Fat Tuesday with MAM and the Alzheimer’s Association of WI

The Alzhiemer’s Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, a leading volunteer organzation in Alzhiemer’s care and research, hosted a Mardi Gras themed gala/fundraiser at the Milwaukee Art Museum on Fat Tuesday, with creole-inspired fare and entertainment throughout the evening.

The main events included a silent auction in the Baumgartner Galleria as well as a live auction in Windhover Hall. A night with actor, filmmaker, and host of ThirdCoast Digest’s Backstage podcasts, Mark Metcalf, was one of the auction items. A longtime advocate for Alzheimer’s research and awareness, Metcalf was also a guest speaker at the event.

Tom Hlavacek, Executive Director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, embarked on a somber but aggressive talk delineating the strategy of the organization in the face of greater need for research and outreach.

One unique element of the night was the live auction was interrupted with a call to arms in the Hispanic community, which according to statistics, is 6 times more likely to contract Alzheimer’s Disease, and 7 years sooner. The audience zealously responded to that call, and was able to raise enough money to provided  a year’s salary for a bilingual outreach counselor.

TCD photo intern Nickolas Nickolic was on hand to capture the evening’s festivities.