Alzheimer's Association's Accounting Industry Leadership Council to converge in Central Park

The Alzheimer's Association Accounting Industry Leadership Council was established in January 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide. Regardless of these daunting circumstances, the Council moved forward with its mission to unite the accounting profession as one to end ALZ with remarkable success. 

As a passionate philanthropist committed to being a force for good with a keen focus on health and wellness, I founded and chaired the Council, knowing my vast network of fellow accountants nationwide would join our valiant journey to help end Alzheimer's disease. While serving as chairman of the Alzheimer's Association's NYC - Manhattan Chapter's Walk to End Alzheimer's signature fundraising event dating back over a decade ago, I recommended a go-to-market and branding strategy for uniting volunteers by industry sectors to make a greater impact in support of the Alzheimer's Association, leading to the creation of the Accounting Industry Leadership Council and the Legal Industry Leadership Council.  

The Council enjoyed immediate and tremendous success in its inaugural year of 2020, securing Council members from all the Big Four accounting firms, most of the Top 10 accounting firms, and many of the leading Top 100 accounting firms. The Council raises between $1 million to $1.5 million per year in the aggregate from its approximately 40 participating accounting firms while reaching tens of thousands of accountants nationwide through each participating accounting firm's educational and awareness programs. The programs are held throughout the year, along with programs hosted on CPAacademy, Becker, LumiQ, the Washington National Tax Roundtable, among other platforms, in connection with programs regarding the correlation between nutrition and brain health, the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's disease and other topics. 

As part of the responsibilities of being on the Council, members identify participating offices across the country within their respective accounting firms, along with appointing office champions to rally their employees' office by office to participate in the more than 600 Walk to End Alzheimer's annual fundraising events nationwide. The critical funds raised at these signature Walk events support the Alzheimer's Association mission of accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, while maximizing quality care and support. Together, a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia is possible.

There are many ways for accounting firms nationwide to participate in the Council including but not limited to:

• Fundraise within the accounting firm's existing stewardship programs;
• Fundraise within accounting firm's planned giving programs;
• Fundraise within accounting firm's private charitable foundations;
• Make individual donations including monthly giving;
• Gifts in honor or in memory of a loved one; and/or,
• Planned giving with an estate gift for accounting firm's employees and their clients.

The Metro-NY based Council members with offices in NYC - Manhattan will be converging in Central Park at the Naumburg Bandshell at 71st Street for the NYC Manhattan Walk to End ALZ event on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 10:00 a.m. We encourage all Metro-NY based Council members to meet for our annual group photo at the Naumburg Bandshell at 10:30 a.m. and encourage those that have not yet registered to please do so and join us at https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2025/NY-NewYorkCity?pg=entry&fr_id=18786.

If you are interested in learning more about the Council, please contact me at pscalise@saxllp.com to schedule a complimentary consultation.