Ray
Bonenfant honored at Alzheimer’s Association annual meeting
By BETH HURD
Insider Reporter
For those who know the value of memory
– and what happens when it's gone – the annual meeting of the
Alzheimer’s Association, Rhode Island Chapter, on June 29 was
particularly poignant.
Honored at the meeting was Ray Bonenfant, board member emeritus.
More than 100 attended the meeting, including 15 of his friends
and family members. He and his wife Isabel Hampton are residents
of Pocasset Bay Manor in Johnston.
Bonenfant was honored for his Memory Walk fundraising efforts
– he has been the top fundraiser for 12 consecutive years.
He will continue to be active with the association, but has
decided to pass the torch as Memory Walk team captain.
Over the years, Bonenfant has mentored several team captains
from college freshmen to the Development Director of the Alzheimer’s
Association.
Bonenfant, who will be 94 in a few weeks, knows first-hand
the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease. He was a caregiver
to his first wife Eugenie, who spent the last nine years of
her life the Village at Waterman Lake in Smithfield, an assisted
living facility, until her death in June of 2004.
Hampton was also a caregiver to her husband Tom, who also suffered
from the disease, when she met Bonenfant at a support group.
They would look in on each other’s spouse.
Both widowed, they married three years ago, when Bonenfant
was 90.
Bonenfant participated in his first Memory Walk in 1995, raising
$1,140 that year. Since that time, he and his family and teammates
have raised a total of more than $100,000.
Called a “master fundraiser” and “a treasure” by former director
Liz Morancy, Bonenfant has been recognized as “Top Memory Walk
Fundraiser,” “Outstanding Chapter Representative,” and “Fundraising
Mentor.”
“It’s been an honor – I’m continually impressed by Ray’s business
savvy – he’s always the first one on board to help. I really
appreciate everything he’s done for the chapter,” said outgoing
board president Dr. Geoffrey Tremont.
“It’s definitely been a challenge this year – part of the challenge
was saying goodbye to our longtime director, Liz Morancy,”
he continued. “Through all the ups and downs, we didn’t lose
sight of our mission.”
The organization had hired a new director, but is once again
in search of another director. They also welcomed four new
board members. At the gathering, Bonenfant passed the torch
to incoming Board President Christine Bush.
“Ray was always there for the chapter and the organization,”
said Camilla Farrell, development director for the association.
She has known him for 15 years. “You know that movie, ‘It’s
a Wonderful Life,’ in which Jimmy Stewart imagines what life
would be like if he was never born? I tried to imagine what
the Rhode Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association would
have been like, if Ray had never participated. He’s raised
more than $100,000; more than 30 walking teams have been inspired
by Ray. We wouldn’t have had his expertise as treasurer; we
wouldn’t have had a Chapter Ambassador, and we wouldn’t have
had all the media exposure – he’s been featured in 20 different
newspapers and appeared on all the major news channels, spreading
the word."
As a fundraising incentive, the “Ray Bonenfant Club of Memory
Walk” was formed for teams which raise more than $500 – the
name has now been changed to the “Bonenfant-Hampton Club,”
since the couple’s marriage.
Bonenfant’s team includes his four daughters, Elaine Burkinshaw,
Claire Betti, Denise Fitzgerald and Lucille Botelho, as well
as some of Bonenfant’s grandchildren. Although he walked each
year, in the last years he let the younger members of his family
do the walking; he takes care of registration and treats his
team to lunch following the walk.
Bonenfant enlists the help of friends and family, as well as
fellow residents of Pocasset Bay Manor, for pledges. He sets
higher goals each year in both fundraising and recruiting new
team members to join the walk.
“Start early, make your letters personal, add technical information
about the disease – this can help someone,” he said. "We
got five calls last year requesting information."
The secret to his success? He always sends a handwritten personalized
thank you to each of his donors, listing how much was raised.
“It’s customary to say ‘it’s a pleasure to be here,’ but five
weeks shy of 94, it’s a pleasure to be anywhere,” quipped Bonenfant,
who was joined by Hampton at the podium. Behind them flashed
projected images taken of the couple at Memory Walks and other
events over the years; nearby was a framed poster of other
photos.
“The recognition is nice, but it really should be in recognition
of my team – I didn’t do it alone,” he said, praising his family
and team members in attendance. “I had terrific support over
the years."
This year’s walk will be held in both Pawtucket (Slater Park,
registration at 9 a.m., walk starts at 10 a.m.) and Newport
(Salve Regina University, registration at 3 p.m., walk starts
at 4 p.m.) on September 26.
“We’re off to a great start – we already have Briarcliffe Manor
and Briarcliffe Gardens as platinum sponsors,” said Farrell.
Akshay K. Talwar, administrator and CEO of both facilities,
serves on the Alzheimer’s Association’s board of directors
and also has a team that participates in Memory Walk.
The chapter has set a goal of $300,000 for this year’s Memory
Walk – which accounts for up to one-third of the chapter’s
operating budget. Bonenfant’s team raised about $6,700 last
year due to the tough economy – they hope to do better this
year.
Another fundraiser includes the sale of “Memory Pins,” and
new this year, “Forget Me Not” charms, available exclusively
from Tebeca Jewelers, Post Road in Warwick. Each charm is $42.80,
of which $5 goes to the Alzheimer’s Association.
For more information, to form a team, or sponsor the event,
call 421-0008, or visit www.alz.org/ri
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