As I write this column, the new reports on charitable giving nationwide have just been released. According to Giving USA 2008, the yearbook on philanthropy, charitable giving is estimated to be $306.39 billion in 2007, exceeding $300 billion for the first time in history. And, individual giving, the mainstay of fundraising and giving, reached an estimated $229.03 billion, or 74.8 percent of giving in 2007. Quite phenomenal and speaks to the power of private philanthropy.

At the New York City Chapter we rely upon private support to carry out our mission. And, our friends have been exceedingly supportive and generous. For our FY08 fiscal year (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008) we closed our books at $6.9 Million, representing a 23% increase over FY07. The breakdown is as follows and follows national trends.

This past fiscal year, our foundation and corporate friends helped us to launch several new programs or expand existing ones. Among the most notable: outreach to the Chinese community was made possible by a $150,000 grant from The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc. with additional support of $15,000 from the James N. Jarvie Commonweal Services. Our Dementia Home Care Training Program received a first-time grant of $50,000 from The Altman Foundation to help expand this important service and $50,000 from The New York Community Trust was used to develop this program in Spanish. Ongoing support from our good friends at Forest Laboratories, Inc. helped to sustain and expand our Family Caregiver Workshops, and a new grant from Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc will launch this program in Spanish. Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc. helped us to strengthen our African-American Outreach Program, our care consulting program and other services. The Achelis Foundation’s $50,000 grant is supporting outreach efforts to the Latino community. The Helen Hoffritz Charitable Trust’s first time grant of $25,000 and a $25,000 renewal gift from FJC is supporting our Emergency/ Special Assistance Fund. A first-time grant of $20,000 from the Blanche T. Enders Charitable Trust is supporting our Care Consultation Program. I also wish to acknowledge The Starr Foundation’s longstanding support and most recent $150,000 grant for general operations and the MedicAlert® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return® program. There are many more friends to thank, and will do so in upcoming newsletters.

In the months ahead, I will be focusing on building our major gift program, particularly from individuals. As indicated above, individual giving is the key to ensuring that we have the resources necessary to do our work. And know that if you wish to support the Association, you can direct your gift to research, for general operating support or to a specific Chapter program such as Care Consultation, Early- Stage Services or the 24-hour Helpline.

If you would like more information on becoming a Chapter supporter, please be sure to contact me
at 646-744-2905 or by e-mail at cberne@alz.org. We could not do our work without you. Thank you.

— Carol Berne
Vice President,
Leadership Giving

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