Change Makers – Next Gen Philanthropy This year in line with World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September and in partnership with KPMG Sydney, CHeBA launched Change Makers – Next Gen Philanthropy. With a vision of empowering emerging leaders aged 18-40 to elevate philanthropic support of dementia research, the new initiative will promote the importance of modifiable lifestyle factors to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. KPMG’s Eileen Hoggett said the initiative aligned with KPMG’s core values. “As an organisation we are extremely proud of our people and the importance they place on social responsibility,” said Ms Hoggett. “I encourage our next generation leaders to get involved.” We welcomed Ambassadors for the new initiative, PJ Lane, Edward Caser and Keri Kitay, who have all witnessed the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease. PJ Lane, who gave up his burgeoning basketball career in the United States to return to Australia and help look after his father, entertainer Don Lane, says the next generation should already be thinking about their brain health in late life.
Ruby Pradhan and Lily Calderbank, Change Makers founding philanthropists Dr Grellman acknowledged the efforts of the initiative’s Ambassadors and congratulated the founding philanthropists, Ruby Pradhan and Lily Calderbank. “Philanthropy isn’t just for people who have extraordinary wealth. Through regular giving I am proud to be part of something that improves the world in which we live,” said Ruby.
“By the time those currently aged 18-40 are in their 50s, PJ Lane, Ambassador 60s and 70s, it is expected that the number of people with dementia will have more than tripled,” said PJ.
“Change Makers will support research that will inevitably impact their own future.” PJ Lane Dr Richard Grellman AM said that given three in 10 Australians over 85 have dementia, there is a critical need for increased investment in research toward prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. “At the same time, the goal is to advance knowledge across all generations to maintain physical activity from a young age throughout life so as to reduce risk of dementia in late life,” said Dr Grellman. “For that to occur, we need the next generation’s support of research and awareness raising.”
46
Keri Kitay and Edward Caser, Ambassadors The Change Makers – Next Gen Philanthropy program provides the next generation of Australians with the opportunity to make an enormous difference, by combining monthly or three-monthly regular giving donations to amount to larger, more impactful research contributions. Change Makers will have access to tours in the CHeBA laboratory and educational workshops covering healthy brain ageing – geared specifically to 18-40 year olds. To become a Change Maker: https://alumni.unsw.edu.au/ giving/Med/Changemakers.
