The subsequent proposal will present the complete details of my proposal to launch an organization that will create a benefit concert at Rutgers University to raise donations and awareness in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. It will demonstrate the models of accomplished fundraising efforts, and the features of which I have integrated into my own proposal. This project consists of the research I have carried out which measures the problem of Alzheimer's and shows why it is a serious issue which must be dealt with quickly. I feel that this organization can eventually be effective in fighting against Alzheimer's both locally and nationally. Half of the funds I hope to raise from this organization will go towards the Neurology department of the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to be spent towards the care of the patients of the New Brunswick region that utilize that clinic. The other half of the will go directly towards to the Alzheimer's Association to aid in the research for a cure.
Undoubtedly, Alzheimer's is a quick spreading disease that affects millions not just in the United States, but all over the world. While Alzheimer's may not claim as many lives as heart disease or cancer does, that surely does not mean that it is any less of an issue. The most upsetting part of this disease is the fact that, to this day, a cure has still not been discovered. The physical, emotional, and financial harm that the disease causes is immense and extremely difficult to manage. What concerns me further is the relative lack of awareness the disease receives in comparison to other global and national problems. I am sure that you agree that the lack of attention of Alzheimer's is an issue that calls for direct awareness.
Therefore, I have developed an intuitive plan that I am sure will help Alzheimer's research come closer to a cure. Simultaneously, this organization can still assist local patients and their families who suffer from the effects of Alzheimer's. My phone number is (908)239-5777 and my e-mail address is [email protected]. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. If you have any additional questions or concerns after reading this proposal, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Keven Lee
The Alzheimer's Awareness Organization:
A proposal to raise awareness and funds for victims of Alzheimer's disease at Rutgers
i
Abstract
In the United States, 1 in 10 people over 65 have Alzheimer's. This amounts to almost 5.3 million people suffering from the disease. Yet, millions around the world are also affected by Alzheimer's. The lack of information on what causes Alzheimer's and how to best treat it are key problems, since no cure for the disease currently exists. The average lifespan for those with Alzheimer's is 7 to 10 years after diagnosis. The cost of living with Alzheimer's is relatively high. Total costs for treatment, assisted living, and specialized care often range from $70,000 to $120,000 per year. In response to the disease, hundreds of fundraising efforts and public awareness campaigns are launched each year to raise support for research and care for Alzheimer's patients. The National Alzheimer's Association is the foremost advocate of Alzheimer's research around the world, and is responsible for sponsoring the large fundraising events in the United States. These events raise millions of dollars each year which go directly towards research for the cure and medical support for patients of the disease. Many of these efforts are also successful in raising widespread awareness of Alzheimer's throughout the US. My plan will extend further aid towards the search for the cure through the establishment of an organization that will create a benefit concert that will run at Rutgers University. This organization will have two main purposes. The first purpose will be to raise funds from students to support the Alzheimer's Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Neurology Department in their efforts to fight against Alzheimer's. The other objective will be to express to students why Alzheimer's is a problem that requires necessary action, and increase students' awareness and concern for the disease.
ii
Table of Contents
Abstract i
Table of Contents ii
Table of Figures iii
Executive Summary iv
Introduction 1
Information on Alzheimer's Disease 1
The effects of Alzheimer's 1
Absence of Alzheimer's Awareness 3
Successes 4
Literature Review 5
Memory Walk 5
A Night at Sardi's 6
Plan 7
Organization 7
Earnings 8
Budget and Funding 10
Discussion 13
Works Cited 15
Appendix A: Pamphlet 16
iii
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Estimated Number of New AD Cases 1
Figure 2: Estimated Lifetime risks for Alzheimer's 2
Figure 3: Student Poll: How much have you heard of Alzheimer's? 3
iv
Executive Summary
Alzheimer's disease is a vicious disease that affects millions of Americans. The costs of living with Alzheimer's are tremendous. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. There is also a lack of Alzheimer's awareness among the general population. However, many organizations have successfully created ways to raise money towards the research for the cure, as well as promoting awareness among people, resulting in many positive outcomes. Research shows that well-developed programs have successfully raised millions of dollars. Moreover, the numerous amounts of people these events help increase awareness within the region.
The plan I had developed is to create an organization that will throw a benefit concert to raise money and awareness towards the fight against Alzheimer's disease. My reason for urging Rutgers University to adopt the program lies within the nature of altruism among students. It is the students who will run the organization and the event, creating a strong bond between the young and the old. Hopefully, the benefit concert will raise the appropriate funds and awareness.
