Bankers Life Raises $130,000 for Alzhemeimer’s Chicago

“Forget Me Not Days,” the annual street corner fundraiser of Bankers Life and Casualty Company, has raised more than $130,000 for local chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“This is the fourth year of the event and sets new records in fundraising, number of cities participating and number of volunteers,” said Scott Perry, chief operating officer of the Chicago-based Bankers, which created and sponsors the event.

Over 1,000 volunteers collected at locations in 77 cities on May 19 and 20. “The best thing about the event is that 100 percent of the proceeds fund local Alzheimer’s Association chapter programs and services,” said Perry. “As a mature market-focused company, it’s an issue that not only impacts the people in our marketplace but our policyholders as well.”

Contributors were thanked for their donations with packets of Forget-Me- Not seeds, the official flower of the Alzheimer’s Association. Organizers said more than 100,000 seed packets were exchanged for donations. Volunteers hope the seeds will be planted in honor of the 4.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.

“The Forget Me Not Days event not only raises money, but also heightens the public’s awareness of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Gordon Lavigne, interim vice president of Development of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Both are important to helping us fund programs and services that improve care for those with Alzheimer’s. Most importantly, it gives hope not only to those with the disease but the 20 million or so Americans who care for them.”

In addition to the money donated from the fundraiser, Bankers contributed $75,000 to help the Alzheimer’s Association on a national level. The donation is part of an annual giving effort made on behalf of Bankers’ employees in conjunction with the Forget Me Not Days fundraiser.

Bankers is a subsidiary of Conseco, Inc. and focuses exclusively on the insurance needs of seniors by offering a broad portfolio of health and life insurance and retirement savings products designed especially for seniors.

Source: Bankers Life and Casualty Company