It hopes to raise 100,000 by the end of June
A campaign to help the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County is upping the ante.
It hopes to raise $100,000 in this year's Caregiver Matching Gift Campaign by the end of June.
Ground Effects Ltd. CEO Jim Scott is helping to motivate donors by matching donations up to a total of $50,000.
In fact, he already donated his $50,000 share on Monday.
"I seen my mom forget our names over the course of the last ten years of her life," he says. "The lady I spoke of at Sunrise, she told me the exact same story twice a day for ten months. Every day had no idea she met me before."
Scott says with all the changes by the Ontario government, it is becoming more difficult for small businesses to find disposable income to donate to charities.
He fears charities, like the Alzheimer Society, won't be able to afford operating programs without community support.
Ground Effects Ltd CEO Jim Scott. April 2018 (Photo by AM800's Teresinha Medeiros)
Alzheimer Society CEO Sally Bennett-Olczak says the money raised stays local to help with its day program.
"All six days are at capacity, we are looking at expanding to a Sunday program and we are entertaining dialogue with many community partners in terms of opening a second day program site here in the community."
Last year, the campaign raised $52,000.
To donate, people can visit the Alzheimer Society website at http://alzheimer.ca/en/windsoressex
Bennett-Olczak says there are 7,400 people in Windsor-Essex with dementia and the numbers continue to rise 4%-5% per year.