The budget for my project is estimated at $5000 to $7000 for the first year. Depending on the rate of participation, it is expected to lower afterward. If the first benefit concert is successful, an annual concert can be created, drawing most of its funding from generous donations.
1
Introduction
Information on Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurologic disease of the brain leading to the irreversible loss of neurons and the loss of intellectual abilities, including memory and reasoning, which become severe enough to impede social or occupational functioning (Nordqvist 1). As a result, most patients gradually lose their abilities to handle even simple household tasks alone. In the beginning stages of Alzheimer's, patients may suffer from mild cognitive and memory impairment (Alzheimer's Association 3).Their mind can possibly decay to the point that they may not be able to perform tasks requiring even minute amounts of coordination or dexterity, such as buttoning a shirt or brushing teeth. In the most advanced stages of Alzheimer's, patients become fully paralyzed and many internal organs no longer function effectively (Alzheimer's Association 5). At this point, patients may become permanently bedridden and may require assisted breathing and feeding. Also at this point, patients affected by Alzheimer's probably become almost entirely dependent on specialized caregivers.
Figure 1 (ADEAR 12)
The effects of Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is not a widespread disease; the risk factor is 1 out 100 from ages 65-74. However, there are more than 4 million people in the United States alone who suffer from Alzheimer's (Hooper 12). As you can see in Figure 1, the cases of Alzheimer's continuously rise. In addition, millions more around the world are afflicted by the disease. However, the most intimidating statistic regarding Alzheimer's is the fact that the disease is terminal and no cure for it currently exists. In almost all known cases of Alzheimer's, the patients died within 7 to10 years after diagnosis (ADEAR 20). There are a number of treatments readily available to ease the many symptoms of Alzheimer's. However, in spite of the many recent technological and medical innovations in Alzheimer's research, these treatments are usually only mildly successful in improving the quality of the life of the patient. Treatments such as urinary catheters and the implementation of feeding tubes scarcely provide relief to patients, even though they are critical
2
to the well-being of the patient. However, these treatments cannot save the patient; these treatments can only prolong the patient's life.
Alzheimer's may not be a leading cause of death such as cancer and heart disease are. However, that does not mean that Alzheimer's is any less of a problem, especially due to the relative lack of information about the nature of the disease and its causes. In most cases of Alzheimer's, genetics pose as 0.1% risk factor. The cause of this disease remains unknown and sporadic (Khachaturian 4). Though scientists may have many clues to the causes of the disease, they cannot identify concrete causes which can ultimately lead to disease prevention (Grady 4). Another major problem regarding Alzheimer's is the difficulty in diagnosing it. Early symptoms such as impairment in memory and learning are often overlooked as problems merely associated with age (ADEAR 21). Because these subtle indicators of Alzheimer's are so frequently overlooked, many people who in fact have the disease are unable to receive an early enough response to the disease to combat it in its early, weakest stages. By the time that the emerging
symptoms may be identified, the disease may already be at an advanced stage (Hooper 7). Because of the progressive nature of the disease, the effects of Alzheimer's only continue to grow worse and worse. In Figure 2, the risks for Alzheimer's increase with age, especially for women. Alzheimer's appears to be one of the most deadly and debilitating, out of all the neurologically-based diseases that affect humans, because it literally destroys the mind.
Figure 2 (Alzheimer's Association 13)
Although particular medications are available for patients suffering from Alzheimer's, only an extremely small percentage of treatments are successful in halting progression of the disease. The vast majority of Alzheimer's treatments are only successful in extending patients' lives by a matter of months (Nordqvist 4). However, there are certain cases where, through the combined efforts of treatment and medication, the disease's progress is effectively halted. In a handful of known cases, some symptoms of Alzheimer's are even known to be reversed (Friedlander 4). However, these cases are atypical of the prognosis of the disease. Most patients who have Alzheimer's are unfortunately forced to endure the disease's continuing progression until death. Furthermore, the overall costs of living Alzheimer's are extremely high. The combined costs of treatment, medication, and special equipment can amount to well over $70,000 to $120,000 per year (Alzheimer's Association 9).
