The Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation is known for using music and dance therapy to help patients.
On Nov. 1, the foundation, based in Port Washington, continued mixing things up, hosting its inaugural Making Memories: Cocktails & Casino Night, which raised over $80,000 with 200 people attending.
“It was such a wonderful event and the casino committee picked to run the night did an amazing job,” said Christine Rice, the foundation’s community outreach and events coordinator. “Everyone had a ton of fun.”
Because the foundation doesn’t conduct Alzheimer’s research, all of the funds raised help run programs for Alzheimer’s patients, Rice said.
The foundation uses music in its therapy, because the area of the brain affiliated with music is usually the last section affected by the disease, which allows people to remember and enjoys songs from when they were younger, Rice said.
“For a lot of people, especially the older generation, music was a big thing back then,” Rice said. “They danced a lot, they sang a lot and it reminds them of their children and wedding days. Music means a lot to them and we like to help them enjoy it.”
Rice said music enables people to be communicative and once you put music on, “it’s amazing how people react.”
The Casino Night in Farmingdale was one of three fundraisers the foundation held this year, including a golf outing in June and a women’s luncheon and fashion show in April.
“These events really help us out,” Rice said. “Every penny we raise goes to keeping programs going for people to enjoy.”
Dr. Gary L. Bernardini, a neurologist, was honored at the fundraiser with the Outstanding Physician award, and Peter Klein was honored with the foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Achievement award.
“LIAF is an outstanding and unique organization in providing care of patients with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones from early diagnosis to the end of the disease,” Bernardini said in a news release. “We are all affected by this devastating disease. Through the efforts of LIAF, families can get the support they need.”
