Banner Alzheimer’s Institute (BAI), and its nonprofit Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation, will present its 2013 “Powerful Mind Award” to Bill and Julie Lavidge at its annual fete and fund-raiser, “A Night to Remember,” on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Musical Instrument Museum.

Bill Lavidge is CEO of The Lavidge Company (TLC), a full-service advertising, public relations, communications, consulting and interactive marketing agency. Bill and Julie serve as Vice Chairs of The BAI Breakthrough Campaign Cabinet, a $40 million fund-raising initiative to help fund groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research and support BAI’s nationally recognized care model for patients and families made possible by philanthropic investments from individuals, corporations and foundations. The campaign was launched in 2011. In addition, Julie Lavidge serves on the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation Board of Directors and is a founding member of Women Inspiring Scientific Progress (WISP), a Phoenix-based community group dedicated to advancing Alzheimer’s research through education and advocacy.

Each year, BAI recognizes outstanding contributions from member volunteers and honors them with the Powerful Mind Award. Last year’s recipient was Gene D’Adamo, vice president of community relations for Republic Media, which operates The Arizona Republic and 12 News.

“We are proud to be involved in such a great organization like Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and are humbled to receive the Powerful Mind Award,” said Bill Lavidge. “The pioneering research being done at BAI is truly groundbreaking and inspiring. We believe there are many deserving candidates for this award and we are grateful for the recognition.”

The Breakthrough Campaign is a collaboration between a team of renowned scientists and clinicians and an outstanding group of individuals, corporations and foundations dedicated to funding the breakthrough that could change lives for generations to come.

“Bill and Julie exemplify the spirit of selflessness and dedication necessary to foster great change and even greater outcomes,” remarked Andy Kramer-Petersen, president and CEO of Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation. “The way they have, for years, rallied around the cause, given of their time and talents, and engaged others in the mission to end Alzheimer’s is admirable and most certainly a powerful reminder of the impact we can all make.”

More information about The BAI Breakthrough and the work being done at BAI can be found at www.banneralz.org.

Through its research and care, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute is dedicated to the goal of ending Alzheimer’s disease without losing another generation. It is helping to launch a new era of Alzheimer’s research – treatment and prevention at the pre-symptomatic stage – and to establish a new comprehensive model of care. Established in 2006 by Banner Health, one of the country’s largest nonprofit health care systems, BAI has a three-fold focus: to conduct revolutionary studies in the detection, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s; to set a national standard of patient and family care; and to forge scientific collaborations that bring together institutions and disciplines internationally.