3
Absence of Alzheimer's Awareness
In the United States there is a general lack of awareness of Alzheimer's. Since the disease's occurrence is evenly spread throughout the United States, the overall lack of awareness limits how much aid is being given to those who are fighting Alzheimer's. Research for the cure is heavily dependent on financial aid from major charities and contributors. Increased disease awareness generally means increased support in fighting the disease. Conversely, decreased disease awareness means decreased support in fighting the disease. Raising public awareness and concern is the first step towards raising enough support to fight this disease.
In order to determine the lack of awareness of Alzheimer's in a localized area, I conducted an unofficial online poll to a group of my peers on April 27, 2010.Though this sample is surely not representative of the United States population as a whole, it should be somewhat accurate in estimating the public's awareness regarding Alzheimer's disease. In the poll, I asked the taker how much he or she has ever heard about Alzheimer's through T.V., the internet, or other sources of media.
Figure 3:
Poll Question: How much have you heard about Alzheimer's through T.V., the internet, the news, or through other media?
The poll question addresses the lack of media attention that the disease is able to gather. The majority of survey takers indicated that they heard little to nothing about Alzheimer's through the media, even through the most popular outlets, the internet and television. When I asked survey takers through which medium they heard the most about Alzheimer's, oral communication was the most popular response. This most likely means that the takers knew someone afflicted by Alzheimer's or perhaps knew a friend or relative of such an individual. The combined lack of awareness and concern in the general population and the overall lack of media attention is a significant obstacle to raising support in fighting 4
Alzheimer's. Since the majority of people in the United States express little to no concern for the disease, those who are fighting to find the cure are not receiving the maximum amount of support that they could get if the common population were more aware.
Successes
On the other hand, Alzheimer's research comes closer and closer to finding a cure with every new development in medicine and biotechnology. These recent technological innovations have increased the average life expectancy of people living with Alzheimer's by a matter of years, compared to life expectancy rates of patients in the past, which were often only a matter of months (Gross 3). Even greater is the fact that the quality and overall comfort of life of patients with Alzheimer's can be vastly improved because of modern technology (Maxham 2). However, such developments require a great deal of money to achieve. In the case of Alzheimer's, most of this money is raised through general donations and contributions to organizations devoted to research and promotion of awareness for the disease. The National Alzheimer's Association is the foremost non-profit organization dedicated to public fundraising and education for the disease.
The Alzheimer's Association raised $18,422,789 in the year 2009 alone according to the 2010 annual report (Alzheimer's Association 12). The greatest single source of income, nearly $10 million, was raised from general contributions to the association. These contributions consist of donations from average individual citizens and locally-based charities wishing to aid in research for the cure. The second largest source of income, more than $4 million, was generated through local Alzheimer's Association Chapters. These chapters are responsible for a variety of duties, including sponsoring large-scale fundraisers, offering specialized care services for patients, and establishing support groups in local communities. A significant portion of the total revenue, almost $1 million, was derived from bequests contributed to the organization by the families of victims of Alzheimer's. Because of the enormous amount of revenue that the Alzheimer's Association is capable of collecting, it is a major contributor to both major Alzheimer's research centers and local patient clinics.
Because of its national reach, the Alzheimer's Association is a major benefactor for Alzheimer's patients all around the country. Not only is the Alzheimer's Association immensely successful in raising funds to support research and specialized services for Alzheimer's patients and their families, but it is also successful in raising further support in fighting Alzheimer's by fostering awareness of the disease in the many areas it reaches out to. In most cases, the raising of awareness of the disease leads to a much greater outpouring of support for their fundraising efforts and campaigns. The Alzheimer's Association also often works in cooperation with smaller charities and organizations to establish programs in many areas of the United States to fight for their common goal of completely eradicating Alzheimer's.
5
Literature Review
There are hundreds of examples of efforts to fight against Alzheimer's by compassionate individuals and charities. These efforts take many forms, such as walks, banquets, sporting events, games, concerts, and dozens more. However, these benefits all share one common goal - to eliminate the threat that Alzheimer's poses. Though these campaigns and movements may approach the fight against Alzheimer's in different ways, the final result is the same. These efforts are all successful in taking one step forward to finding a cure.
Of course, some of these fundraising efforts are able to meet with more success than others, due to a combination of the size of the benefit and the size of the audience who participates. However, these campaigns are all doing their part to end the fight against Alzheimer's. In this section, I will share some examples of some of the most successful Alzheimer's campaigns. These particular models exhibited certain successful concepts or ideas that I have incorporated into my own project to give it as much potential for success as possible.
