Dear Friends,

If you asked ten average citizens, “Who do you think is most affected by Alzheimer’s disease?” the answer would probably be unanimous: older Americans.

That’s precisely what I thought when I took this job five years ago. But that misperception was quickly dispelled at my first Memory Walk. On that crisp, autumn day in Riverside Park, there were thousands of New Yorkers, but it was not a sea of gray as I expected. Instead, we were joined by people of all ages walking to honor their family members and friends and to raise money and awareness.

I learned an important lesson that day: Alzheimer’s impacts all of us — from young children whose “Sandwich Generation” parents are stretched caring for their grandparents to Baby Boomers whose retirement jobs will consist of caring for aging parents with Alzheimer’s. I met lots of those we now call the “worried well,” concerned and anxious about their own health and I met many folks in their 20s and 30s, already worrying about the impact of Alzheimer’s on their families and communities.

The experience reminded me that Alzheimer’s is a very cruel disease — robbing people who are ill of their past and their families of the present. By the end of the day, I was convinced that we must rely on the next generation, those in their 20s and 30s, to take action for the future.

The good news is that the New York City Chapter has a robust and dedicated Junior Committee of young professionals. The Committee’s energetic and creative members have taken up the cause with real dedication. They are our hope for a better future.

In the years to come, we will rely on them to ensure that critical services are available as the disease explodes exponentially over the next 50 years. They will become our advocates — making sure that our nation’s health care system does not collapse under the weight of the coming crisis. And they will take our agenda to foundations, corporations, private philanthropists and elected officials. It is the Next Generation’s voice and ideals that will secure the necessary resources to fund our critical needs.

And what lies ahead for them? The Next Generation of Alzheimer’s supporters will live in increasingly challenging times, facing an economy and an international political climate that will bring unprecedented challenges. We hope that they have learned both from our successes and our failures — and that their future holds great opportunity and promise. And we thank them with all our hearts for their perseverance.

Soon, 2008 will depart as an old, bearded man, worn and weary of the long difficult year.

And like our Next Generation of supporters, the New Year will arrive young and eager, ready to take on the world with the necessary energy and commitment that the challenges of our future will demand.

On behalf of everyone at the Chapter, I wish you peace, prosperity and joy this holiday season and throughout the year.

— Lou-Ellen Barkan President & CEO

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