Join other influential community and business leaders and enjoy a wonderful event that raises critical funds for Alzheimer’s support, education, advocacy and research initiatives.
Enjoy an elegant, black-tie optional evening at The Westin Charlotte in Uptown. The night will feature a welcome reception, seated dinner, powerful mission moments, silent and live auctions, dancing, and live entertainment.
CHARLOTTE MEMORY GALA
Saturday, May 3, 2025
6:00-11:00 p.m.
The Westin Charlotte
Introducing the 2025 Award of Excellence Honorees – McKee Homes: Pat McKee and Julie Russo
Pat McKee and Julie Russo of McKee Homes have been named this year’s Award of Excellence Honorees for their unwavering dedication to Alzheimer’s research, risk reduction, early detection, education, and quality care. Their commitment spans over a decade and is deeply personal, honoring Pat’s father, Joe McKee, who battled Alzheimer’s for ten years before passing away in 2010.
In memory of Joe, Pat and his brother Mike founded McKee Homes to fulfill their father’s dream of becoming a professional home builder, a dream cut short by Alzheimer’s. They established the Joe McKee Memorial Alzheimer’s Fund, donating a portion of every home sale to support the cause. The vision of a world without Alzheimer’s is central to McKee Homes, and the program partners with the Alzheimer’s Association.
Pat and Julie’s impact extends beyond financial contributions. They are pillars in their communities, including Fayetteville, Raleigh, Wilmington, Jacksonville, and Southern Pines. They even initiated the Walk to End Alzheimer’s event in Fayetteville in 2011, and Julie has been a steadfast volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association, serving as an advocate, community educator, team captain, and committee member for over the last ten years.
“As a family-owned business, we believe in doing the right thing for our customers, trade partners, employees, and community,” says Pat McKee. “Our collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association is more than a corporate partnership; it’s a passion that drives everything we do. We are committed to supporting the Association’s vital work in finding a cure and helping those impacted by this devastating disease. Together, we strive for a future where Alzheimer’s no longer steals dreams and memories, as it did with my dad.”
Pat and Julie aim to raise and donate a cumulative total of $1,000,000 in the next few years. In 2024 alone, McKee Homes raised and donated over $100,000 through their five dedicated Walk to End Alzheimer’s teams. Their passion inspires the entire company to rally around the cause, putting their mission into action to fight for a world without Alzheimer’s.
Visit CharlotteMemoryGala.org for patron opportunities, including reservations for tables (ten guests). Individual tickets will go on sale March 1, as space allows.
Special Pricing for Young Professionals (YPs): A limited number of tickets/tables are available at a young professional rate for individuals 35 years or younger. The deadline in which to secure YP seating is February 28, 2025. Please contact Katherine Lambert – klambert@alz.org or (980) 498-7730 for details.
For more information on patron opportunities, tables and tickets, contact:
Katherine Lambert | klambert@alz.org | (980) 498-7730
We invite you to join our Charlotte Memory Gala Facebook Group to stay informed on updates and plans for the event.
Alzheimer's Association North Carolina Blog 