Memory Walk
The Memory Walk is one of the Alzheimer's Association's most successful fundraising efforts. As the organization's signature national event, the walk is instrumental in helping the Alzheimer's Association to accomplish its specific mission goals in fighting Alzheimer's. These goals include "directing, funding, and promoting Alzheimer's research", and contributing to "care and support for the national Alzheimer's community" (Alzheimer's Association, 32).This event, among others, also establishes the Alzheimer's Association's position as the leading advocate for Alzheimer's patients and their families in the United States.
The Memory Walk is held annually and attracts over 150,000 families, businesses, and organizations (Alzheimer's Association 33). Because of the enormous audience that it attracts on average, the event by itself raises more funds than any other event sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association. The walk has raised more than $90 million in funds (Alzheimer's Association 33). These funds are then spent by the association towards research and patient support services. This single benefit is the most financially successful out of the Alzheimer's Association's many fundraising efforts.
The success of the Memory Walk is in no small part due to the active participation of its guests. Because the attendees take a direct role in the event, they are inclined to give their full devotion to this event and raise as much support as possible for the cause. This, in turn probably has a widespread effect on local awareness for the disease and support for the Alzheimer's Association. Large-scale advertising and encouragement are definitely important factors in attracting guests and sponsors which adds to the benefit's financial success. The organized structure and methodology of raising funds from guests is also likely an important factor to its success. In terms of structure and planning, the model of the Memory Walk is an extremely efficient and effective model.
6
A Night at Sardi's
One critical model of success that I am using to influence my proposal project is based on a celebrity musical benefit for Alzheimer's. Dedicated to Abe Burrows, a late playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner, who died of Alzheimer's, the benefit raises over 16 million dollars (Phillips 1). The event is a musical benefit concert that featured many celebrities who wanted to help fight Alzheimer's in the memory of one of their colleagues. In every year that the concert has been held, Burrow's daughter, Laurie Burrow Grad speaks on-stage and shares their personal experiences with Alzheimer's. The intimate reflections that they share are always heartfelt and inspiring to everyone in the audience, even to those who have no direct experience with the disease (Phillips 3). All proceeds raised by A Night at Sardi's are donated directly to the National Alzheimer's Association (Phillips 4).
This one model will be the backbone of my plan, though I am drawing on many aspects from other successful models, such as the Memory Walk. The reason that I have chosen to organize this benefit as a concert is because I think that it can be extremely successful in drawing in the Rutgers population to support the fight against Alzheimer's. Music has a universal appeal, which can be quantified by the immense success of such benefit concerts as Hope for Haiti and other benefits of comparable size. My goal is to directly involve Rutgers students in the search for the cure, and I think that the staging of a benefit concert can accomplish that goal.
7
Plan
Organization
My plan is to organize a benefit concert to be held at Rutgers University which will encourage support among students to support the fight against Alzheimer's. This course of action is heavily inspired by A Night at Sardi's, but also features fundraising and educational aspects which are a key part of the Alzheimer's Association's major campaign efforts. The aspects it includes from other campaign efforts include the direct involvement of students, in this case as performers and audience members, large-scale advertising campaigns, and major efforts to increase general awareness of Alzheimer's. The program will have two specific goals: to promote fundraising for research and patient care, and to raise awareness of the disease throughout the student body. The most effective Alzheimer's fundraising efforts feature educational aspects for participants, which are a vital part of fighting the disease. Therefore, I aim to incorporate both the fundraising and educational aspects of these other programs into my project to make it successful in achieving these goals as well.
I believe that Rutgers would serve as an ideal place to stage this event, because of the large student body and possibility reach out to a large population. Because of the huge turnout of such popular events as the Rutgers Dance Marathon, which attracts as many as 700 to 800 student participants each year to fight against cancer and heart disease (Whitley 2), I am confident that this benefit can expect an audience of a comparable size. To keep in mind the student body, the event will be staged at a local Rutgers venue, such as a major auditorium or performing center. The event could be staged indoors for a couple of days to accommodate small groups of audiences at a time, or could even be staged outdoors for one day to accommodate one large audience at once. Rutgers Stadium might even be a possible venue for the concert if this were the case.
To help in setting up the program, I will invite volunteers from around Rutgers, either as individual volunteers or volunteers from various student organizations. The most ideal volunteers would be greatly concerned about the issue of Alzheimer's, so that they could fully devote themselves to the running of this benefit. These volunteers would be responsible for preparing the venue, including managing and operating the different electrical, audio, and lighting equipment, as well as organizing and decorating. Volunteers would also take part in the advertising campaign to spread the news of the event. In the case that not enough volunteers can be found, I have already set up a portion of the budget to be spent on hiring staff to operate the event.
