What’s your favorite pastime? Golfing, playing pickleball, playing games, cooking, reading, gardening, playing tennis, biking, hiking? There are so many to choose from! Having a hobby or favorite pastime is important not just for enjoyment, exercise, or socializing, but also for your mental health. The same can be said for the endorphin boost you receive when you make a positive impact on someone’s day or life. Doing good makes you feel good.
What if you combined the two and made your favorite pastime activity a fundraiser to #ENDALZ? You can do just that through Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day campaign, where participants work to outshine the darkness of Alzheimer’s and all other dementia through a fundraising activity of their choice on any day that works for them.
Over the next several months, we will be highlighting ways you can turn a favorite pastime into a fun and charitable event, highlighting some events across the state as inspiration.
This month’s activity highlights an in-home caregiver assistance company that has created an annual community event to give back and honor the families they serve.
FirstLight Home Care of Charlotte has been hosting an annual brewery event since 2021 to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association The Longest Day campaign. Cumulatively, they have raised $11,000 over their last four events. They hope to raise $5,000 at this year’s event on May 13.
“Many of our clients have Alzheimer’s and we know the challenges for the individual and their families,” said Ann Majors, community relations manager at FirstLight Home Care of Charlotte and team lead for this The Longest Day fundraiser. “Our clients are one of the many reasons we wanted to get involved with the Alzheimer’s Association, and we see this as another way to be part of the solution to one day #ENDALZ.”
Ann and the FirstLight owners, Ken and Mary Ellen Fleming, also uses this event as a way to involve other businesses and increase the awareness of the impact of Alzheimer’s and other dementia through sponsorships.
“As we engage with other businesses to be involved in our event, we are casting the net wider, creating more synergy in our community, and informing more people about the resources and support available to them through the Alzheimer’s Association,” says Ann.
FirstLight Home Care of Charlotte collaborates with a local brewery that donates the space, FirstLight covers the cost of the pizza and beer, and all the sponsors involved donate special raffle prizes so that all proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.
Ann shares, “If considering a fundraising event, think about who you are already doing business with, your friends, and use those connections to launch a fundraiser. The people you are already connected to are generally more than willing to help and want to be involved.”
LIKE FIRSTLIGHT HOME CARE, WE ALL HAVE A REASON TO WANT TO OUTSHINE THE DARKNESS OF ALZHEIMER’S. Start planning your own The Longest Day Fundraiser today.
The Longest Day® is the day with the most light — the summer solstice. The Longest Day participants fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s and all other dementia through a fundraising activity of their choice on any day of the year that works for them. With sports tournaments, card games, parties, baking and more, participants raise funds to advance the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association®. Join the fun today!
Alzheimer's Association North Carolina Blog 