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Black Stone Steppers Team is Largest Fundraiser for 2009 Alzheimer’s Memory Walk
Local Home Care Agency Gets Active to Help Combat Alzheimer’s Disease
Cincinnati, OH – September 23, 2009 – The Black Stone family of care services, a leading provider of in-home caregiving services, today announced that its 2009 Alzheimer’s Memory Walk team was the largest fundraiser for this year’s event.
On September 12, 2009 teams gathered at the Wetherington Golf & Country Club in West Chester, OH for the Butler and Warren Counties’ 2009 Alzheimer’s Memory Walk. The Black Stone family of care services was there with their team, “The Black Stone Steppers.” As the largest team fundraiser, Black Stone was able to present an official donation check during the opening ceremonies at the walk.
Additionally, Black Stone had the third largest individual fundraiser, Billie Agnone. When asked about her motivation, Agnone responded, “I am very passionate about keeping the elderly in their homes. I work every day with families and clients that need our help and see firsthand the debilitation Alzheimer’s brings on to family relationships. I always want to do more and I felt like raising money and participating in this year’s Memory Walk was something I could do on a personal level. It is really important to me to help raise funds, awareness, education, which will help find a cure and bring and end to Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s has many stages and it's very hard to watch my client’s family suffer the repeated losses as their loved one’s condition progresses.”
Agnone continued, “I set a personal goal to be at the top of the fundraising ladder. I knew I had to get creative with my fundraising. In addition to asking everyone I knew to donate, I sent emails, mailed letters and used social networking sites. I also instituted some fun programs at Black Stone for the staff. For example we did $2 casual Fridays where people would donate $2 so they could dress casual, we held bake sales, sold Forget-me-nots as well as raffle tickets for a 50/50 raffle. Whatever I could do to raise money and awareness, I did.”
The 2009 Alzheimer’s Memory Walk is a multi-day event, held in different locations around the nation. The Alzheimer’s Association expects over 200,000 people will walk this year, nationwide.
Black Stone founder, David Tramontana added, “I am so proud of my team and what they have accomplished for this year’s Memory Walk. At our agency I encourage people to lead by example and this is one of the best examples I have seen. Our staff is so passionate about issues affecting the elderly and want to do everything they can to better the lives of our clients’ and their families. For my staff to donate their personal time and money for such a great cause is one of the greatest rewards I can reap.”
For more information or photos of the event, please contact Amy Chilla at amy.chilla@corecubed.com or 949-218-0312.
About the Black Stone Family of Care Services
Since 1996, the Black Stone Family of Care Services has been serving any in-home care need of the frail elderly and disabled through a variety of funding sources and programs. In fact, Black Stone is the leading provider of non-medical services in Southwest Ohio. Black Stone provides families with the peace of mind that comes from expert and compassionate care in the comfort of home. Services provided range from non-medical to nursing and include meal preparation, grocery shopping, respite and personal care, medication reminders, OT, PT, and geriatric care management. With reliable and knowledgeable caregivers who have been extensively screened, the Black Stone Family of Care Services can provide care to fit any need at any time.
For more information, visit www.blackstonehc.com or call 513-891-1127.