Puzzles To Remember: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is Sponsoring the National Brain Game Challenge

Puzzles To Remember

PUZZLES TO REMEMBER is a youth led 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias through jigsaw puzzles, cognitive engagement, and social connection. Led by Executive Director Hailey Richman, Puzzles To Remember has distributed more than 236,000 puzzles valued at over $2 million to more than 5,000 memory care communities, nursing homes, veterans facilities, senior centers, and other organizations across all 50 states and 16 countries. Our programs have benefited more than one million people while diverting approximately 148 tons of puzzles from landfills through donation and reuse. Puzzles To Remember also promotes intergenerational connection through Puzzle Time, which brings young people together with individuals living with dementia for shared puzzle solving, conversation, and companionship. Our mission is to provide engaging and purposeful activities that promote connection, participation, and joy while enhancing the quality of life of those affected by dementia. Donate Puzzles If you have puzzles you would like to donate, please contact us at Puzzles2Remember@gmail.com. We will help identify a location where your puzzles can benefit individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Donation acknowledgment letters are available upon request.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is Sponsoring the National Brain Game Challenge

Merl Reagle, whose puzzles are syndicated in over 50 newspapers, has created a special series of challenging puzzles for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

By Max Wallack
Puzzles to Remember

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) presents the inaugural National Brain Game Challenge, an exciting online game of skill created by renowned puzzle master Merl Reagle. Designed for novices, puzzle buffs and anyone else up for a challenge, the contest sends the message—in a fun way—that it’s never too early or too late to embrace brain health.

Anyone who wishes to participate can sign up at http://www.alzfdn.org/challenge/. There is a $25 registration fee which will give you online access to the puzzles beginning at 3 p.m. ET on September 25. On September 28, the Alzheimer’s Foundation will announce the winners. There will be a $5000 grand prize, as well as other prizes.

According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation,

"The educational and fundraising event is aimed at boosting awareness of lifestyle choices that promote brain health; alerting the public about AFA as a resource for support services and information about memory concerns, successful aging and caregiving; and raising funds for AFA’s programs and services nationwide.

It stems from research that suggests that regular mental workouts may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease—an incurable brain disorder that is increasing in incidence nationwide and primarily affects the older population."

I recognize the value of this kind of mental activity, not only to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, but also as a valuable therapeutic treatment for those with the disease. That’s why PuzzlesToRemember exists.

You have to be 18 years old to sign up, so, unfortunately, I won’t be competing.

Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.