MHM & MHS Announce $1 million fundraising goal for 2023 Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries & Dan Miller, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare to Co-Chair Annual Walk and raise money for research.
San Antonio (Jun. 26, 2023) – The Alzheimer’s Association of San Antonio and South Texas proudly announced that Jamie Wesolowski and Dan Miller will serve as co-chairs for the 2023 San Antonio Walk to End Alzheimer’s®. The annual event will take place at Fiesta Texas, Saturday, October 21, 2023. The two organizations have set a goal of raising $1 million dollars for this year’s Walk. Currently the San Antonio Walk to End Alzheimer’s is in the Top 30 out of over 620 Walks nationwide. This year’s goal is to be in the Top 10.
In addition to the fundraising goal, Methodist Healthcare Ministries and Methodist Healthcare Ministries have jointly agreed to be the Walk’s Presenting sponsor and donating $150,000, which is the largest sponsorship in the Walk’s history nationwide.
“Together with Methodist Healthcare, we are proud to have jointly sponsored this event and the Alzheimer’s Association – San Antonio for many years and it’s a great way to combine our efforts for such a worthy cause,” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “The inspiration and strength our team members receive from their family, friends and colleagues who have been touched by this disease, really powers us forward.”
“Methodist Healthcare System is committed to not only raising money to find a cure for this devastating disease, but also working together with our doctors and staff to educate our community about the signs and symptoms and resources the Alzheimer's Association has to offer,” added Dan Miller, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare System. “No one should fight this disease alone.”
Two special guests, Sean Elliott and Claudia Zapata-Elliott, MS, RD, who have served as community brand ambassadors for Methodist Healthcare since 2018, were on hand to speak about their personal connection to this disease.
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs. The San Antonio Walk has over 5,000 attendees annually and it brings together all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias throughout Bexar County and the surrounding community.
“We are honored and beyond thrilled to have not one but two incredible leaders in these key roles for the San Antonio Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” said Gregory Sciuto, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association San Antonio and South Texas Chapter. “Methodist Healthcare and Methodist Healthcare Ministries have been key partners for over 5 years and their unmistakable commitment is evident being a presenting Sponsor, having system wide Walk Teams and most importantly working with us to educate their staff and patients about Alzheimer’s and all Dementias and making sure they can access our resources.”
On Walk Day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people’s connection to Alzheimer’s — their personal reasons to end the disease.
Currently the San Antonio Walk to End Alzheimer’s is in the Top 30 out of over 640 Walks nationwide. This year’s goal is to be in the Top 10. More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Texas alone, more than 400,000 Texans are living with the disease and over 1,000,000 caregivers.
To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit: alz.org/walk.
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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries broadens the definition of healthcare by providing low-cost clinical care for the uninsured and by supporting community-led efforts that improve living conditions that cause people to be sick in the first place. We use our earnings as co-owners of Methodist Healthcare to ensure that people who are economically disadvantaged and uninsured can live their healthiest lives. We do this by advocating for, investing in and providing access to quality clinical care and addressing factors that affect health—including economic mobility, supportive relationships, food security, broadband access, and safe neighborhoods. Ultimately, we fulfill our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God” by advancing health equity so that more resilient individuals & families living in the 74 counties we serve can thrive.
About Methodist Healthcare
Methodist Healthcare is a 50-50 co-ownership between Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., South Texas’ largest non-public funding source of community health care for uninsured patients; and HCA Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of healthcare services. This creates a unique partnership that ensures Methodist Healthcare Ministries continues to benefit the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. Methodist Healthcare invested $756 million in charity and indigent care to the community in 2020 alone. With 30 facilities, including nine hospitals and eight freestanding emergency departments, over 685,000 inpatients and outpatients are served annually. The Methodist Healthcare team is comprised of 12,500, making the system the second largest private employer in San Antonio. With more than 3,400 credentialed physicians, Methodist Healthcare provides the largest array of medical services in the region, including neurosurgery, cardiovascular services, oncology and women’s services. And with 25 surgical robots, Methodist Healthcare is a national leader in robotic surgery, as well as home to the nation’s largest Live Donor Kidney Transplant program. Visit SAHealth.com to learn more.
Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer's Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to 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. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.