For the concert itself, I will invite any Rutgers student with performing talents to come and share their talents for this program. Students who can sing, dance, or play an instrument would all be invited. The free opportunity to showcase and display their skills to friends and family would surely attract the most talented students to participate. As with the volunteers, these performers should be concerned enough about Alzheimer's that they can devote their performances to the fight against Alzheimer's and not just for themselves or their friends. The presence of actual student performers would also be a key part of attracting guests to the concert. Friends of these performers are sure to come to show their support, even if this support is not directed completely towards the Alzheimer's cause.
8
There would also be a large-scale advertising campaign to appeal to as large an audience as possible. The benefit will be promoted through various media, most observably in promotional posters and flyers to be distributed throughout the Rutgers campus. I also aim to seek advertising in the Rutgers newspaper and radio to attract students. Finally, the event can also be promoted through Internet media like Facebook and Twitter, since these outlets will probably reach the attention of the largest amount of students. Through the combination of these media, a large audience base is sure to be attracted to the event. If a large audience could be attracted to the program, not only would it mean a greater financial donation to be made towards the search for the cure, but also a greater potential to promote awareness and concern of Alzheimer's throughout the population.
The promotion of awareness within the benefit will be a vital part of its success in fighting Alzheimer's. I have two means to address the problem of actually promoting awareness among guests. In A Night at Sardi's, speakers were present at the concert to share their experiences with Alzheimer's to promote actual awareness of the disease. To accomplish this same goal within my program, I will invite a speaker or speakers from the Alzheimer's Association to share what they can about the disease with guests. These speakers should be able to share their experiences with Alzheimer's with the audience in a way that can inspire them and motivate them to follow through in providing whole-hearted support to find the cure. This hopefully can raise enough student awareness and concern to make the benefit itself worthwhile.
Of course, the presence of a speaker would only be helpful to those who actually attend the event. To spread awareness among those who don't attend, I will distribute some informational pamphlets around campus to local students (Appendix A). These pamphlets will include simple information about the nature of Alzheimer's, including its effects and its incidence in the United States. In this way, the pamphlets can give readers the facts about Alzheimer's and also lead them to first-hand accounts of what living with the disease is like. The pamphlets will also share the contact information of the Alzheimer's Association if the readers choose to participate in its fundraising efforts, or if readers simply want to learn more. Even if the pamphlets cannot garner the full attention of students, they can at least bring some degree of attention and concern to the greater part of Rutgers' population. Information is the first step towards achieving awareness. In turn, this awareness can hopefully turn into the concern necessary to urge people to join in the fight against Alzheimer's.
Earnings
To maximize the amount of donations we may receive, I will establish a minimum donation of between $12 and $15 to buy a ticket. Of course, everyone is encouraged to be as generous as possible when making the donation. This will be the primary source of revenue for the program. I also aim to raise additional funds through selling t-shirts and food and refreshments at the concert itself for minimal fees. All money raised during the event will go straight towards fighting Alzheimer's. Hopefully, the money raised by the benefit will be able to outweigh the costs of it.
9
As for the income of the benefit, I will divide it equally between the Alzheimer's Association and the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. All funds sent to the Alzheimer's Association will be spent by the organization in various forms to combat Alzheimer's. Significant portions of the funds raised will be spent directly on Alzheimer's disease research and patient care and support. Other funds will be spent towards different fundraising efforts and educational campaigns to raise further support for the fight against Alzheimer's.
All the funds sent to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital will be spent directly on patient care. Funds may be used to purchase new medication or equipment for use in Alzheimer's therapy. Funds may also be used in hiring extra staff for optimal care of patients. Though they may seem like only small improvements, each addition to the center can go a long in improving the overall quality of life of patients and in reassuring the families of patients. Therefore, funds raised by the benefit will not only aid the research of Alzheimer's to find a cure and new treatment, but they can also be used to directly help those suffering from Alzheimer's, specifically all the patients who utilize the Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick for medical aid.
10
Budget and Funding
Estimated Costs
Item
Cost
Cost of Alzheimer's Speaker(s)
Travel Expenses (Food, Lodging, Transportation, etc.)
