BvB Dallas - Tackling Alzheimer's Since 2008 by Melissa Woodring

Last month in honor of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, I submitted a piece to the Shift Digital internal company newsletter about my participation in an organization called BvB Dallas. As we prepare for our main fundraising event of the season, which will be held on August 7, 2021, I thought I would take the time to shed even more light on the organization’s vision, support, efforts, and mission.

“BvB Dallas is a non-profit organization that brings young professionals together to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s disease research and support organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Founded in 2008 by a group of young professional women, BvB Dallas was created to honor and remember loved ones who have suffered from Alzheimer’s and related diseases. Each year the organization hosts a variety of fundraising and educational events as a way for Dallas philanthropists to help eradicate this grave disease, culminating in its flagship event – a flag football game between Blue Crew & Pink Team.”

So far, BvB Dallas has been able to raise $5.2 million dollars for Alzheimer’s research and care in North Texas over the past 13 years. The organization does this through various group events as well as personal fundraisers that are held by individual members of each flag football team. Some examples include:

• Annual Birdies for BvB Charity Golf Tournament
• Super Bowling with BvB
• Season “Kick-Off” Party
• BvB Block Party
• BvB Talent Show and Auction
• Social Networking Events
• Personal Participant Fundraisers
• Educational Events
• Volunteer opportunities
• Giveback Shopping Events
• Words with Friends Tournament
• Virtual Happy Hours & Trivia

While our events have been successful over the years, we must keep going. Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, and about five million Americans live with the disease today. In fact, someone develops this disease every 66 seconds in the United States, and it also kills more people than breast and prostate cancer combined. Alzheimer’s cost the nation over $236 billion in 2016 alone and we are still searching for a cure. Your donation to BvB Dallas will go directly to those living with Alzheimer’s, and those fighting to find a cure. BvB Dallas specifically partners with various beneficiaries in the North Dallas area who will benefit from your donation.

The 5 DFW beneficiaries that BvB Dallas is partnering with this year are:

• UT Southwestern Medical Center
• The Senior Source
• Alzheimer’s Association – The Brains Behind Saving Yours
• Center for Brain Health – The University of Texas at Dallas
• Juliette Fowler Communities

As mentioned above, our flagship event is coming up on August 7 and will be played in the historic Cotton Bowl stadium. Both flag football teams practice for ten weeks during the summer in order to prepare for this one game, all while competing to see who can raise the most money for our beneficiaries, supporting volunteer opportunities, hosting educational events, and connecting together over this cause while fundraising. Two Teams, One Dream!

This year will be my fifth year supporting the organization in general and my third year officially playing in the flagship fundraising football event, as I was a team member during 2017 and 2018, however, only donated from afar during 2019 and 2020. I’m pretty excited to be back out practicing and can’t wait to take the field on game day!

Ever since learning about BvB Dallas and the cause to raise money for Alzheimer’s, I knew that it was an organization I was meant to join. On top of hearing stories from those close to me regarding how terrible this disease can be for both those experiencing it, as well as their family members, I also always felt a personal connection to it.

With that said, no, I don’t currently have any family members dealing with this disease, nor have I in the past and I am very thankful for that. However, I grew up and was raised by two of the best grandparents in this world. The thought that this disease could attack them at any given moment, has made me want to be more aware of the signs, symptoms, studies, research, and treatment options that exist now and are being worked on for the future.

I also believe that participating in the educational seminars and volunteer events have taught me information that could come in handy for detecting issues that may lead to early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as provided me with the patience and research skills necessary to deal with other mental illnesses that may be affecting family and friends that I know. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are major public health issues that I’m grateful to be more informed on because I am a part of BvB Dallas.

The organization’s fundraising goal this year is to raise between $350,000-$500,000. Each player also must raise $1250 to be “Game Day Eligible.” While I have already thankfully hit my GDE goal, I am now aiming to raise $3000 which would make me a “Star Club Team Member.”

If you’d like to help contribute, please do so by visiting my personal BvB Donation page and ensuring that Team Pink and my name “Melissa Woodring,” are both selected.

You can either make a $25 “Game Day Admission” donation by clicking “Donate & Tickets” and selecting how many tickets you want, or you can donate any amount by clicking “No thanks, I’d just like to donate” at the bottom of the “Donate & Tickets” page.

Please remember, Alzheimer’s is the only leading cause of death that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed. A small donation can go a long way towards helping us TACKLE ALZHEIMER’S with BvB Dallas.

Looking to get involved on a local level? Visit the Alzheimer’s Association website (alz.org) and filter to your local chapter.

“The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support, and research.” Its mission is to “lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.” Alzheimer’s Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.