Dr. Jason Karlawish, left, talks with former Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and current Penn Memory Center patient Bill Lyon. Photo by Chloe Elmer/Penn Memory Center
The Center for Advocacy for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly (CARIE) will present its annual Spirit of CARIE Award to legendary Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Bill Lyon, to Jason Karlawish, MD, Co-Director of the Penn Memory Center (also Mr. Lyon’s physician), and to the Penn Memory Center.
CARIE, a nonprofit with more than 40 years of advocacy for Philadelphia’s older population, will hold its annual Benefit Reception and Auction on April 12 at the television studios of WHYY. The event, Be the Voice: An Evening for Elder Advocacy, will feature the presentation of the Spirit of CARIE Award to two individuals and an organization brought together by a shared commitment to battling Alzheimer’s disease.
The Spirit of CARIE honorees include noted Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Bill Lyon, whose wide-eyed enthusiasm and support for the city’s sports teams have made him a beloved and award-winning writer for more than 40 years. In 2013, Mr. Lyon was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and his columns began to chronicle his new life and uncertain future with the disease that he has nicknamed “Al.” Mr. Lyon’s candor and humor in writing about the changes in his mind and body have resonated with readers.
Read more about Bill Lyon’s “Battle With Al” on www.makingsenseofalzheimer’s.org.
Through the years since his diagnosis, Mr. Lyon has introduced readers to members of his Alzheimer’s care team, who also will be honored by CARIE. His doctor, Jason Karlawish, MD, is a professor and researcher at the Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Karlawish is a leading voice in transforming the existing narratives about people who experience cognitive decline.
Mr. Lyon and Dr. Karlawish’s paths connected through the Penn Memory Center, where Karlawish serves as the co-director. The center’s primary focus is on patient care for individuals experiencing Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment. The Penn Memory Center will also be honored during the Evening for Elder Advocacy event for its work in helping people like Mr. Lyon regain a sense of normalcy and ultimately hope.
This marks the 15th year that the Spirit of CARIE Award has been awarded. As in years past, the Spirit of CARIE goes to individuals who exemplify CARIE’s mission to empower older adults and help ensure that they are able to live with dignity and the greatest independence and well-being possible.
Be the Voice: An Evening for Elder Advocacy will be hosted by CBS3 Eyewitness News This Morning Co-Anchor Jim Donovan and feature live and silent auctions with prizes including getaways to international destinations, tickets to Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Stephen Colbert, the Opposition with Jordan Klepper, cultural events, and sports tickets for Philadelphia teams including the Flyers, Sixers, Eagles, and Phillies, who are also co-sponsoring the event.
For more information on Be the Voice: An Evening for Elder Advocacy, or to register for the event, please visit https://www.501auctions.com/carie
About CARIE
The Center for Advocacy for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly (CARIE) was founded in 1977 by a coalition dedicated to improving the well-being of older people. CARIE is a leader in providing direct assistance to the elderly, their families, and professionals in the aging field. The fulfillment of CARIE’s core mission comes through advocacy that serves to promote equal access to justice and addresses problems and issues on both the individual and the systemic levels. The organization’s programs extend to the entire state of Pennsylvania and beyond and include being a resource of information and guidance for older adults and their caregivers by helping them navigate the complex health and aging systems. For more information, please visit https://www.carie.org