Dance and Dine to Benefit Alzheimer’s

Hope, passion and inspiration was in the air as dancer came together at the Third Annual Dance to Benefit Alzheimer’s on Sept. 5 at the Baldwin Center in Stratford.  Each year, members from Laurel Ridge Health Care Center and its sister communities, Northbridge and Maefair Health Care, share in an evening of celebration to support the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association by raising much needed funds for research and support of those living with memory loss. 

People came from all over the area to share in the festivities, which included an extensive buffet of gourmet foods and decadent desserts, live dance music from The Signature Band, and over 45 spectacular silent auction prizes, including box tickets to the United States women's basketball national team exhibition game against the Canadian national team on September 15 at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport.  In addition, the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Orange, CT performed  some of its exclusive dances and offering free dance lessons to attendees led by some of their professional dance instructors.   

Lisa Luis, Director of Social Work at Northbridge, spoke of the intimate struggles of caregiving and read a poignant poem written by someone with early-onset of Alzheimer’s to shed understanding into this horrible disease.  Tania Paparazzo, Director of the Southwestern CT Region of the Alzheimer’s Association, spoke about support resources available through the Association and urged attendees to join the upcoming “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” at Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk, on Sun., Sept. 28, with registration at 9 AM.  Bonnie Leavy-Mello, of Laurel Ridge, stated, “This dance gets better and better each year and we want to thank Denise Loeb and her planning team,  the many generous people who attended the fundraiser, and the business community for contributing the wonderful auction items.  We are proud of the accomplishments of the local CT Chapter and will continue to support their mission of hope.”  All proceeds from the dance went to support the CT Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Laurel Ridge, Northbridge and Maefair, all skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers managed by Athena Health Care Systems, are the major food sponsors for the Norwalk Walk for the fifth year in a row.  Pictured here is Bonnie Leavy-Mello of Laurel Ridge, Requelinda Dos Santos, Lisa Luis, Denise Loeb, Stephanie Moura, all of Northbridge, with Tania Paparazzo of the Alzheimer’s Association. 

More about Athena communities can be found at http://athenahealthcare.com/.   The Alzheimer’s Association can be contacted by calling 800-272-3900 or go to www.alz.org for more information.

Athena Health Care Systems, based in Connecticut, has been a leader in providing quality health care services since 1984. With nursing homes throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Athena has been recognized as one of the largest managers of skilled nursing facilities.  Laurel Ridge is located at 642 Danbury Road (Rte. 7) in Ridgefield, CT.  Northbridge is in Bridgeport, CT and Maefair is located in Trumbull, CT.