A roundup of events and information from nonprofits in Fort Worth and surrounding areas that raise money for worthy causes.
You may want to mark your calendars for these coming events:
The Alzheimer’s Association-North Central Texas Chapter’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held Oct. 28 at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth.
The walk is 3.1 miles with a 1-mile turnaround option. Attendees can learn about Alzheimer’s disease, advocacy opportunities, clinical studies enrollment and support programs and services from the Alzheimer’s Association. Walk participants will also join in a promise garden tribute ceremony to honor those affected by the disease.
Drew Weesner, walk manager for the Alzheimer’s Association-North Central Texas Chapter, says the event is “a fantastic place to not only raise funds and awareness for our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s, but is also a wonderful opportunity to experience a community coming together to support each other in the Alzheimer’s journey.”
It also is the 25th anniversary of the walk. Attendees can stay for a family picnic and other activities.
More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only disease among the top 10 causes that cannot be cured, prevented or even slowed. More than 15 million relatives and friends provide care to people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the United States. In Texas alone, there are more than 350,000 people living with the disease and more than 1.3 million caregivers.
Register, sign up as a team captain, join a team, or register to walk as an individual at alz.org/walk.
BOOBIEQUE2 FUNDRAISER
BATTLES BEAST CANCER
Fighting Right, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness for women’s issues, is against staging the BoobieQue fundraiser at Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. on Oct. 29, noon to 4 p.m., with Heim Barbeque and Catering.
The first BoobieQue event was born from the desire of Dr. Emily McLaughlin, a local plastic surgeon, to give back after discovering she had breast cancer in May 2016. That June, she underwent double mastectomy with reconstruction.
“I was always an advocate for my patients in their breast cancer journey. Imagine my surprise when I was the one taking the journey,” McLaughlin said in a news release. “Eyes wide open … there is so much to be done for so many.”
The first event raised $85,000, which was distributed between Cancer Care Services in Fort Worth and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
The event is family friendly in an indoor-outdoor venue.
Advance tickets are $75, which includes a Heim barbeque plate and Rahr beer. Tickets at the door are $85, or $10 for children under 12.
The Texas Health Resources Mobile Mammogram unit will be on site and a select number of women who arrange appointments in advance will get free admission.
For more information and sponsorships: boobieque.org
‘GREATEST GIFT CATALOG’
CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
Ten years ago, a local entrepreneur had a “crazy” idea. Philanthropist Elliot Goldman wanted to create an annual holiday catalog, modeled after the stacks of sales catalogs in his mailbox each day, but featuring the work of the city’s best-run charitable organizations. He was greeted with a fair bit of skepticism.
His brainchild, The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever, has become one of Fort Worth’s philanthropic success stories with an estimated $11 million in charitable impact. It also provides a platform to highlight the works 32 area nonprofits.
The effort is managed by an advisory board from The National Leadership Foundation, a national nonprofit, and 100 percent of donations received through the catalog are distributed to participating organizations.
“When I started this effort, I set a goal of raising $50,000 a year for local agencies,” Goldman said. “Last year alone, we brought in $600,000 through the catalog, and that doesn’t even factor donations that go directly to an organization because of the exposure they receive. It is incredibly rewarding to think about the impact this has had on important agencies that support this community.”
To date, catalog donations total more than $1.2 million.
“The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever not only assists in fundraising for this city’s outstanding nonprofits, it promotes their organizations through radio, television, outdoor advertising and print media. The catalog showcases ‘the best of the best’ in our community,” said Larry Anfin, local philanthropist and community leader.
The 2017 Greatest Gift Catalog Ever will be released on Nov. 2 at the annual “Hats off to Helping” launch party. This year’s catalog will feature 21 local organizations.
FUN RUN RAISING FUNDS
TO FIGHT TRAFFICKING
UnBound, whose mission is to fight human trafficking through prevention, professional training and survivor advocacy, is hosting a Light Up the Dark community awareness and fundraiser run on the evening of Oct. 14.
The Light Up the Dark 5k 2017 run and festivities will be held at Frog Alley on the campus of Texas Christian university. The Horned Frogs play Kansas State at Manhattan, Kansas, on that date.
The race is for everyone from slow walkers to professional runners. And strollers are welcome. Participants may gather at Frog Alley before the run for face paint, glow gear, bounce houses, lawn games, music and more, and hang out afterward for a free concert, food trucks and Steel City Pops. Hip hop artist Ryan Thomas will entertain.
Advance registration is encouraged, but participants can sign up on race day from 5-6:15 p.m. The price is $30. The 5k starts at 7:30 p.m.
For more information or to register, volunteer or donate, go to unboundnow.org/5k