FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   CONTACT:  Caryn Sagal, 410 833-9584

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION TO HOLD
Dancing with the Stars-themed MEMORY BALL
FUNDRAISER, MARCH 24

TIMONIUM, Md.–The Alzheimer’s Association will hold its Annual Memory Ball gala, Saturday, March 24, from 7 p.m. to midnight, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel (700 Aliceanna St.). This year’s event will feature a Dancing with the Stars theme.

Local community, business, sports and entertainment celebrities will compete before a panel of judges.  Dancers include Olympic Ice Skating Gold Medalist Dorothy Hamill, WJZ-TV Anchor Denise Koch and her husband, Jackson Phippin; Meadow Lark and Joe Washington (former Baltimore Colt and Washington Redskin); Bob and Lola Jones, owners of Jones Lighting; Melanie Sabelhaus, philanthropist and former deputy director of the Small Business Administration; Allen Robinson, senior vice president/investments at Smith Barney; Suzi Cordish, chairperson of Maryland Art Place, and Laura Mackey, daughter of former Baltimore Colt John Mackey. John’s wife, Sylvia Mackey, will serve as emcee.

The dancers, who were chosen for their leadership in the community and their support of the Alzheimer’s Association, will take lessons prior to the event, courtesy of John and Barbara Pattillo of Towson Dance Studio; Helmut Licht, a Gold Medal winner from Arthur Murray Dance Studio; Jacqueline Marhefka, a dance instructor at Towson University, and Dorry Segev and Sommer Gentry, owners of Charm City Swing.

At the Memory Ball, the dancers will perform a Latin or ballroom number of their choice. They will vie to win the Judge’s Choice Trophy for best technical skill and the You’re Our Star Trophy for the most money raised. Dancers can earn votes from friends, family and associates online prior to the event and by the audience who will cast their votes at the Ball. Each vote costs one dollar. 

Along with the showcase of local ballroom talent, the black-tie gala will feature a cocktail reception, full-course dinner and live music by Gazze, who will inspire everyone to get out on the dance floor. Also, the Honorable Verna L Jones, State Senator in Maryland’s 44th legislative district, and her family will be honored for their commitment and dedication to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dr. Ellen H. Yankellow, CEO of CorrectRx Pharmacy Services, Inc., and Hannah Keys Rodewald, co-owner of The Pleasure of Your Company, will co-chair the Memory Ball. They expect to exceed last year’s event, which drew 400+ guests and raised over $200,000.

Tickets are $250 per person or $2,500 for a table of 10. Corporate sponsorship packages are also available. Proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association’s many programs and services, as well as raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders which now affect more than 85,000 people in Maryland. For more information, contact 410-561-9099 or www.alzgmd.org.

The Alzheimer’s Association, the world leader in Alzheimer’s research and support, is the first and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer’s. For more than 25 years, the donor-supported, not-for-profit organization has provided reliable information and care consultation; created supportive services for families; increased funding for dementia research, and influenced public policy changes.

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