$1000-2000
$1000-2000
Cost to Rent Venue
$1200
Staff
$600-800
Printing T-shirts
$800-1200
Technical Resources
Audio/Electrical
Miscellaneous
$400-800
$200-600
$200
Advertising
Newspaper
Radio
Flyers/Posters
$600
$200
$200
$200
Pamphlets
$200
Hospitality
$200
Total
$5000-7000
Explanation
Alzheimer's Speaker(s):
The Alzheimer's speaker or speakers from the Alzheimer's Association should be willing to guest speak at the event for free, since the program itself is a non-profit operation that will work in direct cooperation with the Alzheimer's Association to raise funds.
The cost of $1000 to $2000 covers all travel expenses that may be incurred by the Alzheimer's speaker or speakers. Such expenses may include transportation, lodging, food, and other necessities.
Venue:
11
To host the benefit itself, it is necessary to register with Rutgers University Special Event Services and handle the logistics of hosting the concert.
The cost of $1200 covers the initial registration fee, the cost of scheduling the event, and the price of reserving a venue.
Staff:
If not enough volunteers can be found to operate the concert, then it will be necessary to hire additional staff for the program.
The cost of $600 to $1000 covers the need to hire additional staff for the event, including security, audio and electrical operators, janitorial staff, etc.
T-shirts:
T-shirts will be made available for purchase during the event for all guests as a source of additional income.
The cost of $800 to $1200 covers the price of printing 300 to 400 t-shirts from a reputable custom manufacturing company to be sold for additional profit during the event.
Technical resources:
A concert such as this will require the use of different audio and electrical equipment to run smoothly and efficiently.
The cost of $400 to $800 covers the need to purchase or manage any audio or electrical equipment or other such supplies for the event.
Advertising:
It will be necessary to run a large-scale advertising campaign to appeal to Rutgers students to attend the benefit.
The cost of $600 covers the price all printing material for concert advertising and publicity, such as promotional flyers or posters. It also covers the costs of purchasing advertising through the newspaper, radio, or internet.
Pamphlets:
Awareness for Alzheimer's is something that must be encouraged to all Rutgers students, even those who choose not to attend the benefit. Informational pamphlets about Alzheimer's will be the most effective way of reaching these students.
The cost of $200 covers printing the informational pamphlets to be distributed throughout campus.
Hospitality:
Guests should be shown that their presence at the concert was appreciated, and the opportunity to purchase food, refreshments, or memoirs of the event will be an effective way of showing this appreciation.
The cost of $200 covers the price of snacks, refreshments, and small merchandise to be sold for additional profit during the event.
Each individual item listed in the proposed budget will be a vital part to the success of this benefit. Without any particular one of these individual items, this project will be less complete and possibly have less potential to succeed. No expense should be neglected to make this event efficient, effective, and enjoyable. This benefit is meant to directly benefit those who suffer from Alzheimer's, and for that reason we must take every measure to ensure that it will be successful. Though money is an important aspect of this program, the main driving factor behind it should be a desire for everyone involved to directly participate in the campaign to stop Alzheimer's.
12
Projected Revenue
Estimated Revenue (High)
Estimated Revenue (Low)
500 tickets @ $12.00 = $6000.00
375 tickets @ $12.00 = $4500.00
300 tickets @ $15.00 = $4500.00
225 tickets @ $15.00 = $3375.00
100 tickets @ $20.00 = $2000.00
75 tickets @ $20.00 = $1500.00
Gross Ticket Revenue = $12,500
Gross Ticket Revenue = $9375
300 T-shirts @ $12.00 = $3600.00
200 T-shirts @ $12.00 = $2400.00
Snacks/Refreshments = $600.00
Snacks/Refreshments = $400.00
Gross Product Revenue = $4200
Gross Product Revenue = $2800
General Donations = $2000
General Donations = $1350
Less Cost of Concert = $5000-7000
Less Cost of Concert = $5000-7000
Net Revenue = $11,700-13,700
Net Revenue = $6525-8525
This table shows a range of estimated revenue that we may expect to receive as an outcome of this benefit. The estimated high income range is based upon an audience of 900 purchasing tickets at $12, $15, and $20. The number of tickets purchased at each value ($12, $15, $20) should approximate the distribution of tickets to be sold at the actual event. The estimated low income range is based upon an audience of 675 purchasing tickets at the same values and the same distribution, but at a lower overall volume. The costs of hosting the concert, about $5000 to $7000 are then deducted from the total income to estimate the net revenue that will be generated. Though these results cannot be guaranteed, they should be fairly accurate in predicting the net profit that this benefit will produce.
