"In 2011 – less than ten years from now – 76 million baby boomers will start to turn 65. Ten percent of those 65 and older have Alzheimer's disease, and the risk increases as we age," said Sheldon Goldberg, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "We are grateful to the Dart Foundation for helping the association fund vital research into the causes, prevention, treatment, and cure of Alzheimer's disease."

The Dart Foundation is a privately funded organization that is committed to supporting public purposes. The Dart Foundation makes grants to 501[c][3] entities such as schools, hospitals, churches, government and publicly supported charities and their affiliates. The Dart Foundation does not make grants to individuals. Historically, it has been, and remains, the Dart Foundation's preference to make grants in support of education (primarily math, science and engineering), and youth programs. The Dart Foundation has also provided support in the following areas: health; the visual arts; a wide variety of community services/programs; disaster/emergency relief; environment; museums; performing arts; and public policy.

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