The Sagamore Bridge Club in Syosset raised $113,000 for Alzheimer’s research by playing a daylong game of bridge on The Longest Day, an annual fundraising event held on June 20 by the Alzheimer’s Association and its global partner the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL).
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Following its vision of a world without Alzheimer’s, the association aims to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
The ACBL, founded in 1937, is the largest bridge organization in the world, serving 167,000 members and 3,200 bridge clubs and sanctioning 1,100 sectional and regional tournaments annually. The ACBL’s three North American Bridge Championships each attract up to 5,000 players representing every state in the United States, Canada and about 20 other foreign countries. A challenging and rewarding card game, bridge attracts players of all ages and walks of life—from Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to poker star Phil Gordon.
So far, ACBL has calculated approximately $250,000 in total donations from the 168 participating bridge clubs across all 50 states and Canada. ACBL expects this number to grow to approximately $500,000 once all the money has been collected. Since their partnership began in 2013, bridge players and ACBL have raised more than $1.7 million on The Longest Day.
Sagamore Bridge Club is consistently one of the top fundraising teams in the world for Alzheimer’s research. The club’s initial goal was $75,000. In order to raise money, the club had 100 to 200 players playing all day from June 13 to 20. On The Longest Day, members played from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The club also held a raffle to help reach its fundraising goal.
With an average age of 69, ACBL’s members–most of whom play regularly at local bridge clubs—are significantly affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The Longest Day is an opportunity for bridge players to join the fight against the disease while receiving the mental and social healthy aging benefits the game of bridge offers.
“For ACBL and our members, this is not only a great cause but something that’s very personal,” said Robert Hartman, CEO of ACBL. “Through The Longest Day, our members have succeeded not only at fundraising but also at creating awareness of both bridge and the healthy aging benefits of the game within their local communities. This year’s fundraising numbers show just how committed our members remain to the cause.”
For more information about the ACBL, visit www.acbl.org. For information about the Alzheimer’s Association, visit www.alz.org.
