The end of summer is quickly approaching, but before bidding the season farewell, there is one final can’t-miss event to attend, the Bash for Brains fundraising party on September 7.
This year’s theme is a “whiteout party” in honor of the white flower symbol that signifies the first Alzheimer’s survivor. The event will be held at 7568 Glen Alcove in Woodbury in the idyllic backyard of Leah Huxtable, one of the founders who started the philanthropic endeavor over 11 years ago. Bash attendees will enjoy food, drinks, live entertainment, and a silent auction, with the option of upgrading to VIP status for additional perks.
Huxtable, along with her sister and fellow co-founder, Eva Thompson, share a deeply personal connection to their mission, which fuels their desire to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and support families of those who suffer from the disease. When their mother, Lucy, was diagnosed in 2011, Huxtable and her siblings sprang into action.
“Our mom was diagnosed at just 60. She was this exuberant lady with so much left to do and we couldn’t do anything for her. There was no treatment. We just felt helpless. We started fundraising in earnest. We asked, “What do we do well? We like to throw parties!’ ” Huxtable said.
And so it began, a seed was planted and it continued to grow year after year. So far, 11 Bash for Brains parties have raised a total of $750,000. The group hopes to surpass $1 million after this year’s bash.
The group’s new tagline for 2024 is “serving the now, saving the future.” The “future” portion is working toward a cure by donating half of the money raised to the Alzheimer’s Association. The siblings are focusing on the “now” by funneling the rest of the funds back into the community via grants to families dealing with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
“Since so much of the support for the event comes from people in Woodbury we wanted to partner with the Woodbury Community Foundation to disperse funds back into the community,” Huxtable said.
The Woodbury Community Foundation acts as the event’s fiscal sponsor and allows the group to operate under its partner fund umbrella. The group also partners with Family Means, another local nonprofit organization. Family Means finds in-home caregivers who need a break and connects them with a grant from the Bash party group for respite care.
Not only are the siblings fighting for this cause in honor of their mother’s legacy and support of local families, but they are ultimately in a battle for their own health, and their children’s futures. Huxtable says, “There were four girls, and only one of my mom’s siblings does not have the disease, so it’s highly prevalent in our family. That’s another reason, you know…we’re trying to fight for our own brains now.”
Community members interested in attending this year’s Bash for Brains can find more info at bashforbrains.com. General admission tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased online. For those who are unable to attend, but would like to contribute, the event has honorary luminary candles available for sale, and the event is looking for sponsors.