However, we must remember that this program is not staged for profit, but for the good of those who suffer from Alzheimer's. True, raising the funds to support research for Alzheimer's will provide aid towards greater patient care and treatment is an extremely important goal. Whether the actual income for the concert is as low as $6000 or as high as $14,000, any amount raised can make an enormous difference in aiding research to find the cure for Alzheimer's.
13
Discussion
I am confident that this plan will be successful in its endeavors to raise support to find the cure for Alzheimer's. However, it will be necessary to subject this project to a thorough evaluation to quantify exactly how successful it was. If the project can be deemed as a success after its execution, then I wish to have it held in subsequent years to follow through in the national campaign against Alzheimer's. Hopefully, if the benefit is maintained, we will be able to see a steady increase in the turnout of the event and, as a result, an increase in the funds and awareness among students.
It will be a simple task to evaluate the financial success of the benefit. As long as the benefits outweigh the costs of hosting the concert, then the program can technically be deemed as successful. The degree of this success is dependent upon the amount of donations that the event is able to raise from guests. If the benefit is actually able to raise contributions in the range of $11,000 to $14,000, then I will definitely urge for the program to be run again. If it becomes this successful, then I might even try to have the concert held semi-annually, since an amount this significant can be greatly helpful to the cause of fighting Alzheimer's.
If this program is less successful, that is, raising funds in the range of $6000 to $9000, then it may be necessary to make changes to the program. Some of the changes that may be made in this case apply to all areas of the program. For example, the program's approach to advertising may need to be altered to appeal to most of Rutgers students, such as broadening the scope of internet advertising, since it is likely the most effective way to reach students. Another possible change is that more volunteers may need to be recruited to ensure that the event can be run smoothly. It may be necessary to change the actual structure of the benefit to make it more enjoyable for guests. For example, more performers of various disciplines may need to be invited. Also, some kind of activity such as a dance, game, or something else of that nature could be devised to engage the guests more actively in the program. In the case that the event is less successful than intended, then perhaps the program can cooperate with another program such as the Rutgers Dance Marathon to share resources and raise mutual funding for their respective causes.
This plan has the potential to develop into something which can provide a tremendous help to the ever-growing fight against Alzheimer's. Though we may not be able to find a cure ourselves, we can play a great role to help those who are searching for it. However, there are also thousands of families in the United States who are plagued by the overwhelming physical, psychological, and financial effects of Alzheimer's. These individuals need urgent attention, but their plight is often overshadowed by other more pressing health issues and concerns. These people need a voice to represent them, and this proposal outlines a program which can do just that.
If this program is successful, which I am confident that it will be, it has many substantial benefits to contribute to the campaign against Alzheimer's. The primary benefit that this program has to offer is the substantial financial donation to be sent to both the Alzheimer's Association and the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Neurology Department. By sending money to the Alzheimer's Association, Rutgers can take an indirect role in searching for the cure by supporting the major research organizations developing ways to combat Alzheimer's and end the threat it poses to so many people. These proceeds will also play a part in advancing specialized patient care services for the people suffering from Alzheimer's, and bolstering fundraising and awareness programs already in place to strengthen the fight against Alzheimer's.
14
The other potential benefit that this program has to offer is the hope that each student who attends the event can walk away with greater awareness and concern about the issue of Alzheimer's. Raising awareness in people is a crucial part of bringing any kind of movement or campaign closer to fruition. By raising the levels of awareness and concern in Rutgers students, we increase the possibility of bringing awareness to areas well beyond the university's boundaries as students who become concerned share the significance of the impact of Alzheimer's with their friends and family. Thus, an increase in awareness as a result of this program has the full potential to reverberate beyond the school and reinforce the nation-wide campaign for greater Alzheimer's awareness.
Alzheimer's is a disease that claims thousands of lives each year. However, this can all easily come to an end if people can come together and fight against this terrible disease. People are already combating Alzheimer's on many fronts. Scientists and researchers are working nonstop to advance medicine and technology and find the cure. Patients of Alzheimer's and their families champion fundraising and awareness campaigns to support these scientists in their efforts, and to support those who must struggle against the disease and fight for their lives. The end of Alzheimer's is within sight and within reach. The burden is upon us to join the campaign against Alzheimer's and to directly participate in the fight to save lives.
15
