AWARE, a charitable entity dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s disease in Dallas and the greater North Texas area, recognized two community leaders with awards at a fundraising gala on April 8.
Dr. Cindy Marshall received the Amy Osler Spirit of Education Leadership Award and Myrna Schlegel was honored with the Founder’s Spirit Award at the 2022 Soaring to New Heights Fighting Alzheimer’s event.
Dr. Marshall is the founder and medical director of the Baylor AT&T Memory Center and has a special interest in treatment of the memory, mood and behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease. She is the co-author of The Common Sense Guide to Dementia for Clinicians and Caregivers, and has an additional book chapter in press.
Myrna Schlegel, R.N., L.L.D., is a registered nurse, past president of AWARE and past board member of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Dallas Chapter, National Alzheimer’s Association, and the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute. Recognizing Myrna’s passion for nursing and elder care, AWARE established the Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Award Fund in 1999 in her honor. These scholarships have enabled students specializing in dementia care to pursue their studies with financial support from the Schlegel Fund.
The fund has grown to close a half a million dollars. Schlegel’s dream is to keep growing this fund to an endowment so more students throughout North Texas can benefit. AWARE Dallas partners with Myrna Schlegel on the fund. The Myrna D. Schlegel Scholarship Award is given to nursing students from Baylor, Texas Woman’s University and Texas Christian University to further their studies in the field of gerontology, especially dementia.
Mari Epperson and Sharon Ballew chaired the Soaring to New Heights Fighting Alzheimer’s gala, and William C. Seanor served as presenting sponsor. The event was held at Star Skyline Hangar at the Braniff Centre and included a cocktail reception, live and silent auctions, a seated three course-dinner and entertainment.
Honorary chairs were Lee Roy and Biddie Jordan. Honorary chairs emeriti were Sally and Forrest Hoglund, Kim and David McDavid, Jr., Ellen Terry with her daughter, Amy Terry Kriegel and son, Todd Terry. Media sponsors were Modern Luxury Dallas and Senior Resource Guide.
AWARE provides funding and support to programs, projects, and research provided by nonprofit organizations that actively helps individuals affected by Alzheimer’s. It is a component fund of The Dallas Foundation. In partnership with the Foundation, AWARE conducts an annual grant review process.
The 2021-2022 Grant Recipients are:
Baylor Scott & White Foundation, CASA DE VIDA, Center for Brain Health at UT Dallas, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, Dallas Museum of Art, Educare, For Love and Art, Jewish Family Service, Juliette Fowler Communities, Plano Symphony Orchestra, Stomping Ground Comedy, The Senior Source, Texas Health Resources, Texas Winds Musical Outreach, The Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas Foundation for the Callier Center, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Visiting Nurses Association of Texas, Wilshire Baptist Church, and the Myrna D. Schlegel AWARE Scholarship Fund.
